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Piracy:UpdateonguidancecircularsfromIMO/Marisec(BMP4)/JWC.
Release:7thOctober2011 Thedifficultiesfacedbyshippingindustrywhencoordinating counterpiracymeasurescanproveparticularlycomplex whenitcomestonavigatingthelegislativeminefieldwhich resultsfromtheneedtocomplywiththelawsofeach countrywhosewaterstheshipenters. Arecentcaseperfectlyhighlightstheproblemsfacedby vesselscarryingarmedsecurityteams.Itdidnothelptheir defencethattheunplannedportcallwasonlymadetofixa mechanicalproblemintheshipandthatthepossessionofa verylimitedquantityfirearmsandammunitionfoundon boardwasspecificallyintendedtobeusedtodeterpirates. Unfortunatelytheresultsofthiscircumstanceare significant,firstlythearrestanddetentionofaShipsMaster andembarkedsecuritypersonnelforsomesixmonths. Secondly,thatthePortStatesSupremeCourtpotentially considertheshipavehicleusedinacrimeandtherefore facesconfiscationbytheauthorities. Asaresultofnumerousvariationsontheexample mentionedabove,thefollowingshortrecapaimsto highlightchangesrecentlymadetorelatedcirculars: 1. IMOMaritimeSafetyCommitteeCirculars(MSC) 2. 3. BestManagementPractices(BMP4) JointWarCommittee,ListedAreas(JWLA) versions,withanadditionaladvice(MSC1408)issuedtoPort andCoastalStatesinordertohelpclarifytheproblematic logisticalsituationoftenencounteredbyvesselswhen carryingPCASPteamsandcallingatmultiplenationstates duringtheexecutionofvoyageinstructions,orbeing divertedenroute. Tosummarise,the16thSeptemberreleasesserveasa welcomefurtherrefinementandclarificationofthestatusof armedsecuritydeploymentandtheobligationsofthe variousoperationalplayersmostinvolved.Thespecific guidancerelatedtoPortStatesroleisactivelywelcomed. Thefollowingtexthighlightsthechangesbetweenthe previouscircularsandcurrentreleases. IMOMSC1405(16Sept2011)rev1 RevisedinterimguidancetoSHIPOWNERS,SHIP OPERATORS,ANDSHIPMASTERSontheuseofprivately contractedarmedsecuritypersonnelonboardshipsinthe highriskarea. Theintroductorytextremainslargelythesame,with somesubtlechangesevidentinthetoneoflanguage whichchangesfromrecommendingtourging, additionalchangesareinsections2and4. (2)briefexplanationofwhynewrevisionshavebeen issued;and (4)changeinpointofreferencefromMSC1334 (GuidelinestoShipowners,operatorsandmasters)/ MSC1333(RecommendationstoGovernments)tothe newerMSC1406rev1(FlagStates)andMSC1408(Port &CoastalStates). TheAnnexofguidancedetailsnowincludesdefinitions ofhighriskareasandfirearms. 2.4.1.TrainingofPCASPnowmakesanexplicitpointof communicationprotocolsbetweensecurity organisationandshipowner/operator,vesselmaster. 3.2.1.PCASPteamsizehasbeenamendedtoconsider theneedforcontinuityofprotectionintheeventof injuryorillness.
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*Originalcopiesoftherelevantdocumentsmaybeaccessed fromtheirsourcebythehyperlinkedtitlesinthisdocument IMOMaritimeSafetyCommitteeCirculars Toaddressthisissue,theIMOMaritimeSafetyCommittee (MSC)releasesadviceonthethreatofpiracyandtheuseof privatearmedsecuritycontractorsonboardvessels transitingwatersconsideredofhighrisk.

*Commondefinitionsusedwithintheseguidelines:
PCASP: Privatelycontractedarmedsecuritypersonnel PMSC: Privatemaritimesecuritycompanies HighRiskArea: AnareaasdefinedintheBestManagementPracticesfor ProtectionagainstSomaliaBasedPiracy(MSC.1/Circ.1339) unlessotherwisedefinedbytheflagState.

Duetoongoingdevelopments,thecircularsissuedon23 May2011havebeenrevoked,andreplacedbyrevised
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3.2.5.Firearms,newparagraphcoveringappropriate firearmspackageincompliancewithFlagstate legislation,andtheprovisionofaccurateandgraduated levelofdeterrence,atadistance. 3.4.3.additionalinclusionofacompanyenduser certificateandproofofpurchase,tocounterpotential PortStateconcernsoverunregisteredorillicitfirearms trafficinto/outoftheirnationstate. 3.7.(NEW!)MakesreferencelinktoFlagState categorisationofthePCASPteaminitsdeploymenton board. 3.8.(NEW!)Reportingtomilitaryauthoritiesaboutfact thatvesseliscarryingPCASPteam,firearmsandrelated equipment.

IMOMSC1406(16Sept2011)rev1 RevisedinterimrecommendationsforFLAGSTATES regardingtheuseofprivatelycontractedarmedsecurity personnelonboardshipsinthehighriskarea. Intheintroductorytext,similarsubtlechangesare evident,inpoints5&6,wherethelanguagehas changedfromrecommendingtourgingmember governments. Annex,point2:theinclusionofandsecurityrelated equipmentwhichisdefinedasInthepresent recommendations,allreferencestofirearmsincludethe associatedammunition,consumables,sparepartsand maintenanceequipmentforusebyPCASP,andall referencestosecurityrelatedequipmentinclude protectiveandcommunicationequipmentforuseby PCASP. Annex,point5.2.5intheestablishmentofflagstate policy,useofphrasedomesticlawisreplacedby nationallegislationandimportantlyascoveredina numberoflegalconcernsandopinionscirculatedby leadinginternationallawpracticestoqualifythe categoryassignedtoPCASP.

InrecognitionofthefactthatPortStateopinionsand requirementsvary,theIMOhasissuedMSC1408toseeka consistentumbrellaofwhatitemsshouldbeincluded. Therecommendationsfocusonhighlightingrecognitionthat PCASPteamsarebeingdeployedonvesselsthatmayinturn callatportswithinanationstate,andthereforerequirea nationalstructuredpolicyandsuitableprocedurestobe madeavailabletoshipowner/operatorsinadvanceof callinginthatnation.Notablyexplainingthenational positiononwhetherembarkationanddisembarkationof PCASPand/orfirearmsandsecurityrelatedequipmentis allowed,andhowtoreport/storesuchsecurityequipment whenvesseliscallingortransitingterritorialwaters. Marisec/Bestmanagementpracticesforprotection againstSomaliabasedpiracy. Referenceshouldalsobemadetothelatestrevision4which wasupdatedinAugust2011,werecommendthatallclients whooperatevesselstransitingriskareasshouldfamiliarise themselveswiththisdocument(knownasBMP4). Importantupdatesandnewinformationinclude:
asectiononthethreefundamentalrequirementsofBMP4, anaidememoireonhowtoavoidbeingavictimofpiracy, checklistforcompanyplanningandexpandedguidanceonthe possibleuseofprivatemaritimesecuritycontractors. E:MSCHOAVesselMovementRegistrationForm. G:Additionaladviceforleisurecraftincludingyachts

NewAppendicesinclude:

JointWarCommitteeListedAreas TheJWCrepresentstheinterestsofthosewritingwarrisks intheLondonmarket.ThecurrentListedAreasaredetailed inJWLA018(1August2011)whichwasleftunchangedatthe mostrecentmeetingon14thSeptember. ChangesnotedfromJWLA/017to/018include: Amended:Nigeria. Added:Benin Added:GulfofGuinea,butonlywatersofthe BenineseandNigerianExclusiveEconomicZones NorthofLatitude3N.

IMOMSC1408(16Sept2011) InterimrecommendationsforPORTANDCOASTALSTATES regardingtheuseofprivatelycontractedarmedsecurity personnelonboardshipsinthehighriskarea.

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