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USCG / PSA 2-15 – Conditions of entry for vessels arriving at U.S. ports

18 Μαΐου, 2015 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο USCG / PSA 2-15 – Conditions of entry for vessels arriving at U.S. ports)

The US Coast Guard (USCG) issued a Port Security Advisory (PSA) announcing that, effective 24 April 2015, it is imposing conditions of entry on vessels arriving in the United States after having called at any port in Libya during their last five port calls.

The USCG has determined that Libya is not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures in all of its ports. Actions required as listed in paragraphs C and D of this Port Security Advisory take effect for all vessels that arrive in the United States on or after April 24, 2015, after visiting ports in Libya as one of the their last five ports of call.

Furthermore, vessels are advised to proceed with extreme caution when approaching all Libyan oil terminals, particularly in eastern Libya, due to potential violent and criminal activity based upon recent attempts by armed, non-state actors to engage in illicit export of oil. UN Security Council Resolution 2146 authorizes the UN Sanctions Committee to impose certain measures on vessels attempting to illicitly export crude oil from Libya. This resolution imposes several restrictions regarding loading, transporting, or discharging crude oil from Libya which may include the possible denial of port entry.

Vessels that visited the countries listed in paragraph B (with exceptions noted) on or after the effective date in paragraph A, during their last five port calls will be boarded or examined by the Coast Guard to ensure the vessel took the required actions. Failure to properly implement the actions listed in paragraph C.1 through C.5 may result in delay or denial of entry into the United States.

Find latest PSA 2-15 LIBYA FINAL for your reference.

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Interim Guidelines for protection against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea region

20 Δεκεμβρίου, 2012 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Interim Guidelines for protection against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea region)

Piracy and armed robbery (hereafter referred to as piracy) in the Gulf of Guinea region is an established criminal activity and is of increasing concern to the maritime sector.And with recent attacks becoming more widespread and violent, industry has now identified an urgent need to issue these Guidelines.

Although piracy in the Gulf of Guinea region in many ways differs from that of Somalia based piracy, large sections of the Best Management Practices already developed by industry to help protect against Somalia based piracy are also valid in the Gulf of Guinea region. Consequently, these interim Guidelines aim to bridge the gap between the advice currently found in BMP4 and the prevailing situation in the Gulf of Guinea region.

Consequently, these guidelines should be read in conjunction with BMP4 and will make reference to BMP4 where relevant.

These interim Guidelines have been developed by BIMCO, ICS, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO, and are supported by NATO Shipping Centre.

A soft copy of BMP4 can be found in the websites of these same organisations.

Click here to download these interim guidelines.


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PSA 1-12 / Conditions of entry for vessels arriving at U.S. ports from certain countries

5 Σεπτεμβρίου, 2012 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο PSA 1-12 / Conditions of entry for vessels arriving at U.S. ports from certain countries)

The U.S. Coast Guard has announced that, effective 18 September 2012, it is imposing conditions of entry on vessels arriving in the United States after having called at any  port in the Republic of Yemen, with the exception of the Ash Shihr Terminal, the Balhalf LNG  Terminal and the port of Hodeidah.

Any vessel arriving in the United States that called in any of the countries listed on pages 2-3 of PSA (with exceptions noted) during its previous five (5) port calls must take actions 1 through 5 listed  below:

1. Implement measures per the ship’s security plan equivalent to Security Level 2;

2. Ensure that each access point to the ship is guarded and that the guards have total visibility of the exterior (both landside and waterside) of the vessel. Guards may be:

 – provided by the ship’s crew, however, additional crewmembers should be placed on the ship if necessary to ensure that limits on maximum hours of work are not exceeded and/or minimum hours of rest are met, or

– provided by outside security forces approved by the ship’s master and Company Security Officer.

3. Attempt to execute a Declclaration of Security;

4. Log all security actions in the ship’s log; and

5. Report actions taken to the cognizant U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) prior to arrival in the United States.

Masters of vessels arriving at a U.S. port whose last five (5) port calls included a port in a listed country (with exceptions noted) should expect that the U.S. Coast Guard will board their vessel at sea in order to ensure that the required actions were complied with. Failure to properly implement the above conditions of entry while in a port in one of the listed countries will most likely result in the vessel being denied entry into the United States.

Based on the findings of the Coast Guard boarding or examination, the vessels subject to the conditions of entry shown on page 1 may be required to ensure that each access point to the ship is guarded by armed security guards and that they have total visibility of the exterior (both landside and waterside) of the vessel while in U.S. ports. The number and location of the guards must be acceptable to the cognizant U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port. For those vessels that have demonstrated good security compliance and can document that they took the measures called for in items 1 through 4 above, the armed security guard requirement will normally be waived.

However, vessels that visited Monrovia, Liberia (Firestone Facility and Port of Liberia) during their last five port calls prior to entering the United States will not normally be boarded at sea by the Coast Guard unless other targeting factors apply, nor will these vessels be required to provide armed security guards while in ports of the United States.

Owners and operators of vessels that are due to arrive in a U.S. port after calling at a port in any of the countries listed above are strongly urged to review the conditions of entry prior to their vessel arriving at a port in one of these countries.

Click here to download the new PSA1-12.

PSA 01-11 still remains in affect;

PSA 4-11 is cancelled.

Source: USCG

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UKHO Admiralty Maritime Security Planning Charts

5 Σεπτεμβρίου, 2012 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο UKHO Admiralty Maritime Security Planning Charts)

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has published chart Q6099 Anti-Piracy Planning Chart – Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea for a number of years. This chart has now been incorporated into a new series of Maritime Security Planning Charts (Q Series). The series comprises three charts at present:

 

  1. Q6099 – Anti–Piracy Planning Chart – Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea

  2. Q6110 – Mediterranean Sea

  3. Q6111 – Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea

The two new charts in the series build on the concept of the original anti-piracy chart and contain additional security related information for mariners, including security advice, reporting schemes and contacts. The security planning charts are to be utilised in conjunction with normal navigational charts used for passage planning.

The charts will be corrected, as necessary, by Admiralty Notices to Mariners. Security related information, for example, new exclusion zones or threats will be promulgated by means of Security Related Information to Mariners (SRIM).

Copies of the security planning charts and details of the SRIM in force can be found on the UKHO website.

Source: West of England , UKHO

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SOS Campaign Scoops Top Prize At RTS Awards

11 Αυγούστου, 2012 | Posted by admin in ISPS | PIRACY - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο SOS Campaign Scoops Top Prize At RTS Awards)

A campaign film for the international anti-Somali piracy campaign, SOS SaveOurSeafarers, has scooped top prize at the Royal Television Society (RTS) North East and Border awards.

The promotional film, produced by Gateshead-based YourFilm Ltd, fought off stiff competition to win the award for Best Promotion or Commercial at the awards held at Gateshead on Saturday February 18.

The six-minute video highlights the significant threat of Somali piracy attacks on the worldwide seafarer community and the impact on world trade.The video drives its point home with a mixture of live interviews, and a “Hollywood style” action sequence, using the latest technology, where a ship is captured and hostages taken.

Commenting on the award, Matthew Newman, Managing Director at YourFilm Ltd, producer of the SOS film, said:“We are incredibly honoured to win the Royal Television Society Award for Best Promotion or Commercial, which is always a highly competitive category.

“The SOS film was a great project to work on and pushed us to our creative limits. It included various unique challenges, not least the logistics of securing a location with a port happy to allow us to film a dozen guys dressed as pirates with AK-47s!”

Bill Box, Secretary of SOS SaveOurSeafarers, added:“We are delighted that Your Film has received industry recognition for the SaveOurSeafarers video which is playing a pivotal role in taking our campaign message to a wider audience. It has helped us to gain support outside as well as inside the maritime industry and highlights the need for firmer government action against Somali piracy.”

The campaign, launched in March 2011, is backed by the largest ever grouping of international seafarers’ organisations, shipping industry associations and insurance interests. It has already received backing from a number of governments including the UK and the Philippines, and has secured support from 180 countries.

Watch the video below:

Source: saveourseafarers

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Comparison of Flag state laws on Armed Guards and Arms on board

2 Μαΐου, 2012 | Posted by admin in ISPS | PIRACY - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Comparison of Flag state laws on Armed Guards and Arms on board)

With the assistance of its members, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in association with the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), has compiled a useful reference document collating the policy and rules of Flag States on the carriage of arms and private armed guards on board vessels.The document, providing tabulated information on Flag States’ rules, has been added to the ICS website and is proving to be a popular reference tool for shipowners and other interested parties within the shipping community.

Click here to read  the Comparison of Flag state laws on Armed Guards and Arms on board by ICS-ECSA (December final 2011)

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Use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) – MSC.1/Circ. 1408

22 Δεκεμβρίου, 2011 | Posted by admin in ISPS | PIRACY - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) – MSC.1/Circ. 1408)

MSC.1/Circ.1408  “Interim Recommendations for Port and Coastal States regarding the use of Privately contracted armed security Personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area”

 The Maritime Safety Committee (the Committee), at its eighty-ninth session (11 to 20 May 2011), having approved:

 (1) MSC.1/Circ.1405 on Interim guidance to shipowners, ship operators, and shipmasters on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area; and

 (2) MSC.1/Circ.1406 on Interim recommendations for flag States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area, greed that there was an urgent need to develop further recommendations to Governments and, in articular, for coastal and port States, on aspects related to the embarkation, disembarkation and carriage of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) and of firearms and security-related equipment for use by PCASP.

 2 In this respect the Committee recognized that the facilitation of the movement of PCASP and of the firearms and security-related equipment for use by PCASP was affected by the national legislation and policies of port and coastal States and in this connection there was also a need to address the concerns of port and coastal States with respect to the presence of PCASP and of firearms and security-related equipment for use by PCASP on ships entering, transiting or leaving their territorial sea(s).

 3 Given the importance and urgent nature of the issue, and the need to develop and promulgate detailed guidance and recommendations as soon as possible, the Committee approved and the Council authorized the convening of an intersessional meeting of the Maritime Security and Piracy Working Group (13 to 15 September 2011) to update and expand upon the guidance previously issued.

 4 The interim recommendations for port and coastal States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area are set out in the annex.

 5 The interim recommendations should be read in conjunction with the interim guidance and recommendations set out in 1405-rev-1and 1406-rev-1, the information provided in MSC-FAL.1_Circ.2 on Questionnaire on information on port and coastal State requirements related to PCASP on board ships, as well as the other recommendations and guidance developed by the Organization for preventing and suppressing piracy and armed robbery against ships.

 Definitions

1. Private maritime security companies (PMSC): Private Security Companies contracted to  provide security personnel, both armed and unarmed, on board for protection against  piracy.

2.  Privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP): armed employees of PMSC.

3.  High Risk Areas (HRA): areas of the ocean  where  acts of terrorism, piracy or armed  robbery have taken place.  An area defined as High Risk may change periodically or over time due to changes in  weather,  tactics and areas of operation of the perpetrators. Therefore, it is imperative that owners, operators and Masters assess areas of risk based on the latest available information from the  Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), the NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) and the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).  Vessels also must be prepared to alter course at short notice to avoid pirate  activity when information is provided by NAV Warnings and/or naval/military forces.

4.  BMP High Risk Area

Somalia, the North West Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden (GoA): The HRA contained in  the BMP Guidelines is defined as an area bounded by Suez, the Strait of Hormuz to the  North (26ºN), 10°S and 78°E.. (Note: the  UK Maritime Trade Operations  (UKMTO) voluntary Reporting Area is slightly larger as it includes the Arabian Gulf).  Attacks have  taken place at most extremities of the HRA, including at 78° E.  The possibility remains  that they could take place further out.  Attacks to the South have extended into the  Mozambique Channel and below 10°S.  A high state of readiness and vigilance should be  maintained even to  the South of the Southerly limit of the HRA.  Therefore the  Administrator has extended the limits of the HRA to 15ºS and advises against using the  Mozambique Channel altogethe.

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