Security

In June 2018, the 5th edition of the piracy-specific Best Management Practice (BMP5) was published compiling a useful and comprehensive guidance which introduces effective measures for the protection of crew, vessels and cargo while transiting  the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The new edition supersedes BMP4.

The ‘SuperFerry 14’, the deadliest terrorist attack in Philippines, killed a total of 116 people. The blast occurred on 27 February 2004 in Manila Bay, claiming the title of the world's deadliest terrorist attack at sea until today.

After the 9/11 attacks that changed the world, IMO requires every ship above 500 GT sailing the world’s oceans to have a Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) to enhance security. Have you ever wondered what this system is and how it works?

Shipping industry has welcomed the announcement of the  BMP 5, now available for use to all those intend to transit from HOA and adjacent sea areas. But, how aware are ship operators about the updates in comparison to BMP4? Here is a quick guide on what changes in the new version of BMP.

The impact of piracy: seafarers, shipping industry,economy, environment

As an act to defeat one of the most challenging dangers of nowadays, IMO, under SOLAS Convention Chapter XI-2, developed the International Ship and Port Facility Code – the ISPS Code, a comprehensive set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities.

Marine Ops Note 08/2010 - Marine Security Advisory 01/2011- MSC.1/Circ.1337 In response to piracy attacks that have occurred outside the previously defined pirate activity area, the Liberian Administration has revised the setting of MANDATORY SECURITY LEVEL II for all Liberian flagged vessels when transiting the Gulf of Aden and the High Risk Area (HRA) for piracy in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean., effective immediately.For further information, click here.Source: Republic of Liberia

Enhance maritime security The managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abdulsalam Mohamed, has said that the Cargo Tracking Note scheme will help ensure transparency in the maritime industry. The NPA chief made the clarification on the newly introduced Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) scheme over the weekend. He said that the objective of government introducing the scheme was to enhance the security of the maritime industry.Mr. Mohammed said that maritime nations felt it was necessary to obtain advance information on cargoes as well as the vessels and the personnel conveying them."This is just like the international maritime community, which came up with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISDS) code after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the U.S," he said. "There is need to track and have adequate information relating to cargo and ship movements"He also stated that the scheme will foster better information exchange between maritime agencies of other countries and those in Nigeria. "NPA had been discussing with the Shipping Agents of Nigeria (SAN), NACCIMA, MAN and others which had confidence in the CTN scheme. The scheme had actually taken off on Jan. 11, 2010 but a little grace period was given till the...

Prevention of Human Error Aboard Ships Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) is pleased to announce the publication of a new guideline entitled, Guidelines for the Prevention of Human Error aboard Ships. Man-made causes are said to account for some 80% of all marine casualties. Hence, reducing the possibility of human error can be considered as being both essential to and an effective means of reducing casualties. While many factors can contribute to a casualty, human error onboard ship can be often reduced by strengthening the training and education of all crew, and by addressing more indirect contributing factors such as hardware or other ergonomic related causes.The implementation of the International Safety Management Code has played an important role in strengthening the training and education of crewmembers. At the same time, the shipping industry has globally also started to become aware of the importance of ergonomic considerations in the design and installation stages of marine equipment systems in recent years. In fact, ergonomic design of the man and machine interface is not only important for ensuring a smooth flow of information between man and machinery, but is also expected to make the working environment of marine equipment systems more effective and safer....

Piracy problem The U.S. envoy to Tanzania urged African nations to prosecute Somali pirates apprehended in the Indian Ocean as a way of tackling the continents growing piracy problem.Right now, Kenya and Seychelles are the only two countries in Africa that are prosecuting pirates, said U.S. Ambassador Alfonso Lenhardt. More countries need to come forward. Thats how to stop it.The coast off Somalia is among the worlds most dangerous for merchant shipping. The number of attacks worldwide jumped by 40 percent last year, with gunmen from the failed Horn of Africa state accounting for more than half the 406 reported incidents.The issue of jurisdiction to prosecute cropped up after a U.S. Navy warship prevented an attack on a ship flying the Tanzanian flag last month and apprehended eight suspects.He said the ship saved by U.S. forces was actually a North Korean vessel flying the flag of the east African nation and the United States now was deciding who might prosecute the suspects.The law allows some prosecution only when Tanzanian citizens or Tanzanian ships are attacked, Lenhardt told a news conference. The Tanzanian government has to decide what it wants to do and how it is going to deal with this...