Assessing the Security Risk

Despite statistics showing an overall drop in piracy and armed robbery worldwide, threats to vessel security continues to be an issue when trading in high risk areas.

To maintain the improving trend it is vital that each vessel conducts a voyage risk assessment before entering a high risk area.

Voyage risk assessments

The likelihood and consequences of potential threats to the vessel’s security should be assessed by the Master and Company Security Officer (CSO). The outcome of this risk assessment should document the appropriate measures to reduce the threat of piracy and robbery by adopting industry best practices.

The voyage risk assessment should:

• Highlight areas of increased threat to the vessel.
• Identify the high risk areas for the region. 
• Understand the methods regularly used by pirates and robbers in these areas. 
• Include access points and vulnerable areas where pirates could board.
• Include vessel-specific characteristics including handling, freeboard, speed, general arrangement.
• Include military or official organisation cooperation and reporting requirements.
• Include existing guidelines and information sources. 
• Include ship and company procedures, communication and chain of command.

Important new publications for 2018!

The following publications are new or replace older editions for 2018. It is recommended that Members ensure their CSOs and Masters have the latest versions available:

• Global Counter Piracy Guidance for Companies, Masters and Seafarers: A new publication on security threats around the world.
• BMP5: Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy and Enhance Maritime Safety in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea: This replaces BMP4.
• Guidelines for Owners, Operators and Masters for protection against piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea region: Third edition.

The above publications can be located here

What other information is out there?

There are many other sources of information available to the Master and CSO when conducting a voyage risk assessment. These include:

• IMO guidance issued for governments, ship owners, ship operators, and ship’s crews. Click here. 
• IMO Global Integrated Shipping Information System which shows information about acts of piracy and armed robbery are available to the public after registration. Click here.
• The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) PRC allows 24 hour reporting of piracy and in turn operates a live piracy map. Click here.
• The UKHO security charts for the relevant region.
• CSO Alliance – an online security community hub for company security officers to discuss issues and share information. Membership fees for North members are reduced by 20%.

Additionally, for the first year North will subsidise a further 40% of the fee for one CSO per member. Click here for more information.

The High Risk Area

Prior to entering any high risk area, the Master should ensure that all appropriate measures as found in the risk assessment are in place. Crew members should be thoroughly briefed and participate in security drills. Operators and Masters should review the Ship Security Assessment and implementation of the Ship Security Plan, as required by the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code to counter the piracy threat.

With good planning that identifies the risks and puts best practice measures in place, ships can reduce the risk of a piracy attack and keep seafarers safe.

For more information on regional specific information sources and initiatives, North has produced a series of loss prevention briefings which can be found here.

Author: John Southam
Loss Prevention Executive