Indian Ocean – Changes to the High Risk Area *Update*

01 September 2022

Reflecting the significantly improved piracy situation in the region, the Indian Ocean High Risk Area will be removed from 1 January 2023.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has announced that after more than a decade of effective threat-reducing counter-piracy operations, the shipping industry has removed the ‘Indian Ocean High Risk Area’ (HRA).

Notification of the removal of the HRA from 0001 UTC on 1 January 2023 by industry bodies was forwarded in a submission to the IMO for the next meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee scheduled to start on 31 October 2022.

The area being removed is the “High Risk Area” as shown on UKHO Chart Q6099. The Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) administered by UKMTO has not changed. Ships entering the VRA are encouraged to report to the UKMTO and register with the Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) in accordance with industry BMP (Best Management Practices).

The ICS advise that Best Management Practices 5 (BMP5) will continue to provide the necessary guidance for shipping to ensure threat and risk assessments are developed for every voyage to mitigate the risks presented by remaining security threats in the region.

17 August 2021

From the 1 September 2021, the Indian Ocean High Risk Area boundaries will change. The boundary changes reflect the changed nature of the piracy threat.

The new coordinates of the HRA are: From position A (Latitude of 01 30’S on the Somali coast), a line to:

• Position B (01° 30’ S – 046° 00’ E), a line to
• Position C (01° 00’ N – 049° 30’ E), a line to
• Position D (09° 00’ N – 055° 00’ E), a line to
• Position E (14° 20’ N – 057° 30’ E), a line to
• Position F (the Yemen coast at longitude 053° 00’ E), then
• Follow the Yemeni coast westwards and northwards, to
• Position G (the Yemeni Red Sea coast at latitude 15° 00’ N), then a line to
• Position H (the Eritrea territorial sea border at latitude 15° 00’ N), then
• Follow southwards first Eritrea’s and then Djibouti’s territorial sea borders, to
• Position I (the coastal border point between Djibouti and Somalia), then
• Follow the Somali coast eastwards and then southwards, to Position A

For more background on the changes please visit:

https://www.ics-shipping.org/press-release/change-in-piracy-threats-in-indian-ocean-prompts-re-think-of-high-risk-area/

Last Update: 11 March 2019

It has been reported that the high risk area (HRA) in the Western Indian Ocean will be reduced in size from the 1st May 2019.

The announcement by the International Chamber of Shipping, Intertanko and Intercargo, plus the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF)stated that the reduction of the area takes “full account of recent shipping industry experience, pirate intent and capability and follows extensive consultation with nations, collations and military naval forces, including Combined Maritime Forces, EUNAVFOR and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which continue to provide vital advice and protection to shipping”.

The regional UKHO maritime security chart, Q6099, will be updated from 1st May. Members are urged to monitor the Security Related Information to Mariners (SRIM) on the Admiralty website for the changes taking effect:

https://www.admiralty.co.uk/maritime-safety-information/security-related-information-to-mariners

North will update its Maritime Security Loss Prevention Briefing once details of the change are made public.