8 October 2015: JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM GLOBAL SHIPPING & OIL INDUSTRIES
Vigilance still crucial as piracy High Risk Area in the Indian Ocean reduced
Organisations representing the global shipping and oil industry have announced that the size of the ‘High Risk Area’ for piracy in the Indian Ocean has been reduced and issued new advice to merchant ship operators.
This reduction to the High Risk Area is in response to the ongoing containment of pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean, but a group of shipping and oil industry organisations (BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Intercargo, INTERTANKO and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) stressed that a serious threat remains and that correct reporting and vigilance remains crucial.
The reduction of the High Risk Area takes full account of recent shipping industry experience, and follows extensive consultation with governments through the diplomatic Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, and military naval forces, including NATO, Combined Maritime Forces and EU NAVFOR, which continue to provide vital protection to shipping.
The new industry advice, which takes effect from 1 December, changes that currently contained in the latest edition of Best Management Practices for Protection against Somali Based Piracy (BMP 4), which is jointly produced by the industry group.
The amendment to BMP 4 that relates to this issue can be downloaded via each shipping organisations’ website (as can BMP4).
In summary:
The industry associations further emphasised that in view of the continuing high risk of pirate attack, shipping companies must continue to maintain full compliance with the BMP and be vigilant in their voluntary reporting on piracy incidents, sighting of potential pirates, and any suspicious activity – as this provides crucial intelligence on risk levels in the area.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Contact details for the industry associations:
BIMCO
Gemma Wilkie, Communications Director
Tel: +45 44 366836
Email: gw@bimco.org
ICS
Debra Munford (Elaborate Communications)
Tel +44 (0) 1296 682356
Email: dmunford@elabor8.co.uk
INTERTANKO
Bill Box, Senior Manager, External Relations
and Communications & Marketing
Tel: +44 (0)20 7977 7023
Email: bill.box@intertanko.com
INTERCARGO
Xianyong (Joe) Zhou, Operations Manager
Tel: +44 20 7977 7029
Email: xianyong.zhou@intercargo.org
OCIMF
Russell Pegg, Security Adviser
Tel: +44 (0) 207 654 1202
Email: russell.pegg@ocimf.com
About the Round Table of international shipping associations
The Round Table comprises international shipping associations: BIMCO, ICS, INTERTANKO and Intercargo. Its mission is to work together to serve, represent and advance the international shipping industry.
Its goals are:
About the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF)
OCIMF is the foremost authority on the safe and environmentally responsible operation of oil tankers, terminals and offshore support vessels, promoting continuous improvement in standards of design and operation. Its remit now covers tankers, barges, offshore support vessels and terminals and its advice extends to issues like shipping in ice and large-scale piracy.
Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) publish regular Bunker Alerts based entirely on fuel samples and have kindly permitted BIMCO’s Members to access this information.
The Bunker Alerts are not intended to be an evaluation of overall bunker quality in the port or area concerned, but usually highlight a specific parameter within the fuel which has raised a quality issue.
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