Issue 7 : 01.15
the
BRIDGE BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SECURITY AND SHIPPING
STANDING UP TO THE PIRATES A Special Report from the Seychelles
MASS MARITIME MIGRATION Concern Grows over this Worrying Trend
PETRO PIRACY Asia see a Resurgence in Maritime Crime
LIBYAN AIRSTRIKE The Innocent Victim in Conflict
image: stephen spark
Organisers
Held in conjunction with
Recognised as
TH
21-23 April 2015 Marina Bay Sands速 Singapore
EDITION
Join one of the largest gatherings of maritime & offshore players in Asia
13,167
90%
68
385
Passed through the doors of Sea Asia 2013
Of exhibitors surveyed are likely to return to Sea Asia in 2015
Countries were represented at this global event
Companies exhibited at Sea Asia 2013
Principal Sponsors
Supporting Organisations
EXECUTIVE SHIP MANAGEMENT
Sponsors
Singapore Nautical Institute
www.sea-asia.com
98% Of visitors surveyed found the networking opportunities at Sea Asia good
Welcome to the
BRIDGE CONTENTS Seas of Change Page 5 Standing Up To The Pirates Pages 6-7 IN FOCUS: Mass Maritime Migration Pages 8-9 Global Growth For Academic Partnerships Page 10 Transport Security Expo Securing The Future Page 11 PROMERC Pages 12-13 Member News Pages 14-18
Welcome to theBRIDGE from The Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI). Inside we bring you the latest news, views and thinking from across the maritime security sector. In this edition of theBRIDGE we look forward into 2015 and the myriad maritime security issues that unfortunately continue to affect shipping. From the ever changing faces of piracy in both the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Guinea through to a new surge in Petro Piracy across South East Asia. The piracy problem looks set to stay for another year. We are very pleased to feature a special report from Stephen Spark, who recently visited the Seychelles. Stephen spoke to Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Jean Paul Adam about the challenges they faced in tackling the effects of Piracy. We also take a look at the increasing problem of mass maritime migration, and the large scale sea rescues these movements can all too often necessitate
Security Newsdesk Page 19 Asian Petro Piracy Page 20 Shipping: An Innocent Victim of Conflict Page 21
SAMI’s global academic partnership continues to develop and we have an update following the formation of the latest alliance with Shanghai Maritime University.
Maritime Security Matters Pages 22-23
Plus we’ve the usual round up of maritime security matters and news and announcements from across the membership.
Global Reach Page 25
Piracy in Numbers Page 24
We hope you enjoy this edition and would love to hear from you if you have any comments or contributions: bridge@seasecurity.org
www.seasecurity.org
PAGE 3
Contact Us
Secretariat Update
+44 (0)20 7788 9505 enquiries@seasecurity.org HQS Wellington, Victoria Embankment, London, WCR 2PN
SAMI’s Secretariat team are on hand to help: Peter Cook Chief Executive Officer e: pwjc@seasecurity.org t: +44 (0)207 788 9505
Andy Straw Chief Operating Officer e: ans@seasecurity.org t: +44 (0) 7972 568 098
Nadia Balta Membership Manager e: nb@seasecurity.org t: +44 (0)207 788 9505
Elisabeth Wilson Head of Equipment, Technology & Hardware e: edw@seasecurity.org t: +44 (0)7779 667 420
Gianna Molica-Franco Managing Editor - theBRIDGE e: bridge@seasecurity.org t: +44 (0)7891 789 868
Anneley Pickles Head of Affiliates, Advertising & Sponsorship e: ajp@seasecurity.org t: +44 (0)7891 791 032
This last few months have once again been extremely busy for the SAMI Secretariat, representing the industry at many important international forums for the maritime industry. SAMI is a member of the International Contact Group for Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), a UN sponsored group. As a direct result of our membership SAMI lobbied the parties that initiated the review of UNSCR 2182 to allow ships with authorised armed guards embarked to enter Somali ports with World Food Programme cargoes without out breaking UN sanctions. Over 65% of SAMI’s membership is based in Europe; therefore our active participation in the European Commission’s Stakeholders Advisory Group for Maritime Security (SAGMaS) is imperative and allows us to ensure that professional standards of our membership is given a high profile. Additionally our involvement in two EC funded Framework 7 projects (PROMERC and I-PATCH) demonstrates our diversity and depth of understanding of maritime security. SAMI was also invited to attend the inaugural meeting of the G7++ Friends of Gulf of Guinea Group (FOGG) in Accra, Ghana in early December to explore solutions for the current challenges in West Africa. SAMI’s attendance at these important international meetings demonstrates the Association’s evolving standing that will provide tangible benefits for the membership in the future. For the last 2 years SAMI Secretariat have been involved in selling poppies as part of London City Poppy Day. As you would expect from a maritime organisation, SAMI organises the efforts on board the Thames Clipper services that ply their trade on the Thames between Putney and Woolwich Arsenal. Last year’s event was held on 30 October 2014 and saw SAMI raise £6200, double the amount of the previous year and as ever a valuable contribution towards the overall total, which saw the City of London raise a huge £1.25M on the day itself. A great effort all round and a target to aim for and improve on in 2015! SAMI’s work over the next few months includes visits to CMA in the USA and Sea Asia in Singapore. If you will be attending either of these events, or are visiting London and would like to arrange a meeting with a member of the Secretariat team please contact us by email: enquiries@seasecurity.org
Seas of Change SAMI CEO Peter Cook gives an overview of current maritime security issues
- Piracy networks in Somalia are only dormant and not destroyed - Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is a long term problem and the solutions being explored are embryonic - The number of piracy attacks in the South China Sea continues to grow - The maritime security industry must be adabtable and flexible to the evolving demands of the dynamic maritime security scenarios affecting the ever increasing trade by shipping.
“Piracy like murder is one of the earliest of recorded human activities.” is the first sentence of a book about the History of Piracy by Philip Gosse first published in 1932. It goes on to explain “Trade follows the flag, and robbery whether by land or sea follows trade” thereby, as long as people trade by the sea, criminals will exploit opportunities for personal gain. At the 17th Plenary Session of the International Contact Group for Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) in Dubai last November, all parties agreed that whilst there has not been a successful attack and hijacking of a commercial ship for over two years the piracy networks in Somalia are only dormant and not destroyed, with potential to be regenerated should the current combination of measures (naval coalition presence, vessels using protective BMP 4 measures and PCASP) change. The pirates may plunder the high seas but they live ashore and unless the conditions ashore improve significantly the opportunities at sea will remain attractive. The second resounding message that came out of the CGPCS was that it was taking much longer than anticipated for the international community to facilitate the improvements and a much improved Somalia with attractive alternatives ashore by the end of 2016 (when the current mandate for NATO and EUNAVFOR also come to an end) will not be achieved. Piracy and robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) may be a different criminal “business model” but it is also a far more complex environment with so many different vested interests involved, allowing numerous opportunities for confusion to obscure pragmatic and legal solutions. It was clear from discussions at the G7++ (the ++ stands for China and Russia) discussions held in Accra, Ghana, at the beginning of December, that GoG is a long term problem and the solutions being explored were embryonic. SAMI stated that the private maritime security industry wants to be part of the solution and not part of the problem; our inclusion at this important meeting was a strong indication that the international community understand that and can see a part for us to play in resolving the situation. The number of piracy attacks in the South China Sea (SCS) continues to grow and whilst there are arguments over definitions and whether an attack is a hijacking or a “syphoning of cargo”, largely for the purposes of appearance and massaging of statistics, the impact on the seafarers is never the less traumatic. The geopolitical situation in the SCS region is even more complex and therefore answers and solutions will be more difficult to find. Trade by sea is increasing - feeding a growing global population with greater demands. The foundations of providing cost efficient and very effective private security solutions in the north-west Indian Ocean have been a great first step. The industry must however be adaptable and flexible to the evolving demands of dynamic scenarios so that we can continue to be part of the solution.
PAGE 5
For close to two centuries the 115 islands of the Seychelles archipelago formed a sleepy backwater in the Indian Ocean that rarely featured in global news headlines. Only a nearfarcical coup attempt in November 1981 by ‘Mad’ Mike Hoare disturbed the tranquillity. But all that changed with the rise of Somali piracy from 2006. Seychelles found itself in a frontline role for which it was hopelessly ill-equipped. The tiny state faced economic ruin as piracy placed most of its vast sea area out of bounds for fishing and tourism, its only industries. The country lacked the means to patrol its 1.3 million km2 exclusive economic zone, and at one time there was a real fear that pirates might establish themselves on the outlying islands. Seychelles had two advantages: a non-partisan ‘friend of all, enemy of none’ policy and a ‘can do’ attitude fostered by close co-operation between all the main players within and outside government. For quick decision-making, small really can be beautiful.
Standing Up To The Pirates As a small island state, Seychelles was vulnerable when piracy threatened its economy. Jean Paul Adam, Seychelles Minister of Foreign Affairs told Stephen Spark how flexibility, co-operation and efficient decision making saved the day.
This became clear when the need to challenge pirates’ sense of impunity made it essential to prosecute the sea-bandits. Seychelles’ piracy laws, like those of most of the local states, dated back to the days when Olivier Levasseur, aka La Buse (the Buzzard), behaved like an 18th-century Afweyne. With assistance from the UN Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC), the country overhauled its laws in just three months and quickly became the region’s most determined pirate prosecutor. Initially, cases were heard at picturesque but inadequate colonial-era premises in the centre of Victoria, but last year the Supreme Court moved to a brand-new building on Île du Port. Convicted pirates are housed at the Montagne Posée Prison, which offers the sort of Indian Ocean views that otherwise are available only at Seychelles’ five-star hotels. Bilateral agreements mean that pirates are usually transferred to UNODC-approved prisons in Somalia to complete their sentences. President James Michel has been prominent in the fightback against Somali piracy, along with home affairs minister Joel Morgan and foreign affairs minister Jean Paul Adam. The latter has been especially active on the international stage and in October he kindly spared some time to talk to The Bridge about the future of maritime security in the region. “We have managed to shift the tide against piracy. If you go back to 2008/09 the response to piracy was relatively incoherent. Many foreign navies were practising ‘catch and release’, meaning they knew that these people were involved in piracy but they couldn’t necessarily get the jurisdiction to prosecute them. Those were really the golden years for the pirate profiteers, who were making a lot of money from ransoms. “Seychelles perhaps felt the impact of piracy the most because all of our trade comes by sea. We felt that the extra insurance costs were essentially an unmerited tax that we had to pay on our imports. There has been a huge improvement over 2008/09: there is more predictability in terms of the resources, there’s better co-ordination, there’s less duplication.
images: stephen spark PAGE 6
“Seychelles has also boosted its air capacity. In 2009 we had none; we now have three aircraft going around the clock and providing very useful surveillance. I certainly think that there will be a scaling down of international forces, but there will need to be a continuation of the co-ordination, because very few countries in this region have the capacity to deploy vessels over large distances. The better sharing of information, co-ordination, intelligence-sharing have meant that we can scale-down the effort immensely. But it would be a mistake to scrap it altogether. “The apex forum dealing with the regional states is the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS). Seychelles now co-chairs Working Group 3, on operational capacity, with the UAE. That’s the main organisation which brings everyone around the table. The CGPCS is like a mini version of the UN, because there are so many countries involved in it. “The big change that we brought about was being able to prosecute pirates in a systematic way. Recent UN figures have shown that in the period over 50% of all pirates prosecuted in the Indian Ocean were prosecuted in Seychelles [more than 100 in total]. We were the first to do the onward transfers back to Somalia, meaning that prosecuted pirates could then be sent to serve their sentences in UN-built prisons in Somalia. It is a means of sending a very clear message that impunity doesn’t exist. There were agreements signed with Puntland and Somaliland as well. We have 20-odd remaining in our prison system that are either still on trial or awaiting appeals. “A lot of the root problems in Somalia are still there. There are still huge problems with al-Shabaab, which is a brake on economic activity. There are a lot of unemployed youth. Without the necessary protective measures, piracy could very easily spring up again. From the intelligence we’re receiving, a lot of the people who used to organise piracy are now organising other criminal activity, and that includes things such as arms trafficking, people trafficking, drugs trafficking and related activities. “It’s very clear that from 2016 the shape of these international forces will change. In Seychelles we have put a lot of emphasis on building the capacity of the region. The main thing that we have done is put in place a regional intelligence centre [Reflecs3, formerly known as RAPPICC, based at the Old Coastguard Base, in Victoria], which is already breaking down barriers.
“We also are very engaged within the region through initiatives such as the East African Standby Force. The African Union has set itself the challenge of having its own forces, divided into five regions, that can be deployed to deal with security challenges in the continent. These could be as varied as ebola or civil war in South Sudan. East Africa will be the first region to be fully operationally capable, by December 2014. “However, [there] is a lack of maritime capacity [in EASF]. So even though we’re going to be a fully operational standby force, our ability to deliver it at sea is limited because we don’t have that protection, that capacity for projection of force. The problem has evolved now from one of maritime piracy to maritime security in a more general sense. AlShabaab are using maritime highways for the transport of their own supplies, for smuggling things which are earning them income. We interdicted a group that are believed to be linked to al-Shabaab that were smuggling drugs, for example, where the intelligence came through partnership with Seychelles. “Good intelligence, good information drastically reduces the amount of hardware you need. You still need the hardware and we still need to upgrade that within this region, but it does reduce your need for it. It means you can be much more targeted in your approach. “Seychelles is now cross-referencing air surveillance our vessel monitoring system (VMS). All vessels have to have a vessel monitoring indicator. From the air, an aircraft can cross-reference the map of the official VMS against what they see. All those they see that don’t appear in the VMS are obviously not doing something. In many cases they are illegal fishing, but we’ve discovered a lot of other things. “We think that with the right investment in this kind of technology, if we can replicate that throughout the region then there’s no reason that we can’t vastly improve the efficiency. When you know exactly where you’re going, not just doing random sweeps, you can be much more targeted and effective.” For more information about the Syechelles and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visit: hwww.mfa.gov.sc/
PAGE 7
'BBC Iceland' helps in Syrian Refugee Rescue Operation off the Italian-Sicilian coast
IN FOCUS: Concerns Grow Over Mass Maritime Migration
PAGE 8
Much work has gone into hardening shipping against traditional threats, such as piracy and terrorism and even contemporary problems such as cyber security, but there are always new challenges ahead. One such problem to emerge in the past couple of years is the almost inexorable and exponential growth of mass maritime migration, and the large scale sea rescues these movements can all too often necessitate. This has evolved into a threat from which shipping cannot emerge without answers and support from elsewhere, and until the root causes are addressed, then shipping will remain vulnerable. Seaways, such as the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, and the Mediterranean are awash with boats, and even ships, full of desperate people trying to move to a new life of perceived freedom, wealth and safety. Shipping has been left to juggle its moral, legal and traditional responsibilities, against the harsh reality that large scale migrant rescue is incredibly difficult for vessel masters, crews and owners to manage effectively.
Despite the winter weather thousands of people continue to brave the treacherous seas of the Mediterranean seeking to reach the shores of Europe. Ships traversing the eastern Mediterranean need to be prepared for the situation they may encounter there. . At the turn of this new year, the vessels “Blue Sky M” and “Ezadeen” became auto-piloted migrant carriers, pointed in the direction of Europe and set adrift. Showing the extent to which criminals will go to earn their ill-gotten gains. Such is the concern over these migration issues that the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has called on governments to act. Speaking at a high level Dialogue on Protection at Sea, hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva, ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe, remarked: "The shipping industry fully accepts its humanitarian obligation to assist anyone at sea whose vessel is in distress. But the situation in the Mediterranean has been spiralling out of control, and may well get worse after the end of the winter weather as thousands more people may attempt to get to Europe from North Africa by sea." He added: "Large scale rescues at sea are not routine events and pose enormous challenges to ships that may only have accommodation and resources for a crew of perhaps 25 people. Recovering 200 or sometimes even 400 anxious and distressed people on board a merchant ship, and administering to their immediate needs, places huge demands on the crew and there is a compelling need for governments to ensure disembarkation as soon as possible to a place of safety ashore". The shipping industry is not in a position to solve the root causes of the crisis and recognises that governments face an enormous challenge, but ICS believes that the coastal authorities in North Africa can do much more to prevent the migrants' craft from setting out to sea in the first place, especially where traffickers and people smugglers are involved. It was also stressed that the European Union and its Member States also need to assist the authorities in North Africa and meet their responsibility as governments to support search and rescue operations and those merchant ships that are often the first on the scene. Echoing these concerns, UNHCR has also warned of its concerns that too many nations are losing focus on saving lives. The UN body believes that this focus is slipping amid confusion among coastal nations and regional blocs over how to respond to the growing number of people making risky sea journeys in search of asylum or migration. It is claimed governments are increasingly seeing keeping foreigners out as being a higher priority than upholding asylum. “This is a mistake, and precisely the wrong reaction for an era in which record numbers of people are fleeing wars,” the UNHCR said. Adding, “Security and immigration management are concerns for any country, but policies must be designed in a way that human lives do not end up...collateral damage.”
It is not just about the Mediterranean as a focus for seaborne migration, other areas too are suffering. The Gulf of Aden (GoA) is a growing concern as the UNHCR recorded almost 100,000 crossings in 2014, mostly by Somalis, Eritreans and Ethiopians, who use Yemen as a staging-post to reach Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. The sharp rise in numbers of migrants making the dangerous crossing near the Bab el Mandeb strait was blamed on "ruthless" traffickers. Experts believe there is a need "to strengthen regional and national law enforcement mechanisms" to tackle people-smugglers. It was also reported that the Malacca strait was a favourite route for illegal migrants. Another UNHCR report has revealed that hundreds of Rohingya people have chosen the Malacca Strait as their new route to reach Australia for safety and to claim asylum. The scope and scale of the problem has prompted the ICS to publish “Guidance on Large Scale Rescue Operations at Sea”. The Guidance on Large Scale Rescue Operations is intended to assist crew members and shipping companies in the eventuality of rescues of “as many as 200 people at a time”. It seems that shipping and the many thousands of migrants are being let down by the many governments which seem to be making statements about changes in policy to save costs with little thought given to the legal ramifications of what they are decreeing. According to critics, governments are throwing the obligations and costs for humanitarian actions back on the shipping industry, with no reward for any efforts made and the threat of prosecution for inaction. It is to be hoped that 2015 will see some positive changes, but that currently seems unlikely. Still the desperate people mass on the wrong side of the seas, and they are willing to risk life and limb to make it across. Often ships are their first safety net, and this places all in intolerable peril.
Global Growth for Academic Partnership It has been almost a year since our first steps to success were initiated with the development of the Global Academic Partnership. The first linkages between the maritime security industry and academia have been built and the core of knowledge is developing. This development has been well received by academia; students are becoming more and more interested in maritime security matters while at the same time the academic institutions have been focusing on new courses and new collaborations. As SAMI is an International Organisation it is not restricted by borders and as such our global recognition is growing and we are keen to explore and develop further opportunities for cooperation. We are pleased to announce the commencement of an important alliance with the Merchant Marine College (MMC) of Shanghai Maritime University. At the beginning of December 2014, we were honoured to welcome the Dean of the Merchant Marine College of Shanghai Maritime University, Prof. Yingjie Xiao, accompanied by Prof. Xiangming Zeng and Capt. Pengfei Zhang. We had the chance to exchange ideas and discussed thoroughly the future of the industry and the important roles both organisations play in maritime security.
Peter Cook meets Prof. Xiao Yingjie, Dean Shanghai Maritime University – Merchant Marine College
The Shanghai Maritime University celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2009. Today, the University has 14 faculties which consist of 45 undergraduate programmes, 57 postgraduate programmes, 17 doctoral programmes, and 2 post-doctoral stations with around 21,000 full time students. The University has 60 sister Universities across the world, and works closely with the maritime industry. Shangai Maritime University provides sea based programmes in Navigation Technology, Marine Engineering, and Electrical & Electronic Engineering. To facilitate the programmes SMU has state of the art technology and training facilities with a 360 degree-Visual Simulation System, a full Mission Engine room simulator for a 5,000 TEU container vessel. The university also has two training vessels; a 500 TEU container ship and a 48,000 DWT Bulk Carrier with enhanced superstructure and accommodation designed to carry 2 classes at any one time. For more information you can visit their website at: http://en.shmtu.edu.cn/ For any questions or information about SAMI’s Global Academic Partnership Programme, or proposals for further academic development and consideration you can contact Nadia Balta: nb@seasecurity.org
From left: Prof. Zeng Xiangming, Associate Professor Shanghai Maritime University, Vice Director of Marine Engineering Dept; Nadia Balta, SAMI; Prof. Xiao Yingjie, Dean Shanghai Maritime University – Merchant Marine College; Peter Cook, SAMI; Capt. Pengfei Zhang, Maritime Lawyer, Lecturer of Shanghai Maritime University PAGE 10
Securing the Future The 12th annual Transport Security Expo proved to be a breakthrough year for the show with increased foreign engagement, new programming and free conferences raising the bar for the event and the industry as a whole. A total of 4,037 visitors from all corners of the globe gathered at London’s Olympia for two days of networking and education from 2-3 December while exhibitor rebookings on site rose to 81% as the decision to open up conference sessions as free for all paid dividends and drew widespread approval from the companies present. The Maritime, Aviation, Rail, Major Events and Secure Transportation conferences were standing room only for most of the two days while the innovative Live Demonstration Theatre, ran in conjunction with CrisisCast, proved a fine visual centrepiece for the show’s visitors. The current state of play in maritime security including implications for the global supply chain, piracy and the cyber threat were covered in the maritime conference courtesy of UK National Maritime Security Committee Chairman Gavin Simmonds, INTERPOL Maritime Security Head Dimitrios Souxes and former Royal Navy Commander-inChief Fleet Sir James Burnell-Nugent among others. SAMI’s Head of Equipment, Technology & Hardware Elisabeth Wilson also spoke at the conference, telling the audience about the organisation’s part in the EU funded research project ‘PROMERC’. It was a truly international show with 89 countries of which 23 were hosted by the Governement's UKTI DSO in a response that confirmed TRS as THE global gathering event for the transport security industry. As a whole foreign delegations were delighted to see they were given full support to maximise their time at the event and increase business contacts and seal deals. On the exhibitor side more than 140 global blue chip security manufacturers supported the show including Bosch Security Systems, L-3, Excelerate, Stoof International, SELEX ES and Brinks Global Services. Peter Mead, Product Manager, Stoof International, said: "From around about 9:40am on the first day we were in continuous discussions with serious business candidates right up until at least 3pm which was when I personally then looked at my watch. By continuous I mean two of us moving from one discussion to the next. Many new, as well many old acquaintances were made during the two day show. It was only halfway through the second day that a chance was had to visit the other stands and talk to fellow exhibiters. So all in all a worthwhile show and not just a flag flying exercise."
www.transec.com
Ray Cooke, Vice President, Global Business Development, Samsung Techwin added: "The event had very good quality of exhibitors and of presenter content. You have really achieved a great forum for our industry’s established and newly emerging innovators, and for the customers they serve. A lot of work, well executed – for a most worthy event indeed." Peter Jones, CEO of organiser Nineteen Events, added: “This year’s event really took TRS to a whole new level in terms of innovation, execution and foreign engagement. Our game-changing decision to make conferences free for all and spread the knowledge of our world class line-up of speakers and the phenomenal turn out of country delegations really confirmed the event as the de facto meeting place for the industry to learn, network and do business.” PAGE 11
A project aimed at reducing the vulnerability of EU merchant fleets and maritime supply lines to criminal abduction and extortion and thereby reduce risk to mariners, shipping, and the environment, while also reducing costs.
www.promerc.eu FACTS & FIGURES Full name: Protection Measures for Merchant Ships Acronym: PROMERC Duration: 24 Months
Start Date: 1 March 2014 Total Budget: 3.13M Euro EC Funding: 2.22M Euro This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under Grant Agreement no. 607685.
Elisabeth Wilson, SAMI’s Head of ET&H was invited to speak at the Maritime Security Conference during Transport Security Expo held in London in December 2014. Transport Security Expo has a unique pedigree as the major global exhibition and conference where security manufacturers, systems integrators and distributors connect in a uniquely focused environment with security buyers and policy makers for aviation, maritime, rail and commercial transportation. Elisabeth’s presentation formed an update on the PROMERC project but due to the confidential nature of the project, the presentation could not be made available for public download from the TRANSEC website. Due to a growing interest in the project since the conference from both members and non-members alike, we have been able to reproduce an overview of the presentation with links for further information as a special feature in this issue. PROMERC, short for “Protection Measures for Merchant Ships”, is a 7th Framework EU funded research project proposed in response to a security call for ‘non-military measures for merchant shipping against piracy’ and deals with mitigating the risk of piracy and pirate deterrence.
PAGE 12
The project started in March 2014 and is due to run for two years. Its aim, to reduce the vulnerability of EU merchant fleets and maritime supply lines to criminal abduction and extortion, thus reducing the risk to mariners, shipping and the environment whilst also reducing costs. Piracy has re-emerged as a global security threat. With the Suez Canal and Gulf of Aden providing Europe’s key trade route to the Middle East, India and the Far East, unhindered passage for the 30,000 ships that use it annually is essential to the economic well being and energy security of the continent. There are a bewildering number of options available to shipping companies to mitigate the risk of piracy and to deter pirates, including passive protection measures to discourage attacks, and defensive measures to counter the pirates in the event of such an attack. Despite this, there is scant information available regarding the operational effectiveness or the cost benefits of their use, particularly when employed in combination as part of a holistic approach. There has been a rapid growth in the use of Private Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) to provide ship-board protection and some flag states permit the use of lethal force in order to protect their ships. Although there is evidence that this militarisation of the industry has been effective, there remains deep unease regarding the broader
industrial, political, ethical, economic, social, legal and environmental implications which are poorly understood. The project is looking to provide a better understanding of the options available as well as evaluate alternative long-term solutions. PROMERC is applying advanced geospatial analysis and intelligence techniques to provide the shipping industry with a layered approach to planning, routeing and threat reduction that goes beyond current state of the art. This is a layered approach that starts with Training and Preparation of both ship and shore based personnel. The effectiveness of this training can be enhanced by the next layers of Intelligence and Routing, and Surveillance and Alerts. Building on this foundation is the first layer of physical counter-measures in the form of non-lethal deterrents; the next stage in defence being the addition of Armed Guards where allowed. The final layers are those of physical barriers, with the ultimate line in defence being the use of a citadel where fitted. There are three specific outputs of the project: 1. Guide to Countermeasures - a knowledge base of the counter-measures available. 2. Route Planning Tool - tools to assess the available counter-measures, the current and future threat situations, to identify and quantify the risks and to aid decisions before and during voyages. 3. Onboard Tactical Decision Aid – tool to provide situation and ship specific counter-measures and best practice guidance prior to and during the voyage. Interactive route planning tools to develop the counter-measures and sail plan to an acceptable level of risk and cost. Each is a Deliverable of the project and all feed into each part of this layered process as well as each other. Each will be reviewed by end-users and the prototype system will be tested by end-users under realistic, operational conditions. PROMERC brings together end-users, commercial, political (NGO), academic, and military entities along with leading research companies and agencies. This draw on extensive background knowledge and data is to ensure rapid development and assure completion of the project within the allocated time period. The consortium consists of nine Partners, each with its own subject matter expertise. In addition to this wealth of experience, the consortium's broad commercial and military security experience is supported by active stakeholder engagement throughout. This ensures synergy with key players and on-going activities, both military and non-military. Further details of each of the Partners and the Stakeholder Advisory Board can be found by following the links on the PROMERC website. Projects like these are tackled through a series of work
packages that are mutually dependent. In this case there are 8 work packages (WPs), each covering a specific aspect of the project. The requirements of each WP are precisely laid out in the Description of Works, the project ‘Bible’. WP1: Current and Future Non-Military Counter Measures defines representative scenarios and a range of countermeasure options which in turn constitute the baseline for the non-military risk mitigation measures and for the project outcomes. WP2: PEESLE Constraints reviews and analyses Political, Ethical, Economic, Societal, Legal and Environmental (PEESLE) frameworks of existing and potential non military protection measures including evaluation of alternative concepts that rely on less harmful interventions. WP3: Evaluation of Options creates a methodology for counter-measure cost benefit analysis. WP4: Development of Tools creates a prototype software tool to provide dynamic situation sensitive advice and guidance to the bridge team. WP5: Evaluation by Stakeholders coordinates and engages between the project group and the broader stakeholder group. WP6: Demonstration demonstrates the CounterMeasures Decision Aid against the baseline scenarios to be evaluated by the stakeholder group and endusers partners in a bridge trainer. WP7: Dissemination & Exploitation disseminates the results in terms that are readily understandable to stakeholders at governments, industry and suppliers in order to accelerate the implementation of the research findings. WP8: Management coordinates the administrative activities of the project and links together all project components.
If you are interested in the project and would like to find further information, there is a public website at: http://www.promerc.eu/. Third party validation is vital to these types of projects and as such they can always benefit from real-time constructive feedback by potential end-user representatives in the sector. If you would like to be involved in the project as an additional Stakeholder, then please get in touch.
PAGE 13
Member News Updates from SAMI’s Global Membership
First Floating Armoury Company Certified to ISO/PAS 28007 MNG Maritime has become the first, and currently only, floating armoury operator to be certified to the ISO/PAS 28007 standard. The quality standard recognised the achievement of the Company in providing privately contracted armed security personnel to protect its own floating armoury vessels in the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea. The certifying body, Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) also concurrently certified MNG Maritime’s Fujairah armoury to the ISO 28000 standard, recognising the Company’s quality in providing “a secure transfer service and floating armoury for Private Maritime Security Companies embarking on or disembarking from armed transits, including the storage and transfer of firearms, ammunition, other controlled goods and equipment, accommodation arrangements and transfer for personnel in addition to small arms inspection and armourer services on board MNG Resolution”. MNG Maritime is unique in holding the three ‘holy grail’ approvals, demonstrating total compliance with all industry standards, namely specific ISO standard certification (LRQA); explicit and unambiguous flag state approval to operate as a floating armoury by a white or grey list flag state (St Kitts and Nevis) and Government licences specifically to operate a floating armoury service (United Kingdom).
MNG Resolution in the Gulf of Oman off Fujairah MNG Maritime’s Co-Founder and Director, Nick Holtby, said “when we established the Company almost two years ago now, it was with the intent to operate to a level of compliance and legitimacy unique in the floating armoury sector. We are delighted that we have achieved our goals and we would like to thank the UK Government and the Government of St Kitts and Nevis for their proactive assistance in achieving these” www.mngmaritime.com
Jan Scheepers joins Port2Port Maritime Port2Port Maritime UK Ltd has announced the appointment of Jan Scheepers as Non-Executive Director and Board Member to the company. Port2Port continues its expansion within the maritime security and risk management services sector; Scheepers’ experience and knowledge of the Shipping, Offshore and Oil trading Industries will assist significantly at this critical stage of growth. Andrew Varney, Managing Director of Port2Port said, “This is fantastic news for P2P, which I very much hope will enable a much wider offering to our current and potential Shipping Industry clients along with our emerging portfolio of Offshore customers. His appointment will serve to both strengthen and compliment the existing expertise on our Board.”
Jan Scheepers has worked extensively in the global shipping arena. Beginning with TransPetrol Services, a well-known ship-owner, he has also worked with two of the world’s largest commodity traders, Trafigura B.V. and Arcadia Petroleum, heading up their Shipping Departments. Scheepers said, “I am looking forward to supporting Port2Port in further developing business in the Maritime and Offshore sectors, using my network, knowledge and experience to support this rapidly expanding spectrum of global risk management service.”
Endeavour Maritime Moves from Strength to Strength Endeavour Maritime has announced the launch of a new Global Operating Platform offering intelligence updates on over 50 countries, travel tracking for individuals and AIS tracking of vessels. In addition to the Global Operating Platform, Endeavour has been working with Griffon Hoverwork Ltd, and is pleased to announce that they have been selected as the in-country representative for distribution in Nigeria. Based in Southampton Griffon Hoverwork Ltd is a world leading designer and manufacturer of military and commercial hovercraft. Endeavour Maritime welcomes enquiries from international commercial firms keen to find out more about the application of hovercraft in Nigerian territorial waters, for transportation and offshore platform security. With a local partner, and offices in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt, Endeavour Maritime has extensive coverage and a deep know-how of the requirements and restrictions of working in Nigeria, amongst other West African countries. To find out more about Endeavour’s work in NIgeria. and to request a brief on their analysis of the current threats in Nigerian waters contact: ops@endeavour-maritime.com
Taking Action on New Threats Neptune Maritime Security is stepping up its services to combat increasingly sophisticated threats worldwide. The international maritime security company is expanding its specialist support to meet rising demand in offshore security, port security, risk management and cruise ship protection. The Private Maritime Security Company's (PMSC) action comes as owners and operators face a growing complexity of risks from piracy and maritime crime as well as organised crime syndicates, some of which feed into terrorist networks. Neptune will continue to operate its successful core vessel protection as well as further build on its risk consultancy services and mitigation operations in hazardous areas. Business development manager Jeremy Johnson said: "The threat from pirates and well-organised criminal syndicates is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Their reach stretches across the Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region as well as parts of North and South America to pose a potential threat for executives, operators and owners in a range of maritime sectors, including ports, offshore and the cruise market. "As a trusted and professional PMSC, we continue to develop and deliver safety and security services tailored to the protection of the maritime community as regional threats and global hazards evolve. Our expanding range of services is designed specifically to ensure the continued safety, security and protection of people, vessels, assets and installations. "Protection by prevention is key in the effective management and mitigation of risk, whether it is at sea, in port, in onshore and offshore environments." In addition to an increase in attacks on merchant shipping, the oil and gas sector has become a valuable target for a new wave of organised criminal organisations in Southeast Asia. There have been 129 reported incidents of maritime crime so far in 2014 in the region, according to latest figures from the Regional Co-operation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). The Vietnamese flagged Sunrise 689 was among the latest of 16 tankers to be hijacked in 2014 when it was boarded near the Malacca Strait in October. Off the coast of Guinea in West Africa, latest figures show 51 confirmed incidents so far this year. Hijackings and theft continue as well as kidnaps of oil and gas workers and senior crew.
PAGE 16
Port and terminal owners and operators face increasing instability, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East. There are more than 12,000 ports worldwide, according to IHS's Sea-web. Major threats include civil unrest and potential terror attacks. The cruise industry values discreet protection and training services. Cruise Market Watch said that the number of cruise passengers is set to increase by 3% this year to 21.6million compared with 2013 - making the industry worth $27.1 billion worldwide. Neptune has strengthened its safety and security provision with a comprehensive range of services to support identification, management and mitigation of business risks. They include vessel and facility security surveys, consultancy services, bespoke risk assessments, staff training, emergency response plans, and health and safety planning as well as low profile protection, chaperone services and armed security. In the oil and gas sector, expanded services include professional risk management in upstream exploration, drilling and production. This encompasses early assessments to pinpoint risks to a particular project, regional threats and specific security needs. Neptune has bolstered its ship and port security services with its experienced ISPS security professionals delivering exacting survey and risk assessments in shipping ports, cruise terminals, and onshore and offshore oil and gas terminals. Neptune's cruise ship protection teams carry out risk assessments for ships and terminals. They also provide a low-profile presence on vessels at sea and in port as well as at facilities when required. Neptune is one of a small number of accredited PMSCs to achieve associate membership of BIMCO, one of the world's largest shipping associations, after achieving the ISO (PAS) 28007 accreditation.
www.neptunemaritimesecurity.com
Watchstander Triples Effective Operating Range of Anti-Piracy System to Six Nautical Miles WatchStander LLC, a provider of anti-piracy technology for the shipping industry, has tripled the effective operating range of its unique, fully automated, anti-piracy system.
By automatically identifying and engaging threats – without human involvement, day or night, whether the protected ship is steaming, anchored or moored – WatchStander gains valuable minutes for the ship’s officers to respond to a threat.
The company upgraded its system to detect vessels and potential piracy threats from up to six nautical miles, tripling its previous capability. It has also enabled the technology to automatically respond with advanced, non-lethal countermeasures against inbound pirate boats as early as five nautical miles, significantly increasing the safety of the vessel and crew under attack.
WatchStander’s revolutionary new artificial intelligence software lies at the heart of the company’s anti-piracy system. It was developed via the company’s exclusive long-term partnership with The Pennsylvania State University’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL), one of the U.S. Navy’s primary University Affiliated Research Centers. Integral to WatchStander’s Intelligent Controller is the company’s software that evaluates the behavior of vessels located within six nautical miles of a WatchStander-protected ship.
The new system has been successfully tested and operated, using the new capabilities during a recent voyage on a fully loaded commercial LNG ship transiting through the High Risk Area (HRA) of the Northern Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. The development comes at a time when piracy and attempted robbery against ships have risen in Western Africa and Asia during 2014. The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre has reported 129 incidents against ships in the period January to the end of September 2014 in Asia, compared with 99 in the same time period during 2013. WatchStander’s U.S. Patent Pending system robotically tracks, identifies and non-lethally engages pirate vessels that threaten ocean-going ships worldwide. The technology “thinks” like a team of human guards, as it ignores benign traffic while searching for threats and engaging them with non-lethal countermeasures in a 360-degree circle around the ship.
In Brief ATAC Advantage ATAC Global is the first company using UAV for Document of indecent management and also a deterrent force for counter-piracy. - The following link is to a video demonstrating how ATAC’s UAV Advantage works: http://goo.gl/fFV4nj - To find out more about the UAV Advantage Anti-Piracy drone visit: http://goo.gl/L1eEc4
New Achievement for MSI Marine Security International has recently expanded its services in the fields of land and port security. The company has announced that it is now certified to offer services in Buildings, Residences, Marinas, Ports, VIP, Oil platforms security protection. www.marinesecurityinternational.com
Commenting on the development, Jeffrey Hilsgen, President and CEO, WatchStander, said: “WatchStander constantly strives to enhance the security of commercial shipping personnel, ships and cargo. We have therefore substantially improved the effective operating range of our system while holding our pricing constant. This significant technological development has improved maritime security, while offering an even stronger value proposition for our customers. As piracy increases, and the dynamics and methods of attack continue to change, so too must the mitigation tactics. We believe that technology and innovation will play an increasingly important role in countering piracy and keeping the commercial fleet safe.”
SAMI Welcomes New Members The Association has seen another influx of new PMSC members joining over the last few months. G7 International www.g7international.com / www.triskelservices.com MPBS Group www.mpbsgroup.com M.S.O. Security http://en.mso-security.com Salamanca Risk Management Ltd http://salamanca-group.com SWAT Security Systems Europa SL www.swatss.com To find out more about any of SAMI’s members and the services they offer visit the member directory online at www.seasecurity.org
Further Expansion for Guardian Guardian Global Resources is to further expand its global presence by opening an office in Singapore, an HQ which will be the base for all South East Asia business. Alexander Leslie will be leading operations as Managing Director, South East Asia. Leslie has considerable military experience with 23 years of service, having trained at RMA Sandhurst and conducted operational tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Leslie has also spent time in SE Asia at the University of Malaya (International and Strategic Studies) and the Malaysian Staff College. Alexander has spent the last two years as Managing Director of a start-up security company in Nigeria and wider West Africa. When asked about his new role with Guardian, Leslie stated that: ‘The plans that Guardian Global Resources have for SE Asia are quite fantastic. A very broad and well developed vision, both in terms of expeditionary approach into new markets and sustained delivery for ongoing operations. To be at the helm is not only an immense privilege, but terrifically exciting.’ The port of Singapore is one of the busiest in the world and a major hub for imports and exports. Half of the world’s annual supply of crude oil transits through Singaporean waters and the port houses the third largest petrochemical refiner in the world. Consequently, large numbers of high value oil and gas cargos travel through the port every day, with a vessel entering the strait every four minutes.
The narrow choke point upon entering the Singapore Strait has become a playground for a new breed of pirate.
Assailants, particularly those operating near the Singapore Strait, have changed their modus operandi. Rather than conducting quick robberies, criminal elements in the area have ramped up their hijacking efforts, with assailants targeting tankers laden with oil-related products, which are then seized and sold on the black market. Regional criminal networks are growing more sophisticated, and are led by extremely powerful leaders. As a consequence it has become imperative for the commercial shipping sector to rely on established and adaptable security providers. Guardian Global Resources has been providing Maritime Security services in both the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea for a number of years. With its suite of accreditations and impressive track record, Guardian has become the trusted advisor for many companies transiting goods through these hostile waters. With the establishment of its new base in Singapore, Guardian will be able to aid its clients even more effectively on a global scale.
CyberCrime - One of the biggest Middle East security threats While various pockets of the Middle East are constantly making headlines for terror threats, civil unrest and the persistent march of the Islamic State, there is a security threat that’s far more widespread, touching the majority of the region. Experts are warning that the Middle East has become a hotbed for cybercrime. According to Cisco’s 2014 Annual Security Report, total global threats have reached their highest recorded level, increasing 14% from 2012 to last year. A sample of 30 of the world’s largest Fortune 500 companies generated visitor traffic to websites that host malware, with a sharp rise in malware attacks on the Middle East’s oil and gas sector. The report also states that the Middle East and Africa region posts a strong adoption of smart devices, set to grow from 133 million this year to 598 million by 2018. In addition, current estimates value the Middle East Cyber Security sector at $25bn over the next 10 years. However, that also means more complex security threats, and businesses across the region are at high risk, with 65% of employees not understanding the security risks of using personal devices in the workplace, Cisco’s recent Middle East ICT Security Study says. As a result, cyber-criminals are increasingly attacking Internet infrastructure, as opposed to individual computers or devices, which is why there has been a rise in password and credential theft, infiltrations, and breaching and stealing data. Oil and Gas Cyber attacks are increasingly becoming a cause for concern for oil and gas companies operating in the Middle East. According to reports by Gulf News, Saudi Arabia’s national oil company Saudi Aramco was hit with a virus that infected roughly 30,000 of its machines in 2013. The report suggests that it took nearly two weeks for the company to recover, disrupting the world’s largest oil producer. This is just one example of cyber attacks in the region, and the same malware, named Shamoon, was also used in an attack against Qatar’s RasGas, one of the largest liquefied natural gas producers, according to reports. Several months after the attack, Saudi Aramco said the malware had tried to disrupt the company’s flow of oil
and gas supplies to international markets and, by the company’s own estimates, resulting losses attributed to the attack were around $15 million. Gulf news also reports that in October 2014 British defence and security firm BAE Systems released a military grade solution called IndustrialProtect, to safeguard industrial control systems. BAE Systems rolled out the product globally in October, and early indicators were that the organisation expected to cash in on companies in the Arab Gulf, Australasia and North America, according to company executives. Gulf News quoted James Clark, Director of Energy & Utilities from BAE Systems Applied Intelligence as saying that “the threat is very real”. It’s widely believed that cyber attacks in the Middle East are a mix of hacktivism, which is hacking used as a form of protest to promote political ends, and statesponsored attacks. “We have economic war and information technology is one of the weapons,” Vincent Lavergne, Director, Field System Engineering for South Europe, Middle East and Africa, at F5, a company that provides data protection services to multinationals, told Gulf News. Lavergne also said that one of the key issues oil and gas companies around the world are affected by is the fact that they primarily react to attacks – instead of being proactive. He said that companies can often be wary of high expenditure when it comes to risk mitigation.
Article kindly contributed by: PAGE 19
Asian Petro Piracy: A Major Concern Piracy in Asian waters last year hit its highest levels since 2006, with 169 actual or attempted sea attacks reported. These were predominantly in Indonesia, the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca and Strait of Singapore. According to The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), the number of incidents has surpassed full-year figures in the last five years, and the previous record of 167 in 2010. Sea robbers are not only becoming more active, but also more daring, violent and more focused, as they have shifted from petty thefts to full scale cargo grabs. This recent resurgence in maritime crime has seen criminals turn their sights on the global oil trade, and there is little sign of a let up as “petro pirates” make themselves felt. A number of small tankers were hit last year, and the attacks have seen product tankers (less than 5,000 deadweight tons) boarded by small groups of lightly armed pirates and taken into the South China Sea; their names are sometimes re-painted and communications equipment disabled as they are taken to a rendezvous point with a second vessel. Once there, the fuel can be offloaded within hours. Shipments of marine gas oil (MGO) are targeted for several reasons. First, MGO sold illicitly is lucrative. Second, loaded product tankers present inviting targets, being low, slow and easily trackable. Third, many attacks betray the hallmarks of pre-planned, syndicate involvement: Siphoning operations are well organised, and conducted with apparent foreknowledge of the cargo fuel type and how to dispose of it. Crews are normally unharmed, although deaths of seafarers have occurred and there are growing concerns that some seafarers may actually be complicit in the pirate attacks. ReCAAP’s most recent report notes it cannot rule out the possibility of “conspiracy between the crew of the vessel and pirates; between the shipping company and pirates”. Suspicions that “piracy” is being used as a cover for insurance fraud have also mounted as some operators feature disproportionately in the statistics. Targeted siphoning attacks, with strong indications of insider involvement, do not pose a generalised threat to shipping or the energy trade, although attacks do still occur on vulnerable vessel types elsewhere within the Straits of Malacca Traffic Separation Scheme. PAGE 20
Also there has been cases of mistaken identity, as vessels thought to be carrying hydrocarbons have been attacked. Regional navies have been busy, patrolling and arresting suspected pirates, but experts believe that much more must be done to counter this crime wave. According to a new study, the key elements driving the piracy are vessel vulnerabilities, owners cutting costs and pirates adopting the “Nigerian” business model. Allied to the fact that piracy leads to profit, there is scope for a further deterioration in the area. This spike in petro piracy has fed growing concerns that crime is in the ascendancy, as such there are growing calls for action to stem the rising tide. Alas at the moment, it seems there is no clear maritime security road map to solve or at least mitigate the problem. However, new research has suggested that efforts to contain piracy in the region should include: • A new approach to law enforcement. Not just arresting low level pirates at the scene, but instead extending efforts to break up the criminal enterprises ashore, • It has also been suggested that product tanker owners should adopt a regional version of “Best Management Practices” (BMP), which prescribe selfhelp onboard security measures. Similar to those used to "harden" merchant ships against piracy in the Indian Ocean. • There have also been calls for Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to extend the Malacca Strait Patrols, and to "tag-team" a continuous presence in the waters, especially in the hours of darkness. With growing attacks, it seems all too easy for the criminals to take the cargoes and make themselves a fortune on the black market. Action is clearly needed.
Shipping: The Innocent Victim in Conflict When a Libyan warplane bombed a Greekowned tanker at the eastern Libyan port of Darna in January, killing two crew members and injuring two more, it became clear that shipping was once again in the crosshairs of a dreadful conflict. The Liberian-flagged “Araevo” was chartered by Libya's state-run National Oil Corporation, when it was attacked, seemingly without warning and with devastating effect. Libya’s internationally recognised government eventually admitted to a mistake, stating that its fighter jets bombed the ship because it had no prior clearance to enter an eastern port and acted “suspiciously”. Such violence is not isolated, indeed there have been repeated attacks in a seeming new phase for the troubled nation. Increasingly various armed factions are fighting for control of the country's biggest export terminals. Other ports in the country have suffered closures and serious fires too as rivals have clashed violently. Prior to the attack on the “Araevo”, the fighting had reduced Libya's crude oil output dramatically, according to the state-owned National Oil Corp (NOC). Such attacks and concerns are also having an effect on those choosing to allow their vessels to the country. Shipowners will be watching developments with interest, especially as the recent reports of conflict are some of the most severe since the 2011 revolution. While UN representatives have warned that Libya is currently in the middle of an all-out confrontation, which may escalate further. A number of insurers have been issuing updates regarding safety of vessels calling at Libya, and Skuld P&I Club has stated owners should: • Check their contractual arrangements/charterparty clauses are they robust enough for a Libyan port call? • Assess possibility of port/terminal blockades. • Be ready for increased armed violence and criminal activity. • Appreciate the potential weaknesses of International Ship and Port Facility Security(ISPS) Cod earrangements. The effect on security and knock effects of subsequent port calls.
• Make sure vessels stay in as close contact as practicable with local agents and local correspondents. • Be prepared for sudden changes in groups controlling key installations and ports – and appreciative of potential implications. • Awareness of sanctions on Libya, cargoes and/or individuals/entities, and the potential effect on any vessels trading with these. Given that the heightened risk of damage to oil tankers the issue of insurance will of course be key. It should be noted that Libya is currently a listed area by the Joint War Committee of the Lloyd’s and International Underwriting Association (IUA) company markets. While being listed does not necessarily mean that additional charges will be made automatically, it does give insurers the chance to assess the risks they are faced with and react accordingly. The list was last amended in September 2014, and the current situation makes it seem hugely unlikely that this categorisation will be lifted. Contracts and charter parties are also important, and lawyers are stressing that traders chartering vessels to Libya should check the terms of the war risk clause in their charterparties. According to an industry briefing by law firm Holman Fenwick and Willan, The VOYWAR 2004 and CONWARTIME 2004 definition of “war risks” includes rebellion and civil commotion, and owners may legitimately refuse to follow charterers’ orders to proceed to a port where the vessel may be exposed to war risks if in the reasonable judgment of the master/ owners there is or may be a danger to the vessel, cargo, crew or other persons on the vessel. The implications of this spiralling, messy and confused conflict are ravaging not simply the country, but trade too. This makes it incredibly difficult for shipping. Despite rafts of legislation and demands of regulation these types of maritime security threat cannot reasonably be dealt with. While best management practices have been developed to help counter pirates, and the ISPS Code exists to harden vessels against terrorism – there are vulnerabilities which it is almost impossible to minimise, and being targeted by missile carrying jets would appear to be just such a menace.
Maritime Security Matters News, updates and information from across the maritime security industry
Videotel Enhances MCA-Approved Security Training Courses Videotel™ has expanded and enhanced its Ship Security Officer and Designated Security Duties Training Course in line with the latest STCW regulations. The Ship Security Officer Training Course is for personnel who are nominated as ship’s Security Officers and the Designated Security Duties Training Course is for personnel on board with Designated Security Duties. Both training courses contain brand new resources and training material, and have been approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel™, explains: “The ever increasing threat to maritime security is behind the decision to enhance our security training for Ship Security Officers and the important issue of Designated Security Duties. The courses meet legislative requirements but will also help seafarers feel more confident when dealing with a security threat.” Both the Ship Security Officer Training Course and the Designated Security Duties Training Course meet the learning objectives set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and also guidelines issued by the U.K. Merchant Navy Training Board. The courses, which are delivered using interactive e-Learning Computer Based Training (CBT), cover: • The Roles and Responsibilities of the Company and Ship Security Officers • The Responsibilities of Seafarers with Designated Security Duties • The Ship Security Assessment and Ship Security Plan • Reporting Procedures • Defensive and Protective Measures Including Searching People and Searching the Ship • Drills and Training • Anti-piracy Measures and Practices • Emergency Measures
PAGE 22
The Ship Security Officer Training Course requires the candidate to have a minimum of 12 months seagoing service before course completion, with an anticipated 15 Guided Learning Hours (GLHs) to complete the course. The course includes a randomized multiple choice test for completion at the end of each module, followed by a final test. There are also assignments where applicable for seafarers wanting to gain advanced certification. The course complies with STCW Reg. VI/5 paragraph 1 and Sections A-VI/5 paragraphs 1-4. The Designated Security Duties Training Course consists of five modules with a randomized multiple choice test for completion at the end of each module, followed by a final test. There are also assignments which must be completed in order to gain an advanced certification. With an anticipated 10 GLHs required to complete the course, this complies with STCW regulation VI/6 paragraph 4 and Section A-VI/6 paragraphs 6 to 8. Videotel™ (www.videotel.com), the market-leading provider of training films, computer-based training, and e-Learning courses, is part of KVH Industries, Inc., a premier manufacturer of solutions that provide global high-speed Internet, television, and voice services via satellite to mobile users at sea, on land, and in the air. KVH is also a global news, music, and entertainment content provider to many industries including maritime, retail, and leisure.
European Shipowners (ECSA) Welcome Revamped EU Anti-Piracy Naval Mission EU Member States have decided to extend the mandate of the EU anti-piracy naval mission off the coast of Somalia both in terms of scope and duration. EU Navfor Atalanta will now run until 12 December 2016 and will include several new secondary objectives, designed to combat piracy and its root causes more effectively, by coordinating with and providing assistance to other EU initiatives in the area, as well as monitoring and reporting on illegal fishing activities. Although currently in recession, Somali piracy has by no means been eradicated and the threat of hijackings is still very real. A combination of factors has in the last few years contributed to the pronounced drop in the
number of attempted and successful attacks, namely the use of private armed guards on board ships, the presence of international naval units patrolling the area, as well as the increased use of improved selfdefence measures by vessels transiting the high-risk area. Be that as it may, these initiatives can only contain the problem by addressing its physical manifestation, rather than tackling its root causes: poverty, the lack of rule of law and the absence of a strong government, as well as the lack of alternative livelihoods. That is why ECSA wholeheartedly supports the recent decision to extend the mission’s mandate, as it is a step in the right direction, indicative of the EU’s willingness to adopt a holistic approach on this thorny issue.
Ebola: Still a Global Travel Risk As the Ebola virus continues to make headlines, it is now widely accepted by the authorities that Ebola is now a global concern. The World Health Organisation recently confirmed that West Africa’s outbreak is an international health emergency and called for a global “solidarity” in the fight to stop the spread of the virus. Although difficult to predict, it is almost certain that more cases will arise as the authorities struggle to contain the epidemic in West Africa. All countries are discussing how to protect their own citizens, with many governments and health authorities planning screening at airports and quarantine of travellers who arrive from the three countries most affected by the virus: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Screening has already started at key airports in the UK and US.
Travel Planning Companies should consider developing an Ebola response plan to handle a suspect situation. Make sure you have a crisis management team, identify the essential staff and educate your travellers. The ATPI Group strongly advises any travellers planning to visit West Africa to understand the risks and check with their own travel management company in the first instance. For the latest up-to-date advice visit the following sites: ATPI: www.atpi.com/ebola-update/ World Health Organisation: www.who.int International SOS: www.internationalsos.com/ebola Downloadable resources and a mobile app available for Android and Apple iOS
PAGE 23
To help generate awareness of maritime trade and the law of the sea, Norwich University has created an infographic that addresses the freedom of the seas, security and piracy. We are pleased to include the piracy element of the infographic in theBRIDGE and recommed taking a look at the complete article online: http://diplomacy.norwich.edu/maritime-law-infographic/
View the full inforgraphic online at: http://diplomacy.norwich.edu/maritime-law-infographic/
Global Reach Making Maritime Business Happen
AFFILIATES
EVENTS
AFEX www.afex.com
in partnership with
ATP Instone www.atpi.com Austral Maritime Services www.austral-maritime.com Bellwood Prestbury www.bellwoodprestbury.com Bio Clinics www.bioclinics.co.uk
Sea Asia 21-23 April 2015, Singapore www.sea-asia.com Seatrade Awards 06 May 2015, London www.seatrade-awards.com
Celero www.celerogroup.com Ellis Clowes www.ellisclowes.com
Seatrade Cruise Asia 11-12 June, Korea www.seatrade-cruiseasia.com
Kanoo Shipping www.kanooshipping.com Ocean Marine Security www.oceanmarinesecurity.in
Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboats - Middle East 5-7 October, Abu Dhabi www.middleeastworkboats.com
PSCS International https://pscsinternational.com/ SAT Marine Travel www.satmarine.co.uk
FOR EVEN MORE MARITIME EVENTS VISIT:
Shorelutions www.shorelutions.com To find out more about Affiliate membership or working in partnership with SAMI, contact Anneley Pickles ajp@seasecurity.org
www.seatrade-global.com
A NIGHT OF ADVENTURE
CUTTY SARK 25th JUNE 2015
Come aboard the historic Cutty Sark and enjoy a night of live music, delicious food, and stories from some truly inspirational adventures. The perfect occasion to entertain clients and colleagues. Tables of 10: ÂŁ2,500, individual tickets available. Sponsorship opportunities still available. For more information contact Sofie Bennett on (+44) 023 8051 5950 or sbennett@sailors-society.org Photo Copyright Royal Museums Greenwich
Registered Charity in England & Wales No. 237778
Accredited Drug & Alcohol Testing for the Maritime Security Industry
BioClinics Accredited DNA, Drug & Alcohol Testing
BioClinics Limited is a UK based company providing drug and alcohol testing services to Private Maritime Security Companies both large and small. Do you require random, periodic, preemployment or any other form of testing? We provide a fully managed, innovative and flexible D & A testing service. Our existing PMSC’s benefit from BioClinics unique approach including: • • • •
Over 200 testing clinics throughout the UK and Ireland. A large team of highly trained mobile officers available to provide on-site sample collection and screening. Same day and next day appointments available. All major ports covered.
BioClinics are an ISO registered firm and understand the importance of compliance to ISO/PAS 28007. Our cost effective testing programmes support this accreditation and the IMO guidelines for the use of PMSC’s. Our own commitment to regulatory compliance is demonstrated by the following accreditations: ISO 27001: Information Security Management. ISO 9001: Quality Management. ISO 14001: Environmental Management. The Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme. Laboratory facilities accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. For further information or to discuss your requirements, please call 0800 032 5945 or 00 44 (0)161 359 4180
info@bioclinics.co.uk www.drugtestingclinics.co.uk
SAMI AFFILIATE
Link-up
Qualified via audit
UVDB
Registered
ISO 9001 Registered Firm
International Accreditation Board
ISO 14001 Registered Firm
International Accreditation Board
ISO 27001:2005 Registered Firm
International Accreditation Board
Certificate No. GB2004600
Registration No. 0044/1
Certificate No. EM2000722
Registration No. 0044/1
Certificate No.ISM7799164
Registration No. 0044/1
ISO 9001
ISO 14001
ISO 27001