Guidelines for Owners, Operators and Masters for Protection against Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Region

1
Guidelines for Owners, Operators and Masters for Protection against Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Region
(To be read in conjunction with BMP4)
1. Introduction

Piracy and armed robbery (hereafter referred to as piracy) in the Gulf of Guinea region is an established criminal activity and is of increasing concern to the maritime sector. With attacks becoming more widespread and violent, including the increase in kidnapping for ransom, industry has now identified an urgent need to update these Guidelines. They also now take into account the regionally established Maritime Trade Information Centre (MTISC).

Contact Points dated 30 September 2014 (ANNEX 2)

MSC-MEPC.6/Circ.12
30 September 2014
ANNEX 2
LIST OF NATIONAL OPERATIONAL CONTACT POINTS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECEIPT, TRANSMISSION AND PROCESSING OF
URGENT REPORTS ON INCIDENTS INVOLVING HARMFUL SUBSTANCES,
INCLUDING OIL FROM SHIPS TO COASTAL STATES
1 The following information is provided to enable compliance with Regulation 37 of
MARPOL Annex I which, inter alia, requires that the Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan
(SOPEP) shall contain a list of authorities or persons to be contacted in the event of a
pollution incident involving such substances. Requirements for oil pollution emergency plans
and relevant oil pollution reporting procedures are contained in Articles 3 and 4 of the 1990
OPRC Convention.

PLANS AND PROCEDURES FOR RECOVERY OF PERSONS FROM THE WATER

To: Vessels' Mnagaers
To: Vessels' Owners

Dear All Friends,
Good Day

Our technical department can assist you and develop for your own vessels the recently required manual
" PLANS AND PROCEDURES FOR RECOVERY OF PERSONS FROM THE WATER"
Send us the foll:
- Full particulars of the vessel.
- Full style of your company
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our e-mail :
sonemshipping@yahoo.com

( Check our manual cover )

Ebola virus & stowaways

We have just been made aware of a new case involving stowaways that boarded a vessel in West Africa by our correspondents in South Africa.
The vessel arrived in South Africa with six stowaways on board and the vessel was not allowed to berth because local health authorities were concerned about the identity of the stowaways and their nationality and whether the stowaways could be infected with the Ebola virus. The vessel suffered considerable delays as well as additional costs because the authorities in South Africa are adopting very rigorous procedures for any ships that may be carrying stowaways (or of course crew) on board that may be carrying the virus and no doubt other countries will be doing the same.
No doubt all ship owners are aware of the outbreak of Ebola and are taking appropriate precautions when vessels are scheduled to call at West African ports. The vessels will be boarded by numerous people who could have come into contact with people with the virus. No doubt vessels are adopting safeguards to protect the crew from such exposure to the virus.
We attach a link to International SOS which has a lot of very useful information on the outbreak in West Africa, and is regularly updated ( https://www.internationalsos.com/ebola/ ).
Vessels calling at West African ports also need to exercise greater diligence with regard to stowaways gaining access to the vessel; and should the vessel then depart with stowaways on board, the vessel may be delayed or detained at her next port whilst local health officials check all the individuals on board.
The vessels may be further delayed if there are stowaways on board the vessel as local health officials will want a full investigation carried out as to the nationality of the stowaways and whether they are from areas which have been declared hotspots by the World Health Organization.

With thanks to P&I Associates for their assistance with this circular.

Verifying that materials are asbestos free for ships in service

it has been communicated that as from January 01, 2011, for all
ships, new installation of materials which contain asbestos is prohibited. This prohibition has been an
amendment to SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-5 through MSC.282(86). The SOLAS amendment is retroactive
and applies to all types of ships (new and existing ships).
For existing ships in service
The Owners / Operators / Managers must establish written procedures for purchasing and controlling
the supply of asbestos free material and components for repairs, modifications and maintenance.
The procedures may be part of the Safety Management System (SMS) manual and should require
asbestos free verification methods for supplied products.
Act now
Owners / Operators / Managers must submit to Dromon an overall declaration of their ships as per
“Declaration of Conformity #2” attached to this Circular together with the Company’s relevant
internal procedure of asbestos free verification methods for supplied products. Dromon Surveyors must
review this declaration as well as the internal procedure of the Company in the forthcoming safety
management audits irrespective of scope.
In addition, Owners / Operators / Managers shall make available to Dromon Surveyors all asbestos free
declarations for new materials, equipment and components as per “Declaration of Conformity #1” for
each new material / equipment / component installed on board their ships during repairs, modifications
and maintenance. Dromon Surveyor must review this documentation during the forthcoming surveys
for Cargo Ship Safety Construction and Cargo Ship Safety Equipment irrespective of scope. Copies of
these declarations must be submitted to Dromon Head Office.
Applicability
Regulation Ship Type / GT Date of entry into force
Reg. II-1/3-5 New & Existing CARGO & PASSENGER
ships above 500 GT
1 January 2011

Breathing apparatus cylinders used during drills - 30.04.2014

As of July 1, 2014 all new and existing cargo ships as well as passenger ships of 500 GT and above shall be provided with means of recharging cylinders of air breathing apparatuses or a suitable number of spare cylinders used for training purposes.

MSC 90 adopted the suggestion of FP 55 for the amendment of SOLAS Regulation II-2/15. A new paragraph has been added to regulation 15 requiring that all cargo and passenger ships of 500 GT and above to be provided with:
 an on board means of recharging breathing apparatus cylinders used during drills; or
 a suitable number of spare cylinders to be carried on board to replace those used during
drills.

The new paragraph has been adopted through MSC.338(91) and does not identify the minimum
number of spare cylinders to be carried on board in order to be considered as “suitable” and therefore,
comply with the new requirement.

Act now
Owners / Operators / Managers shall consult with the flag Administration the ship is flying for what a
“suitable” number is considered to be. Note that various flag Administrations may have different
requirements.
Applicability    

Regulation	Ship type/GT	Date of entry into force
Reg. II-2/15	New & Existing CARGO ships above 500 GT	1July 2014
Reg. II-2/15	New & Existing PASSENGER ships above 500 GT	1July 2014

Welding and Hot Works checklist

Welding and Hot Works

checklist

Vessel:                          Date:                               .

Work to be done:
Location:
Officer in charge:
Operators’ Names:
1-
2-
3-
Items		Comment
- Is fire fighting equipment ready for use?
- Is a fire watchman assigned and instructed?
- Are the location clean & oil and grease cleared?
- Are combustible materials cleared from location?
- Is the area and adjacent compartments free of combustible gases?
- Local authority permission obtained.

Master

Name:

Signature:

The above work have been completed and all equipments now restored in their locations: -
Officer in charge:
Name:	Date:
Signature:	Time:

Training Record

Training Record

Vessel :                         .                                   Date :                               .

Lecture training subject:

No.	Name	No.	Name
1		11
2		12
3		13
4		14
5		15
6		16
7		17
8		18
9		19
10		20

Remarks:

Supply officer:

Name:                                                         .

Signature:                                                 .

Safety and Fire Fighting Equipment Weekly Checklist

Safety and Fire Fighting Equipment

Weekly Checklist 

Vessel:

Date:             /               (month / year)

Item	1st week	2nd week	3rd week	4th week
- Visual examination of lifeboat, life rafts, launching arrangement and instructions.
- Running of boat engine and gearbox engaging.
- Testing of general alarm.
- Push button fire alarms.
-     Check communication facilities    (VHF-SART-EPIRB).
- Muster lists (in place & up – to date)
- Emergency lights & batteries.
- Emergency exits (light & no obstructions)
- Main fire pump (operation check).
- Emergency fire pump (operation check)
- Isolating valve & international shore connection.
- Emergency air compressor.
- Emergency power supply.
- Ventilation stop & fire flaps.
- Emergency steering gear.

Safety officer: -	Fire fighting officer: -	Master: -
Name:	Name:	Name:
Signature:	Signature:	Signature:

Safety and Fire Fighting Equipment

Weekly Checklist

Remarks:

Corrective Actions: