Step 2 of 3•9 minutes read
Manoeuvring and Alarms
Manoeuvring and Alarms are another part of the line of defence. These consist of actions that are carried out when piracy or armed robbery threat is in action.
When it comes to manoeuvring, the Master should ensure that he is properly familiar with the manoeuvring characteristic of his ship. This will ensure, that the actions taken will be efficient. When a skiff or an unidentified boat is sighted approaching the ship, the Master will immediately take actions which will include.
An Alarm will be sounded without delay to inform the ship's crew of an attack, which will in turn muster and start carrying out their assigned security duties. Additionally, the attackers will also become aware that they were sighted and there will be defences against their attacks, and the continuous ringing of the alarm systems might even act as a distraction. When an Alarm is used onboard:
- It must be ensured that the crew are familiar with the alarm and what it means.
- The alarm must be distinctive to avoid confusion.
- The PA systems should be used in addition to the Alarm to clarify the situation.
- It must be ensured, that the Alarm is heard from all locations onboard the ship. (This is usually ensured by carrying out drills)
In addition to sounding the Alarm, the Master will immediately increase the speed of the ship to the maximum. This will make it more difficult for any boat to approach and prevent anyone who is trying to board the ship from doing so.
The Master and the officers onboard should practice manoeuvring the ship to ensure proper familiarity with the vessel’s handling characteristics. This training will assist in carrying out the right action when threats such as piracy and armed robbery are encountered.
Evasive manoeuvres should also be practised by the Master to ensure the best way to carry out such manoeuvres without losing too much speed when doing so. Experience from piracy incidents has shown that such manoeuvring and speed actions can aid in stopping even the most determined attack.
In the case of armed guards being provided onboard, these will additionally be part of this line of defense and assist with keeping such threats at bay."
Ship Protection Measures.
Ship Security Alert System
As per SOLAS Chapter XI-2, an SSAS (Ship Security Alert System) is required onboard the following ships:
- Ships constructed on or after the 1st of July 2004.
- Passenger ships, including high-speed passenger crafts, constructed before 1st July 2004.
- Oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers, and cargo high-speed crafts, of 500GT and above, constructed before 1st July 2004.
- Cargo ships of 500GT and above, and mobile offshore drilling units (MODU’s) constructed before 1 July 2004.
Hence, onboard most ships a Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) is installed. It is important to note, that this system does not alarm onboard the ship itself but sends an alarm to the CSO (Company Security Officer) and the nearest coastal station about the security threat. The main reason for that is to ensure that the pirates or hijackers are not made aware of any alarms.
A procedure is included in the Ship Security Plan detailing the actions taken for when the SSAS is to be used."
When an SSAS is activated, the following occurs:
- A ship-to-shore security alert is initiated and transmitted to a competent authority designated by the Administration, identifying the ship, its location and indicating that the security of the ship has been compromised or is under threat.
- The ship security alert will not be sent to other ships.
- An alarm will not be raised onboard.
- The alert of the ship security system will continue until deactivated or reset.
Additionally, as per SOLAS, the ship security alert system (SSAS) shall be capable of being activated from the bridge (wheelhouse) and in at least one other location, which is clearly marked on the Ship Security Plan.
The activation points for such a system shall be designed in a specific way in order to prevent unintentional initiation of the alert. Onboard they are usually located in an unconventional place such as at the bottom of the console on the navigation bridge.
This is done for various reasons, namely, to ensure that only key personnel have knowledge of the location of this button on the bridge and therefore it will not be reset by unauthorized people in case of a threat, and it also ensures that it is not activated by mistake.
When an Administration receives the notification of a ship security alert, that Administration shall immediately notify the states in the vicinity of which the ship is presently operating.