Additional Premium Areas10/12/2009
Additional Premium Areas
INDIAN OCEAN AP AREA EXTENDED
Members are only too well aware that Greek ships have been affected by pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia. A number of entered ships have been attacked in the Gulf of Aden. Seven have been seized in 2009 to date.
Since February 2009, the Club’s AP Area has extended 600 miles from the east coast of Somalia. During the year, attacks have been taking place further and further away from the coast. One entered ship was attacked more than 1,000 nautical miles away and there have been two attacks on entered ships more than 700 miles into the Indian Ocean.
As a result, and with effect from 1 January 2010, the Club’s Indian Ocean AP Area is being extended. By agreeing to retain risks in the extended area until the end of 2009, the Club has been able to give over three weeks’ notice of this extension, so that Members can plan accordingly.
With effect from1 January 2010, the Club’s AP Area in the Indian Ocean will extend out to longitude 65°E south of latitude 15°N, with the southern boundary running along 11°S and 12°S. Members should refer to 2009 C4 - Voluntary Reporting Scheme and 2009 C6 - Rates and Terms 2010, which describes the extended area in full detail. They may also refer to a Additional Premium Areas - Indian Ocean Map on the Club website, illustrating the extended area.
Recent incidents, however, do demonstrate that ships may be at risk even further away from the coast. It highlights the need for defences against piracy to be implemented and maintained if a ship is within the limits of the voluntary reporting schemes operated by the UK MTO Dubai and MARLO Bahrain, which are 10°S and 78°E.
Members are, once again referred to the “Best Management Practice - Piracy document produced to assist companies and ships in avoiding piracy attacks, deterring attacks and delaying successful attacks. This document includes sections on:
- · typical attack profiles and lessons learnt;
· general pre-transit planning;
· voyage planning;
· defensive measures;
· in transit operations; and
· steps to take if the ship is attacked.
Members with ships transiting the Gulf of Aden or the Indian Ocean are asked to note that the owners, operators, managers and masters of ships engaged in Somalia Transits and / or Indian Ocean Transits (as described in 2009 C6 - Rates and Terms 2010 also available from the Club website) are expected to implement the planning and operational practices suggested in "Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy".