Additional Premium Areas - Indian Ocean AP Area Extended22/12/2009
Additional Premium Areas
INDIAN OCEAN AP AREA EXTENDED
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, recent attacks taking place at 700 nm and even1,000 nm into the Indian Ocean. As a result, and with effect from 1 January 2010, the Club’s Indian Ocean AP Area is being extended.
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 Club Circular UKWR C6 2009 - AP Areas Indian Ocean Extended, which describes the extended area in full detail. They may also refer to a map UKWR C6 2009 - Map AP Areas Indian Ocean Extended 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 UKWR C6 2009 - AP Areas Indian Ocean Extended also available from the Club website) are expected to implement the planning and operational practices suggested in "Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy".