Page 102 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2022

Τhrough a seafarer's eyes
HORIZON

FROM

by Capt. Georgios Georgoulis

REMOVING THE INDIAN OCEAN FROM The IMO was informed of the decision to remove
THE “HIGH-RISK AREAS” the HRA as of 0001 UTC 1 January 2023 through
a notification submitted on Monday, 22 August,
After more than a decade of effective threat-re- for ratification by the next meeting of the Mar-
ducing counter-piracy operations, shipping has itime Safety Committee scheduled to start on
removed the Indian Ocean from the High-Risk 31 October 2022.
Area (HRA) category. The Round Table of inter- The maritime organisations responsible for set-
national shipping associations and the OCIMF, ting the HRAs emphasised that a serious threat
representing the global shipping and oil indus- remains, despite the reduction to the area’s geo-
try, announced the removal of the Indian Ocean graphic boundaries and that correct reporting,
from the HRA and issued new guidance to mer- vigilance, and adherence to the fifth edition of
chant ship operators. the best management practice (BMP5) remains
On 17 August 2021, BIMCO, ICS, INTERCARGO, crucial.
INTERTANKO, and OCIMF decided to reduce The removal of the HRA reflects the significant
further the boundaries of the piracy HRA in the improvement in the piracy situation in the region,
Indian Ocean as incidents in the region continue mainly due to the concerted counter-piracy
to decrease. In broad terms, the changes, which efforts of many regional and international stake-
came into force on 1 September 2021, will reduce holders. No piracy attacks against merchant
the HRA boundaries to the Yemeni and Somali ships have occurred off Somalia since 2018. In
Territorial Seas and Exclusive Economic Zones addition, the measures enacted to secure the
in its eastern and southern reaches. (Picture 1). waters through military, governments, civil soci-
ety, and shipping industry interventions and the
guidance provided by Best Management Prac-
tices have further reduced the threat of piracy
in the Indian Ocean.
Best Management Practices 5 (BMP5) will
continue to provide the necessary guidance to
shipping to ensure threat and risk assessments
are carried out on every voyage to mitigate
the remaining risks and security threats in the
region. The shipping industry will continue to
monitor and advise on maritime security threats
to assist the safe transit of vessels and seafar-
ers who crew them. Pre-voyage threat and risk
assessments should consider the latest maritime
security information from organisations support-
Picture 1: The Indian Ocean HRA ing the Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA).
Source: Gard The VRA has not changed. Ships entering the

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