Global's BMP - Section 4
Company Threat and Risk Assessment
This section details the procedures that should be undertaken by the CSO and Master in cooperation to identify the appropriate Ship Protection Measures to be applied to a voyage through an area or areas of risk from piracy and armed robbery.
Threat Assessment
The threat assessment should include threats of piracy and armed robbery so that its output will inform the risk assessment.
A threat is formed of intent, opportunity and capability. Intent and capability cannot be mitigated by masters or CSOs. Therefore, mitigation against the opportunity for an attack is the focus of this guidance, risk assessments and any subsequent SPMs.
In the context of piracy and armed robbery, capability means that attackers have the physical means to conduct an attack, intent is demonstrated by continued attacks, opportunity is what is mitigated by the company, ship and crew through application of the measures described in this guidance.
In addition to the information provided in this guidance, supplementary information about the characteristics of the threat, specific or new tactics, and regional background factors may be sought from Regional Reporting Centres and Organisations as listed in the sources detailed at the annexes, Shipping Association 9websites, commercial intelligence providers or local sources e.g. ships’ agents.
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is an integral part of voyage planning within a safety management system. All voyages require thorough advanced planning and risk assessment using all available information. The risk being evaluated should include likelihood of harm to the crew or ship from attack by pirates and armed robbers. The risk assessment must reflect the prevailing characteristics of the specific voyage, ship and operations and not just be a repetition of advice e.g. relating to different geographical regions and different pirate modus operandi. Detailed guidance on preparing risk assessments can be found from a variety of sources including the ISPS code.
Risk assessment considerations for the Company
Like the Ship Security Assessment described in the ISPS Code, the risk assessment for the risk of piracy and armed robbery should include, but may not be limited to, the following:
- The threat and potential areas of increased risk (who are the pirates or armed robbers, what do they want to achieve, how do they attack, how do they board, which weapons do they use etc.) Companies should use the sources listed at the annexes to do this.
- Background factors shaping the situation (likely visibility, sea-state, traffic patterns e.g. other commercial ships, local patterns of life including fishermen and, other local maritime crime).
- Co-operation with military or other security services where such missions exist.
- The ship’s characteristics/vulnerabilities/inherent capabilities to withstand the threat (freeboard, speed, general arrangement etc.).
The ship’s and Company’s procedures (drills, watch rosters, chain of command, decision making processes etc.). The risk assessment should take into consideration any statutory requirements, in particular those of the flag and/or the coastal State.
A key output of any risk assessment process should identify whether additional mitigation measures are required to prevent attack.