Coast Guard to U.S. flagged operators: step up actions to protect ships

The Coast Guard issued a press release on May 12th stating that it had issued Maritime Security Directive 104-6 (rev. 2).  You won’t find the specific Directive anywhere unless you are a ship operator that is being effected by the directive.  It is apparently being distributed as a sensitive document directly to U.S. flagged ship operators.

From the USCG press release:

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a maritime security directive Monday in response to the rise in piracy in the waters of the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa and in light of recent pirate attacks on U.S. flagged vessels.

Maritime Security Directive 104-6 (rev. 2) issued by the Coast Guard under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2004 provides the maritime industry with specific, risk-based measures to take to deter, detect or disrupt piracy. Prior to entering high risk waters, U.S. flagged vessels should establish an anti-piracy plan that includes the hardening of rigging and operating vessels in a manner to prevent attacks and subsequent boarding. Ships shall also use established transit lanes, erratic ships maneuvering, increased speed and cooperation with military forces patrolling the area. During transits through high-risk areas, it is the ship’s responsibility to maintain a vigilant anti-piracy watch and ensure all shipboard anti-piracy precautions are in force.

Vessel security plans for U.S. flagged vessels that operate in high risk waters must have security protocols for terrorism, piracy, and armed robbery against ships that meet the performance standards in this directive by May 25. An annex to the directive provides further specific measures required for vessels transiting in the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden high risk waters. All vessel security plans must be approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The deadline has been set, and is fast approaching.  It will be interesting to see what measures come out of this new requirement.  Will they all be strictly paper based, or will we begin to see armed ships?  My estimate is that for the most part, U.S. flagged operators will simply draft a paper based plan that simply formalizes what most ships are already doing.

Will this new requirement prevent another attack? Tell us what you think?  Leave a comment!