Section 3
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1404 – Guidelines to Assist in the Investigation of the Crimes of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships – (23 May 2011) - Annex – Guidelines to Assist in the Investigation of the Crimes of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships - Guidelines to the investigator - Section 3

Section 3

  Identification and Labelling

  Each item recovered will need to be given an "identification reference" with a sequential number (i.e. 01, 02, 03, etc.) to link it to the point of recovery and by whom.

 For example an abbreviation of the vessel's name, the point of discovery, e.g., Deck 3 mid-ships stairwell in Zone 2, the initials (not full name) of the finder and the sequential number of the item recovered.

 Each item when packaged will be given a label with the same unique reference to link it to the point of discovery. An example of this could be if the ship was named Sea Spirit and the person recovering was Ronaldo Fernandez, giving an identification reference of:

  SS/Date & Time/Crew Mess Room /RF/1, …/RF/2, …RF/3 etc.

 Where an item of obvious significance is found, then the person recovering AND the person able to identify it in relation to a pirate, (e.g., firearm, grenade, ammunition belt, rope, galley utensil, blanket, etc.) should include this on their pro-forma statement (see SECTION 1).

 Should more than one person be involved in recovering items, then the identification reference would include that person's initials, also starting from 01.

 All items recovered will need to be safely stored in a clean and dry environment until such time as they are landed ashore.

 If a paper sack or cardboard box is used to package the item, then the identification reference should be written in ink or similar (not pencil) on the outside of the package. In the case of plastic bags, glass jars or smaller containers, then a reference label will need to be attached. Please note that adhesive tape and NOT staples should be used to attach the label.

 Example:

IDENTIFICATION REFERENCE
……SS…......./ 03-03-2011..1425 / Crew Mess Room / ….......RF……....../ …01……….……
(Ship name) / (Date/Time) / (Location) / (Recovered by) / (Seq. number)
Brief description: (for example – Brown blanket used by pirate leader)
 
  Signature:.............................................................................................................................................................

Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.