37 A constant radio watch should be maintained
with the appropriate shore or naval authorities when in areas where
attacks have occurred. Continuous watch should also be maintained
on all distress and safety frequencies channels or frequencies which
could have been determined by local authorities for certain areas.
Ships should also ensure all maritime safety information broadcasts
for the area monitored. As it is anticipated that INMARSAT’s
enhanced group calling system (EGC) will normally be used for such
broadcasts using the SafetyNET service, owners should ensure a suitably
configured EGC receiver is continuously available when in, or approaching
areas where there is risk of attack. Owners should also consider fitting
a dedicated receiver for this purpose, i.e. one that is not incorporated
into a Ship Earth Station used for commercial purposes to ensure no
urgent broadcasts are missed.
38 IMO recommends in MSC.1/Circ.1333 that Governments should arrange for RCCs to be able to pass
reports of attacks to the appropriate security forces. As for the
reports from the ship, see paragraphs 11, and 39 to 44, below.
39 If suspicious movements are identified which
may result in an imminent attack, the ship is advised to contact the
relevant RCC, the flag State or other relevant information centres
such as the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre or the ReCAAP ISC. Where the
master believes these movements could constitute a direct danger to
navigation, consideration should be given to broadcasting an “All
stations (CQ)” “danger message” as a warning to
other ships in the vicinity as well as advising the appropriate RCC.
A danger message should be transmitted in plain language using the “safety”
priority. All such measures shall be preceded by the safety signal
(Sécurité)footnote.
40 When, in his/her opinion, there is conclusive
evidence that the safety of the ship is threatened, the master should
immediately contact the relevant RCC or, in certain areas, with the
radio stations which could have been recommended by local authorities,
and if considered appropriate, authorize broadcast of an “All
Stations” “Urgent Message” any radiocommunications
service he/she considers appropriate or which could have been recommended
by local authorities, e.g., INMARSAT, etc. All such messages shall
be preceded by the appropriate Urgency signal (PAN PAN) and/or a DSC
call using the “all ships urgency” category. If the Urgency
signal has been used and an attack does not, in fact, develop, the
ship should cancel the message as soon as it knows that action is
no longer necessary. This message of cancellation should likewise
be addressed to “all stations”.
41 Should an attack occur and, in the opinion
of the master, the ship or crew are in grave and imminent danger requiring
immediate assistance, the master should immediately authorize the
broadcasting of a distress message, preceded by the appropriate distress
alerts (MAYDAY, DSC, etc.), using all available radiocommunications
systems. To minimize delays, if using a ship earth station, ships
should ensure the coast earth station associated with the RCC is used.
For ships subject to the ISPS Code, a distress signal should also
be sent to the flag State using the most expeditious means for example
the ships security alert system. All ships should however report the
attack to the flag State to help the investigation of incidents involving
ships entitled to fly their flag.
42 The ship may be able to send a covert piracy
alert to an RCC. However, as pirates may be on board the ship and
within audible range of the communication equipment, when the RCC
sends an acknowledgement of receipt and attempts to establish communication,
they could be alerted to the fact that a piracy alert has been transmitted.
This knowledge may serve to further endanger the lives of the crew
on board the ship. RCCs and others should, therefore, be aware of
the danger of unwillingly alerting the pirates that a distress alert
or other communication has been transmitted by the ship.
43 Masters should bear in mind that the distress
signal is provided for use only in case of imminent danger
and its use for less urgent purposes might result in insufficient
attention being paid to calls from ships really in need of immediate
assistance. Care and discretion must be employed in its use, to prevent
its devaluation in the future. Where the transmission of the Distress
signal is not fully justified, use should be made of the Urgency signal.
The Urgency signal has priority over all communications other than
distress.