1. Preparation of Crew
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1390 – Guidance for Company Security Officers (CSOs) – Preparation of a Company and Crew for the Contingency of HiJack by Pirates in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden – (9 December 2010) - Annex – Guidance for Company Security Officers (CSO) – Preparation of a Company and Crew for the Contingency of HiJack by Pirates in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden - 1. Preparation of Crew

1. Preparation of Crew

 When preparing crews of ships that are to travel through the High Risk Area, it is recommended that the CSO gives careful consideration to the following. These considerations are in addition to preparations which primarily focus on resisting a pirate attack, as contained in BMP3.

  Training Requirements

  • .1 Consider any contractual, national/flag/training or preparation requirements for the crew.

  Seafarers and Others on board the Vessel

  • .1 Consider the rights of seafarers and what constitutes reasonable grounds with respect to requests for disembarkation and repatriation prior to entering the High Risk Area; this might have to be done on a case by case basis.

  • .2 Review the presence of seafarers and others, e.g., partners, children, on board and their safety during the transit of the High Risk Area.

  Accurate Crew Records

  • .1 Ensure that the personal details of crew members are up to date including:

    • .1 Contact details for next of kin (telephone number and e-mail address)

    • .2 Any medical conditions of crew members and medication required

    • .3 Clothing sizes for each crew member (to enable replacement clothing to be provided).

  Company Commitment

  • .1 Ensure, when possible, that crew are made fully aware in advance of the voyage route of the ship including projected dates and times of transiting the High Risk Area.

  • .2 Ensure crews are reassured of their rights and what constitutes reasonable grounds with respect to disembarking prior to entering the High Risk Area.

  • .3 Ensure crews are aware of the company's commitment to their health and safety.

  Crew Awareness of the Hijack Environment

  • .1 Ensure that the crew are aware of the "shock of capture" and that the greatest anxiety is usually experienced in the hours after the initial hijack incident. Feeling depressed, helpless and humiliated are emotions that many hostages experience during captivity. The crew should be encouraged to try to focus on surviving the ordeal.

  • .2 Ensure that the crew understand the importance of being cooperative with the demands without appearing either servile or antagonistic.

  • .3 Ensure that the crew appreciate the importance of mutual support, teamwork and maintaining a shipboard routine both during and in the aftermath of a hijack incident.

  • .4 Ensure that the crew understand the importance of trying to maintain the standard of living conditions on board for the crew.

  • .5 Advise that the pirates may demand that the crew pose for photographs and muster on the upper deck. This should not be resisted as this may be to prove the wellbeing of the crew to the owners during the negotiations for release.

  • .6 Ensure crew awareness that the pirates are likely to show them disrespect during captivity and may seek to disorientate them by possible separation into small groups or being held in confined areas, e.g., bridge/engine-room.

  • .7 Ensure crew awareness of personal actions to reduce opportunities for coercion and intimidation by pirates in the event of capture, for example minimizing pirates’ access to crew's family contact details (e.g., mobile phone SIM cards, e-mail addresses, etc.), not being isolated from other crew members, trying to establish a single point of contact amongst the crew for communications with the pirates.

  • .8 Advise the crew to treat all information given to them by the pirates with caution.

  • .9 Ensure the crew awareness of the use by Somali pirates of the drug khat and its effects.

  • .10 Ensure crew awareness of communications procedures to be followed during captivity by company and crew in particular:

    • .1 On board the ship amongst crew members

    • .2 Between the ship and company

    • .3 Between the company and crew families, e.g., via the internet, telephone contact and face-to-face meetings

    • .4 How the crew should co-operate with pirates during captivity – where possible try to establish a single contact point amongst the crew.

  • .11 Advise the crew of the need to be observant (without appearing to study the captors) during captivity in the interests of recalling events clearly during the crew debrief post-incident.

  • .12 Ensure that the crew and the families understand that it can take significant time to readjust after a hostage incident and that this is a normal reaction to an abnormal experience.

  Crew Awareness of Company Actions

  • .1 Ensure that the crew are aware of company crisis management procedures that will be undertaken during captivity and after release, in particular:

    • .1 Assurances that the Company will do everything practical to expedite release

    • .2 Assurances of the Company's commitment to its continued obligations towards the crew in respect of safety, pay, employment, replacement of personal effects, etc.

    • .3 Assurances that the Company will notify the Next of Kin in the event of an incident and establish a point of contact within the Company to provide families with ongoing information and coordinate support for families from internal and external sources as required

    • .4 Awareness that negotiation can be a lengthy process and that the company will be working hard for the crew's release

    • .5 Company policy on media relations during a hijack.

  • .2 Awareness of Company considerations/actions following release:

    • .1 The provision of supplies to the ship and crew as required post incident, including:

      • .1 Food and Water

      • .2 Fuel

      • .3 Replacement clothing

    • .2 The provision of medical assistance including counselling, in the period commencing after release. The Company policy on how to handle events at the first port of call including repatriation of the crew

    • .3 The Company policy on post-incident press relations

    • .4 The Company policy on post-incident debriefs and review of Crisis Management Procedures.

Parent topic: Annex – Guidance for Company Security Officers (CSO) – Preparation of a Company and Crew for the Contingency of HiJack by Pirates in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden
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