In a joint statement this week, BIMCO, ICS, Intercargo, Intertanko and OCIMF have announced that as from 1st December, 2015, as an amendment to Best Management Practice 4 (BMP4), the new limits of the HRA will be:
In the Red Sea: Northern limit: Latitude 15 deg N.
In the Gulf of Oman: Northern limit: Latitude 22deg N.
Eastern limit: Longitude 065deg E.
Southern limit: Latitude 5deg S.
UK law firm Holman Fenwick & Willan commented that this was a marked reduction, particularly to the East – the previous boundary stretching to 078 deg E - and will be welcomed by many states, in particular India, which has long been lobbying for such a reduction.
However, the original HRA will remain part of a ‘voluntary reporting area’ and vessels should continue to report to MSCHOA and UKMTO on entering the same, HFW advised.
Owners and operators should also continue to follow the remainder of the recommended anti-piracy guidance detailed in BMP4, which remains unaffected, and all five organisations stressed the fact that the piracy risk remains. To this end, it will be interesting to see whether the Joint War Committee alters its listed areas in a corresponding manner, HFW said.
UK-based maritime intelligence concern, Dryad Maritime, also welcomed this announcement as a decision that takes account of the changing strategic and threat context in the region and the important views of a number of coastal states.
The news is the first step in a welcome de-escalation that will ultimately see a shift from the widespread use of armed guards towards more appropriate, and less costly, methods of mitigating risk in the HRA.
Graeme Gibbon Brooks, Dryad Maritime’s CEO, said; “This amendment to the HRA is well considered and reflects the balance of caution and progress. The message from the naval forces is unequivocal that the threat remains, albeit inactive. However, it is clear that the audacious long range attacks seen in 2009-2011 are not the most likely course of action and thus a de-escalation of risk posture in these areas is wholly appropriate.
“The re-drawing of the boundaries does reflect the criminals’ most likely course of action should the threat reconstitute and so we fully support this pragmatic decision. Whilst it would be premature to claim total victory on piracy, this is the first and most optimistic sign of progress toward that goal,” he said.
Ian Millen, Dryad Maritime COO, added; “This is great news for the maritime industry and seafarers alike. Whilst we are not about to drop our guard on piracy or other regional maritime security issues, such as the war in Yemen, this HRA reduction of approximately 55% or 1.7 mill square miles of ocean will give the hard-pressed industry cause for optimism with the potential for reduced operating costs. It will also come as welcome news to our international seafarers who have suffered at the hands of Somali piracy for far too long.
“BIMCO and other sponsors deserve much credit for the significant part that they have played in the fight against piracy and today’s welcome news. It will be interesting to see how others, including insurers and leading players such as the Joint War Committee, react to this latest development,” he concluded.