Liberia removes Indian Ocean from list of High Risk Areas

Liberia Maritime Authority, on February 9th, 2023, issued the Marine Security Advisory MSA 01/2023 regarding the removal of the Indian Ocean from the list of High Risk Areas.

This Marine Security Advisory supersedes Marine Security Advisories 11/2022 and 03/2021.

International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), and International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), after reviewing the security situation in the Indian Ocean and Southern Red Sea submitted document MSC 106/INF.10 to the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) providing notice of the industry’s intention to remove the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA) based on what was termed as a reduction in the piracy situation in the area over a significant period of time.

The document was noted by MSC, and as such the Indian Ocean HRA as shown on UKHO Chart Q6099 will be removed from the shipping industry’s list of HRAs from January 1st, 2023.

However, the Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) administered by UKMTO has not changed. Ships entering the VRA are encouraged to report to the UKMTO and register with the Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) in accordance with industry BMP (Best Management Practices).

Best Management Practices 5 (BMP5) will continue to provide the necessary guidance for shipping to ensure threat and risk assessments are developed for every voyage to mitigate the risks presented by remaining security threats in the region.

The shipping industry will continue to monitor and advise on maritime security threats to assist the safe transit of vessels and seafarers.

When operating within territorial seas or calling ports within the previously defined HRA as shown on UKHO Chart Q6099, Masters shall set the vessel security level to the level set by the port State authority but may implement security measures in excess of the security level set by the port authorities based on their assessment of the conditions in the port.

When operating outside territorial seas or ports within the previously defined HRA shown on UKHO chart Q6099, all Liberian-flagged vessels shall operate at security level II.

All security level changes should be reported directly to the Flag Administration by the Master via email security@liscr.com.

The Liberian Administration strongly recommends that Vessels Owners, Characters, Operators, and Ships Masters continue to carry out pre-voyage threat and risk assessments to consider the latest maritime security information from organizations supporting the VRA, including the use of privately contracted security personnel, as deemed necessary.