“IT WILL NOT HAPPEN TO US….….”
Jul 09 2009
Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, the increasing threat from maritime geopolitical violence, terrorism, piracy, armed robbery, hijacking and kidnapping is a palpable fact of life. This of course means that, unless early and effective steps are taken to mitigate the extreme risks from maritime geopolitical violence, etc., then significantly large elements of the international shipping industry, which must be considered as essential and vital to the global economy, will render themselves uninsurable – or, at the very best, insurable but at incredibly (and possibly prohibitively) high premiums. It is at this point the simple equation: risk versus gain presents itself as a key consideration. In order that the insurance industry, the shipping industry and its (consumer) customers may continue to survive and go about their business, there must be provision for a number of appropriate, credible and feasible solutions to mitigate the identified and assessed risks.
To succeed, the shipping companies need to be fully aware of, recognise and understand the risks to their business operations. To achieve this, the shipping companies need to receive expert advice and practical support, so they may, by means of enhanced risk management, be able to realize their objective to mitigate those risks. At the same time, the shipping companies’ insurers need to receive timely in depth risk and threat analysis, which will provide them with accurate reporting on the current relevant situations. The insurers will also need to receive sound judgment concerning the likely nature, and effectiveness, of future hostile initiatives driven by highly motivated geopolitically (as well as basic criminally) influenced perpetrators, by means of extreme maritime violence.
Enhanced Risk Management as a concept was espoused by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and, as a means of implementation, introduced the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, through Chapter X1-2 in the International Convention for the Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS), to provide measures for significantly enhancing maritime security. The efficient and effective implementation of the IPSP Code, which is mandatory for the 148+ Contracting Parties to SOLAS, requires exceptionally experienced, IMO accredited, qualified personnel to translate ISPS and Maritime Safety Committee requirements into tried and tested practical measures and procedures of the highest standards.
Mitig8 Special Risks Services are in an excellent position to provide politically and militarily aware consultant analysts, together with their world wide network of trusted sources, and qualified (ISPS accredited) experienced consultant maritime personnel; all of whom are able to carry out detailed threat and vulnerability assessments to identify the various, extreme risks likely to impact on the client’s business. Working closely and in partnership with the client’s Ship’s Masters, Ship, Company and Port Security Officers, the consultant analysts will also provide informed advice, guidance and comprehensive recommendations, in accordance with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) guidelines, for adopting a cost effective, enhanced risk management strategy, which will include appropriate mitigating measures and procedures, designed to meet the particular needs of each client.
Mitig8 Special Risks Services’ own consultant maritime personnel are also able to provide bespoke security skills training; a holistic understanding of threat awareness, and crisis management procedures, all of which will help to significantly diminish identified extreme risks in potentially hostile operating environments.
All ship’s masters, senior ship’s officers, ship, company and port security officers, and anyone else with a responsibility for maintaining security in the shipping industry, be it luxury cruise and passenger services, cargo and freight, LPG, oil drilling rigs and support platforms or super yachts, etc., over and above their regular daily duties, will be very well aware of the risks of extreme acts of terrorism, hijacking, armed robbery and piracy, which have become common occurrences, for example, in the Mediterranean, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, East African coast (Gulf of Aden & Somalia), West African coast, South China Seas, South American coast and the Caribbean. Mitig8 Specialist Risk Services recognise and value the considerable experience security officers will have gained during their tenures, both at sea and on land, and would draw heavily on this experience when considering the appropriate measures and procedures required to reduce likely risks of extreme violence, both at sea and in port.
All ship’s masters, senior ship’s officers, ship, company and port security officers are aware they have a moral, health and safety related responsibility to their ship owners/operators, crews, passengers, cargo and share holders, to do everything within their powers to reduce the above quoted risks, which indeed they do to the best of their abilities. But it is a fact that all too many personnel operating in an increasingly complex risk environment, see the implementation of any enhanced risk management activity as an almost impossible task, given that the training, resources and time required are difficult to acquire. It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that enhanced risk management is not necessarily at the forefront in their minds when it comes to their daily duties, and can be forgiven for thinking, and hoping, that “it will not happen to us”.
The price of failure to find and implement effective solutions for countering maritime political and criminal violence can, as already experienced in various parts of the world, be extremely high, both economically and in lives lost or traumatised, especially so as the threats from all forms of maritime violence grow in the years to come.
The need to understand and prepare for maritime political and criminal violence has never been greater, or more important for the shipping industry, and we would therefore like to think Mitig8 Global Specialist Risk and Loss Prevention Services would be an obvious choice by both insurers and shipping companies to assist in the enhanced security of ships, their crews, passengers, cargo and port facilities.
Based on a recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development analysis, supported by the Ministry of Defence, which included recommendations to assess the threat from, and risk of, “mega-terrorism”, and the need to improve preparedness and response to extreme maritime violence, I would be delighted to discuss your needs in respect of enhanced risk management and loss prevention issues.
Chris Best
Christopher Davey Best
Director, Marine Security
Mitig8 Specialist Risk Services
E: chrisbest@mitig8.co.uk
W: www.mitig8.co.uk/specialist
T: +44 (0) 20 7953 8335
M: +44 (0) 7885 377578.