Safety and Security Tip

[Joe Abbott]

Do you know this number +𝟲𝟬𝟯 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟭 𝟬𝟬𝟭𝟰?

You really should. If you already know this number, good on ya! But take the time and ask your friends if they do.

It is the number for the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC). Their Maritime Security Hotline can be contacted 24 hours a day and will coordinate your emergency with local authorities anywhere in the world. This is an all-volunteer organization and their service is free.

All should have a well thought out plan on who to contact and how to do it when aboard, when an unfortunate situation or emergency occurs. The capability this organization provides should be considered and added to your response plan as you see fit. Read more about them at website: (https://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php/pi...curity-hotline)

While a VHF radio should be your go-to communications in any emergency, what if it is broken or no response is received. Having more than one backup option is always a prudent consideration.

Do you have a safety and security tip that others might not have considered or forgotten? If so chime in and spread the word.

[john61ct]

number does not display

[nhschneider]

I’ve never had to use it, but our Icom M802 SSB can transmit a DSC thread that can be somewhat specific, eg, ‘Taking on Water’, ‘Fire’ or ‘Piracy’. I’ve tested our signal strength and it seems to have a pretty good range as I’ve gotten acknowledgements from up to 500 miles away (almost every country has a test frequency though many of them don’t work). Since our M802 is connected to a small chart plotter (which we NEVER turn off), it always has our coordinates to transmit with an emergency signal.

Fair winds and calm seas.

[Joe Abbott]

Number does not display? Not sure what this means, check out their website if you are having difficulty, they have additional contact numbers and email links.

If you’re out of your home cruising grounds, their service can be a life saver – if you know the number beforehand. The whole point of VHF/DSC, SSB, EPIRBs, or even a cell phone is to contact the “right” person that can either respond to your situation quickly OR relay your needs to the agency closest to your position. This is what they do for free and is a valuable primary or backup number to have in your response plans.

Examples abound on their website, a recent incident they assisted on is at: https://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php/pi...tails/175/1736.

Worth consideration.

[Montanan]

By phone at 𝟲𝟬𝟯 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟭 𝟬𝟬𝟭𝟰

Or by email as per below.

ICC IMB (Asia Regional Office),
PO Box 12559,
Kuala Lumpur,
50782,
Malaysia.

Tel: + 60 3 2078 5763
Fax: + 60 3 2078 5769
E-mail: imbkl@icc-ccs.org / piracy@icc-ccs.org
24 Hours Anti Piracy HELPLINE Tel: + 60 3 2031 0014

[Paul L]

IMB PRC Contact Details

Tel: +60 3 2078 5763 / +60 3 2031 0287 / + 60 3 2031 3106
24 Hrs ANTI PIRACY HELPLINE: +60 3 2031 0014 (Manned 24 Hrs everyday)
Fax: +60 3 2078 5769u

https://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php/pi...ice-to-masters

[Montanan]

The International Chamber of Commerce also post a "live" piracy / robbery / stowaway incident map sorted by each calendar year each time someone files a report. So if you call that number, a pin will be added for recording your vessel's unfortune.

By the way, this is the definition of the type of incidents to be reported to that hotline or by email:

Article101

Definition of piracy

Piracy consists of any of the following acts:

(a) any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed:

(i) on the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on board such ship or aircraft;

(ii) against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State;

(b) any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;

(c) any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in subparagraph (a) or (b).

The good thing in reviewing such centralized, albeit limited, database is that there are very, very few incidents. By comparison, if one was to try to post landbase crime incidents, you would need all the data resources of Google to keep such a database. There being very little crime at sea, duh, people don't walk on water. But then like all crime statistics there is likely considerable amount of unreported / undocumented maritme incidents.

Reference: https://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php/pi...ive-piracy-map

IMB Piracy & Armed Robbery Map 2019
This live map shows all piracy and armed robbery incidents reported to IMB Piracy Reporting Centre during 2019. If exact coordinates are not provided, estimated positions are shown based on information provided. Zoom-in and click on the pointers to view more information of individual attacks. Pointers may be superimposed on each other.

IMB Piracy Reporting Centre
The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) follows the definition of Piracy as laid down in Article 101 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and Armed Robbery as laid down in Resolution A.1025 (26) adopted on 2 December 2009 at the 26th Assembly Session of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Before 1992, shipmasters and ship operators had nowhere to turn to when their ships were attacked, robbed or hijacked either in port or out at sea. Local law enforcement either turned a deaf ear, or chose to ignore that there was a serious problem in their waters.

Established in 1992, IMB PRC offers a 24-hour and free service for shipmasters to report any piracy, armed robbery or stowaway incidents.

PRC is an independent and non-governmental agency based in Kuala Lumpur. We aim to raise awareness within the shipping industry of high risk areas with pirate attacks and specific ports/anchorages where armed robberies on board ships have occurred.

How we work

PRC acts as a single point of contact for shipmasters anywhere in the world whose vessels have been attacked or robbed by pirates. All information received is immediately relayed to the local law enforcement agencies requesting assistance. Information is also immediately broadcast to all vessels in the Ocean region, providing vital intelligence and increasing awareness.

We share information with the IMO, governmental, inter-governmental and law enforcement agencies including industry bodies to understand the nature of piracy and reduce its effects on crew, vessel and cargo.

Stay safe out there.

[Joe Abbott]

The purpose this was posted was to spread the word about this organization and what it could do if needed. I didn’t know that this organization existed until very recently.

When I was in the US, we knew that a VHF call to the USCG was the “best” response in a situation. Never heard of this organization, and if I did, I would still call the UCSG first.

Now we are out of the jurisdictional range of the USCG, the option to call the IMB PRC is very appealing and listed on our response plan.

The question I have is, What and How is the best way to inform the sailing community of the option to use the IMB PRC? If I didn’t know of their existence, I’m pretty sure there are many others out there away from their home waters that don’t also.