Piracy – Revised High Risk Area off Somalia and Amendments to BMP 4

Following a review of the piracy situation off Somalia, industry organisations have announced a reduction in the size of the piracy “High Risk Area” (HRA) in the Indian Ocean which will take effect from 1 December 2015, a move supported by the International Group of P&I Clubs.

Section 2 of Best Management Practices for Protection against Somali Based Piracy (BMP4) has been updated to reflect the changes, and includes the new geographic limits of the HRA. It is not envisaged that a new edition of BMP4 will be published to incorporate the changes at this time. Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) has also published a map showing the revised HRA boundaries.

A new edition of United Kingdom Hydrographic Office Maritime Security Chart – Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea (Q6099) is due to be published prior to the changes to the HRA being implemented.

Although the size of the HRA is being reduced, there remains a serious piracy risk off Somalia. It is still recommended that a vessel’s movements be registered with MSCHOA, reports be made to United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO), and a full risk assessment be completed prior to arriving in the area, considering the guidance contained in BMP4 and the latest security information.

Members requiring further guidance should contact the Loss Prevention department.