**Executive Summary**
This is Maritime Security Circular No. 01 of 2020, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, on January 8, 2020. It provides a security advisory for Indian vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman regions, due to potential escalation of conflict in the area. It advises heightened security measures consistent with safety of navigation and security of the vessel.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General Security Measures:**
* Maintain heightened security alert commensurate with the prevailing situation.
* Follow international recommended practices at all times.
* **Vessel Checks and Vigilance:**
* Conduct thorough checks for attached foreign objects on the ship's hull (both external and internal) at regular intervals and before departure from port/anchorage.
* Maintain strict vigilance alongside/at anchorage and implement strict access control onboard.
* Do not allow unidentified crafts to come close to the ship or secure alongside at berth/anchor; maintain adequate safe distance.
* Maintain sharp lookout and report sighting of suspicious vessels/small crafts/floating objects; maintain adequate safety distance.
* Give any suspicious object a wide berth.
* **Operational Precautions:**
* Plan transit through the area during daylight hours when feasible.
* Use ship's whistle/loud hailer/ship's alarm bell/fire main to ward off suspicious boats.
* Maintain higher readiness for damage control and firefighting systems.
* Tankers must keep all cargo tanks inerted.
* **Drills and Communication:**
* Carry out LSA/FFA drills prior to entering/leaving the affected region and brief officers/crew.
* Establish communication and exchange information with other Indian flag vessels and warships/aircraft in the region.
* **Reporting:**
* Report details of any suspicious incidents to the appropriate authorities and coordinate with security agencies.
* Report any untoward incidents/events to dgcommcentre-dgs@nic.in (Tel.: +91-22-22614646/22610606) and dno@navy.gov.in (Tel.: +91-11-23011252).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Indian Ships Operating in the Specified Regions**
* **Impact:** Required to implement enhanced security measures, increasing operational burden and potentially affecting transit times.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to all guidelines outlined in the circular, including enhanced vessel checks, vigilance, operational precautions, and reporting requirements.
**Stakeholder: Ship Crew and Officers**
* **Impact:** Increased workload due to heightened security measures and need for increased vigilance and preparedness for drills.
* **Action Required:** Properly briefed on new procedures, increased participation in drills, and vigilant lookout duties.
**Stakeholder: Directorate General of Shipping**
* **Impact:** Responsible for disseminating information and ensuring compliance with the security advisory.
* **Action Required:** Monitor reports and communicate with vessels operating in the area.
Key Entities Referenced
Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman: Regions where the maritime security advisory applies due to the risk of escalation in conflict.
Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai: The issuing authority responsible for advising Indian ships operating in the specified regions to maintain heightened security.
NT Wing Maritime Security Circular No. 01 of 2020: The specific circular providing maritime security advice for vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman regions.
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DIRECTORATE GENERAT OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI
F. No. 53-NT(01)/CSM/20 I 9 Date:08.01.2020
NT Wine Maritime Secudtv Circular No. 0l of 2020
Sub: Maritime Security Advisory for vessels op€ratine in the Persian Gulf. Strait of Hormuz
and Gulf of Oman reqions - ree.
Due to recent incident in the Persian Gulf region, there is a possibility of escalation in
conllict that could affect shippmg not only in the Persian Gulf region but also the straits of
Hormuz, Gutf of oman and other adjoining regions. In view of the same, vessels operating
in these regions are advised to maintain heightened security alert commensurate with the
prevailing situation.
2. Considering the evolving situation in the said region, the Directorate General of
shipping advises all Indian ships operating in these areas to follow intemational
recommended practices at all-times including the below mentioned aspects consistent with
the safety of navigation and security ofthe vessel.
2.1. To carry out thorough checks for attached foreign objects on the ship's hull (both
extemal .and internal) whilst at anchorage / alongside at regular intervals and prior
departure from Port / anchorage
2.2. Maintain strict vigilance whilst alongside / at anchorage and implement strict acc€ss
control onboard
2.3. No unidentified crafts be allowed to come close to the ship or secure alongside at
berth/anchor. Adequate safe distance to be maintained at all times
2.4. Maintain sharp lookout and report sighting of suspicious vessels / small crafts /
floating objects in vicinity and maintain adequate safety distance from them
2.5. Plan transit through the area during daylight hours to the extent feasible
2.6. Ship's whistle / loud hailer / ship's atarm bell / fire main etc to be used to ward off
approach of suspicious boats
2.7 . Maintain higher readiness for Damage control systems and Firefighting systems
onboard.
2.8. All tankers to ensure that all cargo tanks are kept inerted at all times'
2.9. Any suspicious object be given wide berth
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officers / crew members should be properly briefed.
2.11. To establish communication and exchange information with other Indian flag vessels
and Indian warships / aircraft in the region as required, if available;
2.12. T\e details of any suspicious incidents needs to be reported to the appropriate
authorities and coordinate with security agencies, as may be instructed.
3. Any untoward incidentVevents to be reported to the following
(Email: dqcommcentre-dss@nic.in;Tel.: +91-22-22614646122610606). Also, such untoward
incidents/events to be reported immediately to (Email: dno@navy.gov.in; Tel.: +91-11-
2301t2s2).
4.
This issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping & Additional
Secretary to the Govemment of India.
^7A
Nautical Surveyor - cum -
Dy. DG [Tech. & Anti-Piracyl
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