Coast Guard Announces Availability of Anti-Piracy Directives for U.S. Vessels
The Coast Guard has announced the release of Maritime Security Directive 104-6 (Rev 2 and 3), which provides additional anti-piracy guidance and mandatory measures for certain U.S. flagged vessels operating in areas where acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships are prevalent.
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Part of Directive Series First Announced in February 2006
In February 2006, the Coast Guard announced the release of MARSEC Directive 104--6 for those owners and operators of vessels subject to 33 CFR parts 101 and 104 to provide direction to U.S. flagged vessels operating in high risk areas where acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships is prevalent.
(The directive series addresses the threat posed by Somali pirates who operate along a 2,300 mile coast and in 2.5 million square miles of ocean in a region with a weak rule of law.)
Since 2006, the following directives have been released:
Rev 1 -- add’l high risk waters. MARSEC Directive 104--6 (Rev 1) provided an updated list of the high risk waters based on a biennial review of global piracy and terrorism threats.
Rev 2 -- further guidance, add’l high risk waters. MARSEC Directive 104--6 (Rev 2), which was completed on May 11, 2009, provides additional counter-piracy guidance to U.S. flagged vessels operating in high risk waters where acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships are prevalent. It also provides a listing of additional high risk waters, updated from the previous version of the Directive. There is also specific direction for vessels operating around the Horn of Africa.
Rev 3 - use of best practices to thwart attacks. MARSEC Directive 104--6 (Rev 3) encourages the use of industry best management practices that have proven to be successful in thwarting pirate attacks and incorporates lessons-learned since the issuance of Revision 2. There is also specific direction for vessels operating around the Horn of Africa.
Directives Not Publicly Available, Must Obtain from Local COTP Office
MARSEC Directives are designated Sensitive Security Information (SSI) and are not subject to public release. However, they are available at local Captain of the Port (COTP) offices, and a directory of these offices is available at http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/home.do.
Piracy-Related Port Security Advisories Also Available
To support the issuance of MARSEC Directive 104--6 (series), the Coast Guard has also developed piracy-related Port Security Advisories (PSAs) to provide further guidance and direction to U.S. flagged vessels operating in high risk waters to help facilitate compliance with this directive. The PSAs can be found at http://homeport.uscg.mil/piracy.