Direct attack

Immediate action

Responsibility

Sound emergency alarm and announce nature of attack

OOW

At sea, activate the Ship Security Alert System. Broadcast a distress message if possible.

In port, Communication made with shore authorities by quickest means possible (VHF or Mobile phone).

Report to CSO if possible

Master

Crew Muster in the safest possible area with as many steel bulkheads between them and the attackers as possible, yet with easy access to evacuation points

All crew

Try to steer the vessel towards what is regarded as safest possible route away from the area, increasing speed if possible

Master

Report the incident by the quickest means possible, maintain contact with authorities as continuously as possible

Master

Keep emergency response equipment such as fire pumps, ballast pumps fully ready

SSO

Evaluate damage and take mitigating action. Remember safety of life is paramount followed by safety of the ship, its cargo and the environment

SSO

If there is imminent danger to the watertight integrity of the vessel and to the life of crew, plan for evacuation.

Master

Communicate all information to the persons responding to the alert from the nearest Contracting Government or Port facility and comply with the instructions issued by them for response to the situation. Inform CSO

Master

Immediate action

Responsibility

Report the situation, if possible. Use special code words to indicate Distress and Duress to the OOW/SSO/Master

Crewmember threatened

Pass information regarding presence of intruders to Master

OOW

Sound emergency alarm

OOW

At sea, activate the Ship Security Alert System. If possible, broadcast a distress message

In port, Communication made with shore authorities by quickest means possible (VHF or Mobile phone).

Report to CSO if possible.

Master

Crew to muster within the accommodation

All crew

All open entrances to accommodation and machinery spaces sealed from within

All crew

Keep calm and advise all crew to keep calm. Do not try to resist the armed boarder unless as a last resort in a clear life threatening situation

Master/SSO

If crewmembers are taken hostage, try to establish

• How many boarders

• Sex

• How they are armed

• Nationality / language spoken

• If and which terrorist group they belong to

• Their demands to secure the release of the crewmembers

• If any deadlines have been set to meet these demands

Master / SSO

Communicate all information to the persons responding to the alert from the nearest Contracting Government or Port facility and comply with the instructions issued by them for response to the situation

Master