Ports need clearer piracy procedures

Speaking at a piracy conference, Mr Mee pointed to the recent ship hijacking in port waters in Oman as a wake-up call to lax port procedures on piracy.

While the International Maritime Organisation recently set out guidelines for shipowners and operators to deal with maritime armed guarding, no reference or guidance was given to the provision of armed guards while in waters under port state control.

“Ports, ideally under the auspices of the IMO, should move swiftly to issue guidelines illustrating how they handle armed security when they are entering or disembarking ports, as well as guidance for the storage of weaponry,” said Mr Mee.