Ship Security Alerts
1 The Committee noted that SOLAS regulation XI-2/6.6 requires that an Administration receivingnotificationofashipsecurityalertshallnotifytheStatesinthevicinityofwhichtheshipis presentlyoperating. TheCommitteeconfirmedthattheappropriaterecipientforsuchinformationis
the national point of contact as required by SOLAS regulation XI-2/7.2, as notified to, and promulgatedby,theOrganizationinaccordancewithSOLAS regulation XI-2/13.1.5. Wherethe State(s)inthevicinityoftheshiparenon-ContractingpartiestoSOLAS,suchinformationshouldbe passed via normal diplomatic channels in the most expedient manner.
2 TheCommitteealsonotedthatalthoughtheintendedrecipientofasecurityalertwasa competentauthoritydesignatedbytheAdministrationwhichmaybeamaritimerescueco-ordination centre(MRCC),itwaspossiblethatcovertsecurityalertscouldbereceivedbynon-designated MRCCs. Guidance on the action to be taken by MRCCs in such instances is detailed in MSC/Circ.1073onDirectivesformaritimerescueco-ordinationcentresonactsofviolenceagainst ships.
Response to Distress/Security Double Alerts
3 TheCommittee,recognizingthepotentialconsequencesoffailuretoprovideapromptand adequateresponsetothedistressalertelementofa“distress/securitydoublealert”situationand, pendingfurtherconsiderationoftheissue,recommendedthatsuchcaseswouldrequireanimmediate response to the situation arising fromthe distress alert. However,thoserespondingtothedistress alertshouldbeinstructed,throughtheMRCC,toproceedwithduecareandcautionbearinginmind that the security of the ship may have been compromised or be under threat.