Piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean will be high on the agenda of IMO's next Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meeting. Member Governments will discuss how the international community should deal with issues related to the deployment of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) on board. Following the Costa Concordia Incident, the MSC will also focus on passenger ship safety.
The 90th MSC meeting will take place 16 to 25 May 2012 at IMO’s London Headquarters.
Passenger Ship Safety
The MSC has also received a number of submissions under the agenda item on “passenger ship safety”, which was added to the agenda in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident in January. The busy agenda further includes the adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and consideration of other items submitted by the IMO Sub-Committees.
Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships
On the first day of the meeting a high-level policy debate will take place between member Governments on arms on board ships is expected to focus on a number of issues, including:
– how Governments, either as flag States, coastal States, port States or States whose nationals are employed as seafarers, should acknowledge the actual situation and current developments with regard to employment of PCASP on board ships navigating in the high-risk area and whether they should allow PCASP under their national laws;
– whether Governments, particularly coastal and port States, should allow passage of foreign ships with PCASP through their territorial waters; and whether any practical international guidance should be developed for the handling and treatment of firearms and PCASP on board ships navigating in territorial waters, including in ports of those States which have not yet established national policies in dealing with arms on board ships; and
– whether Governments should establish international guidelines on the use of firearms against suspected pirates.
Interim Guidance
The MSC will also review interim guidance for port and coastal States; flag States; and shipowners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of PCASP on board ships to counter Somali-based piracy. This was approved by the Intersessional Maritime Security and Piracy Working Group of the MSC, which met in September 2011. Proposed Interim Guidance to private maritime security companies (PMSC) providing privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) aboard vessels transiting the high-risk area off the east coast of Africa will also be considered.
Passenger Ship Safety
The MSC will consider a number of submissions relating to passenger ship safety, after the item was added onto the agenda in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident off the coast of Italy in January of this year. The MSC is also expected to receive an update from the Government of Italy on the status of the casualty investigation. IMO is represented, as an observer, on the body overseeing the casualty investigation. It is anticipated that the MSC will also prepare an action plan to ensure a prompt response to the Costa Concordia incident and consider any other concerns associated with passenger ship safety.
