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Protective security of merchant vessels
5
The target "merchant vessels" can and should take certain measures to protect themselves from pirates and armed robbers, and these precautions are developed in Chapter 4 and annexes 5, 6 and 7. While security forces can often advise on such measures, it is the responsibility of masters and their owners to take seamanlike precautions when navigating in areas where the threat of piracy exists. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the flag State to ensure that owners and masters accept this responsibility.
6 In addition to the basic protective security measures spelt out in Chapter 4 and annexes 5 and 7, there are certain further measures which masters can take to reduce the risk of a successful attack by pirates or robbers. These may involve the installation of special equipment and, in general, are not covered in detail. It is advisable that any such measures above the basic level of precautions be kept privy to the owners, masters and security forces.
Contingency planning
7
Security forces by their nature will naturally draw up contingency plans to use in reaction to attacks by pirates or robbers which will generally be confidential to those forces and their allies. These plans should be exercised periodically. However, it is also important for the ships to develop their own action plans spelling out what to do in the event of attack. Also because of the possibility of collision or grounding of a ship
a result of an attack, port authorities will also need to develop plans to counter any subsequent oil spills or leakages of hazardous substances that the ship or ships may be carrying. This is especially important in the areas of restricted navigation in the channels and approaches to the Malacca, Phillips and Singapore Straits.
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W/9181e
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