19 -
.1
2
The coastal State in whose waters any attack takes place, generally through its RCC or coast radio station.
The nearest RCC or coast radio station in the event of attack on the high seas as well as the flag State of the ship involved. The latter will generally be done through the owners or agents concerned.
Handling of Attack Reports
Immediate Attack Reports
21
On receipt of radio reports of an attack, the RCC or other agency involved must take the following immediate action:
.1 Inform local security authorities so that counteraction (contingency plans) can be implemented, including passing the information to adjacent coastal States security forces.
.2
.3
Warn shipping in the immediate area that an attack is taking place, in order to reduce the risk of collision enhanced by the victim vessel possibly being 'Not Under Command' (NUC).
In the case of the Malacca Strait littoral States (Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia) inform the RPC at Kuala Lumpur, so that they can immediately update piracy warning information.
Follow-up reports
22 It is equally essential that written follow-up reports be forwarded by masters as soon as possible after the incident to the authorities listed in paragraph 20 above. These should be as detailed as possible and can be filed by ships with fax or telex from sea. If this cannot be done, they should be forwarded from the vessel's next port of call.
23 Again it is very important that these follow-up reports be forwarded as quickly as possible by appropriate authorities to the following:
.1 The coastal State concerned in the event of an attack in territorial
waters, who should pass it immediately to the security authorities for follow-up intelligence and evidential purposes.
.2
The flag State of the vessel who must pass it immediately to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as the central repository of such statistics. IMO should, in turn, forward a confirmatory copy to any coastal State concerned.
Collating of reports
24 The recording and initial examination of reports is best done, wherever possible, by a central agency possessing the necessary skills and resources. In order to maintain credibility with its customers, both from Government and commercial sectors, such an agency must be accurate, authoritative, efficient and impartial in both its product and its dealings with others. It is judged that the Organization best suited to this role is IMO itself, although the use of the IMB Regional Piracy Centre as a satellite for dissemination of information should also be considered.
W/9181e
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