Best management practices (BMPs) are basic anti-piracy defense measures that every vessel should use in this modern age of rampant attacks on the water. They include practices such as heavy wheel movements, transiting at high rates of speed, "hardening" the vessel to make boardings more difficult and keeping in close contact with law enforcement response centers.
BMPs are like Self Defense 101 for the mariner.
Yet, less than 40% of vessels are complying with BMPs in the high risk Indian Ocean, IMO Secretary General Efthimios Mitropoulos said in a speech last week before the Navigate / IPTA chemical / products tanker conference.
The figure comes from NATO.
Some in industry believe the number could be as low as 20%.
Though BMPs are not mandatory outside of the U.S., many registries should make them so, said the IMO's Ian Finley.
NATO Shipping Centre in Northwood (UK) said that 85 warships are needed to reach a vessel attacked in the Indian Ocean within one hour. Presently there are only 30 warships in theatre, with just 15 active at any time.
Category: International Maritime Injury Claims
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