Alert issued for BD vessels plying war zones

FE REPORT | Published: February 02, 2024 23:07:49

Bangladeshi vessels ply Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, Somali Basin and Arabian Sea gets security alert from Dhaka as the region turns risky amid ship attacks in proxy wars.
Officials say that, in the face of escalating maritime security incidents, the Department of Shipping (DoS) has issued transit guidelines for the Bangladeshi flag vessels that ply the veritable war zone.
The shipping regulator has asked for undertaking a ship-and voyage-specific risk assessment before entering the region. "This assessment should consider factors such as safe speed, day/night transits, and bridge manning levels, etc."
Moreover, all Bangladesh-flagged vessels transiting that area have been asked to register with UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) and maintain all communications at all times through a voluntary reporting scheme, including reporting any incidents or suspicious activities, to UKMTO and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) for shipping navigating the Southern Red Sea.
Bangladesh presently has nearly a hundred oceangoing vessels many of which frequently take that route which is now under war risks, especially amid Houthi attacks on western ships and counteroffensive by a US-led coalition.
The DoS transit guidelines say unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, and projectile strikes are examples of loitering munitions (LM) that pose a serious concern in these waters.
The International Marine Forum of Oil Companies (OCIMF) has released an educational document titled "Loitering Munitions - The Threat to Merchant Ships," which describes the growing danger that commercial vessels face from loitering munitions (LM).
It offers best practices for addressing these new security threats, and the DoS asked flag-vessel operators to study the document as precaution.
"The Master of the vessel retains ultimate responsibility for ensuring the vessel's safety and security and should plan routes accordingly. Using Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC) is recommended," says the regulator in the alert.
It has also advised all stakeholders "to adhere to the Best Management Practices-5 while transiting through this region".
"If armed guards are utilised for the voyage, then caution should be taken when managing their employment, and the risk of escalation should be considered," the DoS instructions read.
The department says due to the recent events in the Gulf of Aden and Southern Red Sea, merchant ships, particularly those connected to Israel through business ties like ownership, port calls, commerce, operators, managers, and charterers, are now seriously threatened.
However, due to their closeness to a missile or drone attack against another target or because of inaccurate targeting, transiting vessels that are not involved in Israeli trade may likewise be at risk of collateral damage.
"Therefore it is recommended that ships operating in this area use the utmost caution and adhere to the following guidelines to ensure the safe and secure passage of their vessels," notes the regulator.
A ship, namely 'Banglar Samriddhi', owned by Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) came under missile attack on the night of March 2022 in Black Sea in Ukraine where one crew member died on the spot and several others were injured.
syful-islam@outlook.com