Shipmaster's Security Manual 2025

The BIMCO Shipmaster's Security Manual contains guidance to shipowners, Masters and crew on the most pertinent security challenges facing the maritime industry today.

Totalling seven chapters, the manual covers the following topics:

• Armed conflict and war, which is the result of conflicts between different actors including state- as well as non-state actors. In recent years the state of conflict between Iran/Iranian proxies and US/UK/Israeli interests, and recently the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has seen more cases where weapons of war have been directed against commercial ships
• piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea, off Somalia, and in Southeast Asia, with a focus on Gulf of Guinea. Niger delta pirates remain the primary piracy threat in the world. BIMCO has been at the forefront to help the maritime industry mitigate the risks. In early 2022, BIMCO released a standard contract for the employment of Security Escort Vessels (SEV-GUARDCON). In Gulf of Guinea the use of SEV has become more and more the norm but their use entails commercial risks which should be managed by using the SEV-GUARDCON, a copy of which is included in this edition of the manual
• cyber security, especially focusing on onboard risk management and the interface with shore. While the industry has not yet seen cyber security incidents with major safety implications the cyber threats are continually developing, and the increased sophistication of criminals require cyber risk management to be steadily updated
• the ISPS Code, which is the cornerstone document for managing risks from terrorists against ships and port facilities and furthermore subject to several audits and compliance checks
• stowaways, which continue to be a big risk to shipping operations because of the administrative- and practical burden and not least the cost associated with resolving stowaway cases. In some cases, stowaways even represent a security threat to the crew on board
• mass mixed migration by sea, which continues to disrupt the operation of ships and in some cases develop into a humanitarian crisis on board with owners and crew caught in a limbo between state migration politics of coastal and flag states.

The global economy and international trade heavily rely on maritime transport, with the shipping industry responsible for around 90% of global trade by volume. The BIMCO Shipmaster's Security Manual is designed to help members safeguard their crews, ships, cargo, and operations from threats such as piracy, cybercrime, drug smuggling, stowaways, terrorism, and migration. It also offers guidance on navigating the comprehensive regulatory framework in the security domain.

The manual is organized into seven key chapters: Piracy, Cyber Security, Smuggling, SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code, Stowaways, Mass Mixed Migration by Sea, and Armed Conflict and War. Each chapter provides strategies for managing specific security threats, outlining preventive measures to minimize the risk of incidents.

For clarity, the manual includes original-format annexes of various guidelines, such as Maritime Safety Committee Circulars. These annexes are essential and should be read thoroughly. However, lengthy official documents, like the ISPS Code and SOLAS, are not included since they are mandatory onboard most ships.

The Shipmaster's Security Manual is not meant to be a complete set of procedures. Instead, it seeks to clarify existing guidelines and highlight key areas where a ship's master must focus to reduce risks to the vessel, crew, and operations. These preventive steps are also relevant for shipowners and operators, who can enhance security by training and motivating seafarers to adopt company policies tailored to each specific risk.

A crucial part of due diligence is conducting a risk assessment of the ship's activities under various threat scenarios, implementing defensive measures where necessary to prevent or reduce threats. A successful risk assessment requires careful evaluation of both the actual threats to the ship and its vulnerabilities, which can be a complex task. To support members in this process, BIMCO advises that a full security risk assessment be completed before each voyage.

1. Piracy
Intro
Annex 1A: MSC.1/Circ.1334, 23 June 2009: Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships ? Guidance to shipowners and ship operators, shipmasters and crews on preventing and suppressing acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships
Annex 1B: BMP WA: Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy and Enhance Maritime Security off the Coast of West Africa including the Gulf of Guinea
Annex 1C: SEV-GUARDCON
Annex 1D: BMP5: Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy and Enhance Maritime Security in
the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea
Annex 1E: Regional Guide To Counter Piracy And Armed Robbery Against Ships In Asia
Annex 1F: MSC.1/Circ.1405/Rev.2, 25 May 2012: Revised Interim Guidance to Shipowners, Ship Operators and Shipmasters on the Use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel on Board Ships in the High Risk Area
Annex 1G: MSC.1/Circ.1443, 25 May 2012: Interim Guidance to Private Maritime Security Companies Providing Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel on Board Ships in the High Risk Area
Annex 1H: GUARDCON and Guidance on Rules for the Use of Force (RUF) by Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) in Defence of a Merchant Vessel (MV)
Annex 1I: The 100 Series Rules, An International Model Set of Maritime Rules for the Use of Force (RUF)
Annex 1J: Guidance relating to the Construction and Use of Citadels in Waters Affected by Somalia Piracy ? July 2011
Annex 1K: Good Practice Guide for Shipping Companies and Manning Agents Humanitarian support of seafarers and their families in cases of armed robbery and piracy attack (Version 2, 2016)
Annex 1L: IMB Piracy & Armed Robbery Attack Report

2. Cyber security
Intro
Annex 2A: The Guidelines on Cyber Security Onboard Ships (version 4, December 2020)
Annex 2B: Cyber Security Onboard Ships poster

3. Smuggling
Intro
Annex 3A: Annex to IMO Resolution FAL.9(34), Revised guidelines for the prevention and suppression of the smuggling of drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals on ships engaged in international trade
Annex 3B: BIMCO U.S. Anti-Drug Abuse Act 1986 Clause for Time Charter Parties 2013

4. SOLAS chapter XI-2 and the ISPS code
Intro
Annex 4A: IMO Resolution MSC.159(78), Interim Guidance on Control and Compliance Measures to Enhance Maritime Security
Annex 4B: BIMCO ISPS/MTSA Clauses

5. Stowaways
Intro
Annex 5A: IMO resolution A.871(20), Guidelines on the Allocation of responsibilities to Seek the Successful Resolution of Stowaway Cases
Annex 5B: BIMCO Stowaway Clause

6. Mass mixed migration by sea
Intro
Annex 6A: Guidelines on migrant rescue at sea
Annex 6B: UNHCR pamphlet ?Rescue at sea ? a guide to principles and practice as applied to migrants and refugees?

7. Armed conflict and war
Intro
Annex 7A: ATP-02.1 Naval cooperation and guidance for shipping (NCAGS) ? guide to owners, operators, masters and officers (edition A version 1, September 2014)

BIMCO is the world?s largest direct-membership organisation for shipowners, charterers, shipbrokers and agents. In total, around 60% of the world?s merchant fleet is a BIMCO member, measured by tonnage (weight of the unloaded ships).

The organisation has NGO status and is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, with offices in Athens, Singapore and Shanghai.

With around 1900 member companies across 120 countries ? from the largest shipowners in the world to small local port agents and law firms, BIMCO represents a wide range of maritime companies and organisations.

BIMCO?s goal is to secure a level playing field for the global shipping industry. BIMCO therefore works to promote and secure global standards and regulations for the maritime sector. The organisation?s century long effort into creating standard contracts and clauses is an expression of that aim.