“Why is it necessary to report vessel positions to UKMTO and to register vessel movements to MSCHOA?”

UKMTO and MSCHOA serve two separate functions due to the scale and volume of tasks required and the resources necessary meet those tasks. The utilisation and analysis of ship data and how it is disseminated as specifically required supports the existence of the role of the two organisations. The reasons to have different vessel reporting and vessel registration formats are as follows:

MSCHOA vessel movement registration specifically enables merchant ships to provide NAVAL FORCES operating off Somalia with a vulnerability profile of the vessel specific to the transit which includes dimensions of the ship, cargo , crew numbers and nationalities, security SPMs, and security personnel armed and or unarmed. All this information is fed into a risk matrix formula producing a Vulnerable Risk Category for each vessel and disseminated daily to Task Force Partners on the shared communications system. This information is also fused on the common operational picture used by the Battle Watch Watchkeeping Personnel. This information is used by warships and aircraft across the High Risk Area. Vessels register their movement only once upon entering the High Risk Area as set out in BMP. The data provided is collated and trends are analysed over months and years to support improvements and revisions to BMP and other counter piracy advice to Industry Organizations. This information is vital in communicating to Governments the existing and future threat to shipping from piracy.

UKMTO – is the Position Reporting and Emergency Incident Response Interface with the Merchant Ships at sea. They have specific responsibilities in coordinating all communications verbally with the Bridge in an emergency in order to make this procedure clear and easy for the Master and Crew. This direct verbal communication enables a quick and accurate assessment of the classification of the incident which is then disseminated immediately on the shared communications systems which ALL Counter Piracy Naval Operations operating off Somalia monitor. Despite some of the automated location positions currently employed on MVs, this system remains the only way a vessel can ensure that naval forces know they are there. This is essential for incident response but is vital in order to track the quantity of traffic and incidents in the HRA. The staff at UKMTO are well trained in providing the appropriate guidance, information and support to the Master and or crew in the event of any piracy related incident. Vessels report daily to UKMTO with position related information.

For further information please refer to BMP4.