Dryad supports BMP 4 High Risk Area revision
The changes, detailed below, shall take effect formally from 1st December 2015 in order to give crews and shipping companies adequate time to adapt.
The High Risk Area, as defined by BMP4, will be reduced in size as follows:
- In the Red Sea: Latitude 15°N
- In the Gulf of Oman: Latitude 22°N
- Eastern Limit: Longitude 065°E
- Southern Limit: Latitude 5°S
UK maritime intelligence company, Dryad Maritime, welcomed this announcement as a decision that takes account of the changing strategic and threat context in the region and the important views of a number of coastal states. The news is the first step in a welcome de-escalation that will ultimately see a shift from the widespread use of armed guards towards more appropriate, and less costly, methods of mitigating risk in the High Risk Area.
Graeme Gibbon Brooks, Chief Executive Officer, Dryad Maritime: “This amendment to the HRA is well considered and reflects the balance of caution and progress. The message from the naval forces is unequivocal that the threat remains, albeit inactive. However, it is clear that the audacious long range attacks seen in 2009-2011 are not the most likely course of action and thus a de-escalation of risk posture in these areas is wholly appropriate. The re-drawing of the boundaries does reflect the criminals’ most likely course of action should the threat reconstitute and so we fully support this pragmatic decision. Whilst it would be premature to claim total victory on piracy, this is the first and most optimistic sign of progress toward that goal.”
Ian Millen, Chief Operating Officer, Dryad Maritime: "This is great news for the maritime industry and seafarers alike. Whilst we are not about to drop our guard on piracy or other regional maritime security issues, such as the war in Yemen, this HRA reduction of approximately 55% or 1.7 million square miles of ocean will give the hard-pressed industry cause for optimism with the potential for reduced operating costs. It will also come as welcome news to our international seafarers who have suffered at the hands of Somali piracy for far too long. BIMCO and other sponsors deserve much credit for the significant part that they have played in the fight against piracy and today’s welcome news. It will be interesting to see how others, including insurers and leading players such as the Joint War Committee, react to this latest development.
