Where this sits
Governing: STCW Table A-VI/6-1; MSN 1865 (M) Amendment 1, section 7.2; SOLAS XI-2 (SSAS); gov.uk maritime security guidance. Builds on: Module 2.
What suspicious looks like
You do not need to be sure. You need to notice and pass it on.
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| People | Watching or photographing the vessel repeatedly; asking about routines, guests or security; loitering near the gangway or tender; trying doors; wearing clothes that do not fit the setting or weather |
| Vehicles and boats | Parked near the berth for long periods; unlit boats at night; boats circling or approaching with no reason |
| Items | Unattended bags; packages nobody ordered; items in odd places (behind fenders, in lockers, under seats); tampered seals |
| Behaviour of insiders | A colleague or contractor going where they have no reason to be, avoiding checks, or asking about security arrangements |
| Systems | CCTV turned away or covered; locks damaged; alarms isolated without explanation |
Hostile reconnaissance is the planning stage of most attacks and thefts. It is also when they are easiest to stop.
Suspicious items
WARNING: Do not touch Do not touch, move, open or cover a suspicious item. Move people away, keep them away, and report. The SSP will say whether to avoid using radios and mobile phones near it.
Useful details for the SSO:
- where exactly it is, and when you first saw it;
- what it looks like (size, colour, markings, wires, smell, leaks);
- whether anyone was seen with it.
How to report
- Tell the officer of the watch or the SSO immediately, by the means in the SSP.
- Give who, what, where, when, and what you have done.
- Keep observing if you can do so safely.
- Write down what you saw as soon as you can, while it is fresh.
The SSO decides what goes further: company (CSO), flag state, port facility, police, or UKMTO in its reporting area. Your job is the first link, and it has to be fast.
Alarms and the SSAS
- The general alarm and any security alarm in the SSP are for alerting the crew. Know the signal and your muster point.
- The ship security alert system (SSAS) is different. Under SOLAS XI-2 it is a covert ship-to-shore alert. For UK ships it goes to a nominated 24-hour contact and the UK Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. It makes no sound on board. Crew awareness is enough: know it exists, do not talk about where the activation points are, and never test it without the SSO.
Reporting a piracy or armed robbery threat
MSN 1865 section 7.2 specifically expects crew to be able to report a piracy or armed robbery threat or attack. On deck, that means raising the alarm early and following the plan to the muster point or citadel. The master or SSO reports to the authorities and, in its area, to UKMTO.
TIP: Write it down Keep a notebook in your pocket on gangway watch. Times, descriptions and vessel names written at the time are worth far more than recollections the next morning.