Abstract
ABSTRACT This paper examines piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Mexico, under the framework of maritime security. The results indicate that piratic attacks are most likely underreported by the Government of Mexico. The research findings documented fourteen attacks on supply vessels and offshore platforms for the first half of 2020; only three relevant attacks were officially reported in the same period by the vessel´s (foreign) flag jurisdiction. However, the Maritime Authority of Mexico did not change the security level at any of the ports or territorial sea during the incidents. The maritime security level remained the same (level 1) during 2020, despite several alerts launched by the international maritime community. Recommendations by the respondents (shipmasters, SSO, CSO and PFSO) recommended that a permanent increased security level (level 2) should be implemented in the Southern part of the Gulf of Mexico until this specific problem is resolved. Participants suggested additional special measures to tackle the problem including the evaluation to class the area as a High Risk Area (HRA) and the establishment of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU), for international cooperation and capacity building with the US Coastguard authorities to promote necessary collaboration towards effectively dealing with these security threats.
Highlights
Piracy and armed robbery attacks against vessels at anchoring areas of ports in the Southern Gulf of Mexico and oil platforms located in the region have increased significantly during the last three years
(9) 100 % of the participants interviewed recom mended that the ports of the area increase the port security level to operate at level 2 always and until the number of attacks decrease to an acceptable security level
(10) 60 % of the participants interviewed recom mend vessels sailing in the Southern part of the Gulf of Mexico to sail at security level 2
Summary
Piracy and armed robbery attacks against vessels at anchoring areas of ports in the Southern Gulf of Mexico and oil platforms located in the region have increased significantly during the last three years. The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) Code, is one of the most important sets of maritime security regulations of international law, developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) These pro visions are established in Chapter XI-2 of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention 1974 (SOLAS Convention) and include crucial instruments to fight piracy, armed robbery and other type of transnational organized crime at sea, as the Port Facility Security Assessment (PFSA) and respective Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP), and the Ship Security Assessment (SSA) and Ship Security Plan (SSP). The ISPS Code is a “comprehensive set of measures to enhance the secur ity of ships and port facilities, developed in response to the perceived threats to ships and port facilities in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in the United States” (International Maritime Organization 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of International Maritime Safety, Environmental Affairs, and Shipping
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
