The global shipping industry has agreed to declassify the Indian Ocean coastline off Somalia as a “high-risk area” following years of successful counter-piracy operations.

Published 2 years ago

According to reports in the Maritime Industry Media, notification of the removal of the High Risk Area (HRA) from 0001 UTC on 1 January 2023 by industry bodies was forwarded in a submission on 22 August, to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the next meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee scheduled to start on 31 October 2022.

The removal of the HRA reflects a significantly improved piracy situation in the region, largely due to concerted counter-piracy efforts by many regional and international stakeholders. No piracy attacks against merchant ships have occurred off Somalia since 2018.

Good News for Cruising Yachts

While the change has been led by commercial shipping interests, cruising legend Wade Alarie who moderates the Red Sea Passage Facebook Group said the news would also be welcomed by cruising yachts.

“Although there have been rare attacks against commercial ships in the area (the most recent being 2019), in my opinion – there have not been any pirate attacks against private yachts since 2011,” he said.

“The situation in this area no longer seems to warrant the kind of attention that it had in the past. The fact that the EU considers removing the High Risk Area designation is a good thing, and should make it easier for private yachts to find coverage.”

Decision Made by International Shipping

The decision was made by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO, International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF).

The area being removed is the HRA as shown on UKHO Chart Q6099.  The co-submitters said that the announcement was “a testament to nearly 15 years of dedicated collaboration to reduce the threat of piracy in the Indian Ocean. Through a combination of efforts by military, political, civil society and the shipping industry over the years, operators and seafarers are now able to operate with increased confidence in these waters.”

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Related News:

Waters Near Somalia are removed from list of High Risk Areas (International Union of Marine Insurance)

Indian Ocean HRA is removed on 1 January 2023 (Maritime Cyprus)

Shipping Industry to Remove Indian Ocean High Risk Area (International Chamber of Shipping)

Indian Ocean Off Somalia to lose ‘High Risk Area’ Designation as Piracy Dips (Bloomberg)

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Related Links:

International Maritime Organisation

Noonsite Piracy Pages

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Noonsite has not independently verified this information.