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Enhancement of Security Level for Ship Operations (Maritime Anti-Terrorism Measures)

December 24, 2003

Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) on December 22 set up an in-house liaison committee for discussing maritime anti-terrorism policies, which is chaired by executive vice-president Tadatoshi Mamiya, for the purpose of raising its security level for ship operations.

As regards the security of vessels, NYK has come up with its own guidelines and implemented them strictly to play safe.

Fearing that terrorist attacks have become much more likely on maritime cargo transport systems and related port facilities as tension intensifies around the world, however, NYK has made the decision to raise its security level.

Measures to be undertaken in accordance with the increase in NYK's security level will include the following:

1) Anticipated dangers
a) Attacks on ships at anchor;
b) Attacks on ship navigating narrow areas (such as straits and canals); and
c) Attacks on port facilities.
2) Measures to be implemented to tackle such incidents
The liaison committee for discussing maritime anti-terrorism policies has been established, which will collect information with the maximum employment of its reinforced analysis capabilities, and make immediate decisions on countermeasures. The committee will also provide ships and facilities more strict instructions to understand to what degree such ships and facilities have carried out the countermeasures it has enforced.
3) Judgment to be effective for the time being
"Maintenance of the highest-level of security measures."
Designated areas : waters around the Arabian Peninsula, the East Mediterranean, the straits of Malacca and Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, the U.S., the Strait of Gibraltar and Turkey
Measures to be undertaken : the following measures will be undertaken in addition to ordinary security initiatives:
Ships
1) All the time
  1. Providing briefing sessions by ship security managers (captains) to crewmembers (the explanation of increases in dangers);
  2. Keeping contacts with operators (on land); and
  3. Implementing emergency drills on the assumption of actual terrorist attacks.
2) When at anchor
  1. Increasing the number of patrolling officers and deploying them under a round-the-clock system;
  2. Patrolling no-entry zones;
  3. Adding illumination instruments;
  4. Prohibiting outsiders, including business-related parties, in principle from entering ships;
  5. Employing more security officers from outside;
  6. Carrying out security checks twice a day under the initiative of ship security managers (captains);
  7. Inspecting marine equipment and foodstuffs more strictly when they are carried into ships; and
  8. Confirming dangerous cargoes and their locations more strictly when ships are loaded with such shipments.
3) When navigating
  1. Increasing the number of security officers (to oversea smaller ships and aircraft);
  2. Drawing up plans in which navigations are made, maintaining sufficient distances from the shore; and
  3. Coming up with respective contingency plans, which will include emergency contacts.
Land
  1. Issuing instructions of cautions to all operating ships;
  2. Confirming the safety of ships via electric media by utilizing the ship navigation tracking system of each area;
  3. Collectively controlling navigation schedules by area;
  4. Confirming emergency contacts, both in house and outside the company;
  5. Submitting reports to relevant governmental ministries and agencies, collecting the latest information, and inform such information of ships navigating in related areas; and
Carrying out emergency drills (jointly by maritime and overland units).
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