§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to issue an advice leaflet to the crews of British flagged ships concerning how best to defend themselves against piracy. [170055]
§ Mr. JamiesonDetailed guidance already exists in the form of Marine Guidance Note MGN 241 (M)—(Measures to Counter Piracy, Armed Robbery and other acts of Violence against Merchant Shipping), published in November 2002 and issued to over 16,000 UK mariners. There are no immediate plans to re-issue the guidance but this is being kept under review.
§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he has taken to help British flagged ships that sail(a) near Malaysia and (b) through the Straits of Malacca defend themselves against piracy. [170056]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer the hon. Member to my earlier answer given today (ref 170055). The Department for Transport has issued comprehensive guidance to UK mariners regarding the measures that UK flagged vessels should take to defend against acts of piracy while passing through the Malacca Straits. Additionally, the DfT will be represented at the International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) Piracy conference being held in Kuala Lumpur at the end of June. We will be highlighting and making a persuasive case for a more robust and coordinated international effort to crack down on piracy in the world's main hotspots such as the Straits of Malacca.
All British flagged ships are required under the new International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code to appoint a Ship Security Officer (SSO) and submit a Ship Security Plan (SSP) to the DfT. Officials examine these plans and verify them on board prior to issuing the International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC), if appropriate. SSPs and vessels have to meet UK security standards and the plans contain many elements of good security practice, which help SSOs ensure ships are adequately protected.
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§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of piracy were reported as having taken place against British vessels in 2003. [170063]
§ Mr. JamiesonThere were 17 incidents of piracy reported by the IMB against British vessels in 2003. This figure includes incidents against vessels flagged in UK and its Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of piracy were discovered at UK seaports by(a) UK border controls and (b) the Royal Navy in 2003. [170064]
§ Mr. JamiesonThere were no incidents of piracy discovered at UK seaports in 2003 by either UK border controls or the Royal Navy. There were also no piracy related incident reports for the UK, and the IMB annual report confirms that no such incidents were recorded for 2003.