Shipping Ministry has ordered Bangladeshi-flagged ships to exercise maximum caution due to the ongoing war situation in the Middle East, which increases security risks in international maritime routes. To this end, a circular issued by the Department of Shipping has given six-point instructions for Bangladeshi-flagged ships engaged in commercial activities.
According to relevant sources, these precautionary measures have been ordered for ships operating in various areas of the Middle East, especially the Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and adjacent waters. In the current situation, the authorities consider it necessary to take extra precautions in ship operations and security management as the risk of military tension and conflict has increased in those areas.
The circular signed by Commodore Md. Shafiqul Bari, Director General of the Shipping department, said that these instructions must be strictly followed by Bangladeshi-flagged ships that are currently conducting commercial activities or planning transit. This circular will remain in effect until further instructions.
In addition, if a ship is forced to go to a specific port in a war situation, all types of risk assessments must be conducted before the voyage and necessary precautionary measures must be taken. In this case, the master (captain) of the ship can take the final decision considering the situation. If a port is not considered safe, he can also decide not to go there and there will be no interference from the ship owner or charterer in this regard.
As part of strengthening security, it has been ordered to review and implement the ship's security plan as per the International Ship and Port Security Code (ISPS Code). The security level of the ship should be increased as needed in coordination with the company's security officer.
In addition, it has been ordered to tighten access control to the ship, ensure additional surveillance in the gangway and the waters surrounding the ship. Considering the issue of safety and security, emphasis has also been placed on preparing for emergency situations and conducting necessary exercises as per the International Maritime Safety Convention (SOLAS).
The circular further states that navigational warnings, Navtex, MSI, safety notices and other warnings should be monitored regularly in ship operations. It should be ensured that all types of navigation and communication equipment are operational and effective.
It has been instructed to keep a continuous watch on emergency and port control channels and maintain regular communication with the concerned authorities. In addition, as an additional instruction for seafarers, it has been said that they should avoid locations near military conflict areas or military exercises and if any suspicious vessel or activity is seen, they should immediately inform the concerned authorities.
Officials of shipping department said that this instruction has been issued to ensure the safety of Bangladeshi ships and seafarers as the risk in the sea has increased due to the international situation. Further instructions may be given later if necessary after monitoring the situation.
Bangladeshi flagged ships regularly ply in various sea routes of the world. Therefore, ensuring the safety of these ships in the context of the global situation is very important. For this, the owners, operators and seafarers of the concerned ships have been urged to exercise utmost caution.
