Effective 1st February 2010, all manning agencies in the Philippines should provide, at no cost to their seafarers, an anti-piracy awareness training seminar for those signing on.

The new Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has been closely assisted by INTERTANKO in its genesis.

The industry’s 'Blue Book' entitled ‘Piracy The East Africa/Somalia Situation’ (produced by OCIMF, SIGTTO, INTERTANKO, ICS, INTERCARGO, International Group of P & I Clubs (IG), ICC, and BIMCO) will be used as the basis for the anti-piracy course, as endorsed by the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and POEA.

Piracy in East Africa/Somalia has been a long-standing issue in the Philippines. Initially, a recommendation to ban all national seafarers from vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden was the only solution being considered by the Philippines in order to protect the welfare of its seafarers.

The establishment of the POEA, however, was a collective decision to support measures that will address not only the adverse effects of pirate attacks, but also the anxieties and trauma suffered by their families.

INTERTANKO’s regional manager Asia/Pacific Tim Wilkins gave delegates at a recent Combating Piracy conference in Singapore a clear four-point message on what is essential to reduce the risk of a successful hijacking.

Wilkins provided details on the reasons that attacks have generally been successful, explaining that there are still operators not implementing these four basic points for improving a vessels’ security.

He emphasised a theme that was considered extensively at the conference, that of training. Wilkins said that crew training was an essential part of the pre-planning stage, adding that this stage was not something to be considered overnight, but something which takes time - up to three months - and resources.

With those, a ship and its crew can ready with effective SPMs so that both the software (training and drills) as well as the hardware (stores, razor wire etc) aspects of the BMP can be properly implemented on board.