Security levels · Warning notes

• Current information about piracy threatened sea areas
• Security levels for the sea areas Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf 
• Guidance and recommended behaviour

Current information about piracy threatened sea areas

The German Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) publishes periodically information on sea areas and traffic routes threatened by piracy or other hazards. These include up to date information on hazards and security levels as well as recommendations for behavior in these sea areas.

Identical information is published in the German notices to mariners (Nachrichten für Seefahrer (NfS)).

On the website of the federal police (only in German), you can find current notices on sea areas under threat. The individual warning notes of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium des Innern, BMI) are available (with a click on the map) in German and English.

Security levels  for the sea areas Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf

As agreed with the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, the security level for German-flagged vessels

• in the sea area west of 060° E from the coast of Iran 25°22'46''N, 60°00'00''E off the coast of Oman 22°25'45''N, 60°00'00''E and further for the Persian Gulf continues to be set to
  
       SOLAS security level 2 (two).
  
• Within port facilities in the above mentioned sea area, the security level for all vessels except tankers, has been set with immediate effect to
  
       SOLAS security level 1 (one).
  
  This does not apply to outer anchorages, nor to port facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. For German-flagged tankers, SOLAS security level 2 (two) continues to apply to the whole sea area, including port facilities.

Guidance and recommended behaviour:

Please refer to the recommendations issued by the industry associations OCIMF and INTERTANKO at https://theseanation.gr/news-in-english/43935-intertanko-ocimf-update-followingrecent-attacks-in-gulf-of-oman.html

They recommend to

• maintain a full and vigilant bridge watch;
• maintain a strict communications watch and establish communication with all vessels coming close;
• ensure strict boarding controls are in place;
• only lower gangways when necessary;
• rig outboard lighting where possible provided they do not interfere with keeping a safe lookout, particularly over the stern;
• rig/use searchlights if available;
• report any suspicious activity immediately to both the nearest port and UKMTO (+442392222060);
• permanently monitor relevant communication channels;
• make sure all fire-fighting equipment available for immediate use;
• make sure the emergency fire pump is available and keep the AIS signal on.

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