Shipmaster's Security Manual: 2025 [paper]

Shipmaster’s Security Manual 2025

The BIMCO Shipmaster’s Security Manual contains guidance to shipowners, Masters and crew on the most pertinent security challenges facing the maritime industry today.

Seven chapters that the manual covers are the following topics:

• Armed conflict and war, which is the result of conflicts between different actors including state- as well as non-state actors. In recent years the state of conflict between Iran/Iranian proxies and US/UK/Israeli interests, and recently the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has seen more cases where weapons of war have been directed against commercial ships
• Piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea, off Somalia, and in Southeast Asia, with a focus on Gulf of Guinea. Niger delta pirates remain the primary piracy threat in the world. BIMCO has been at the forefront to help the maritime industry mitigate the risks. In early 2022, BIMCO released a standard contract for the employment of Security Escort Vessels (SEV-GUARDCON). In Gulf of Guinea the use of SEV has become more and more the norm but their use entails commercial risks which should be managed by using the SEV-GUARDCON, a copy of which is included in this edition of the manual
• Cyber security, especially focusing on onboard risk management and the interface with shore. While the industry has not yet seen cyber security incidents with major safety implications the cyber threats are continually developing, and the increased sophistication of criminals require cyber risk management to be steadily updated
• The ISPS Code, which is the cornerstone document for managing risks from terrorists against ships and port facilities and furthermore subject to several audits and compliance checks
• Stowaways, which continue to be a big risk to shipping operations because of the administrative- and practical burden and not least the cost associated with resolving stowaway cases. In some cases, stowaways even represent a security threat to the crew on board
• Mass mixed migration by sea, which continues to disrupt the operation of ships and in some cases develop into a humanitarian crisis on board with owners and crew caught in a limbo between state migration politics of coastal and flag states.

The global economy and international trade heavily rely on maritime transport, with the shipping industry responsible for around 90% of global trade by volume. The BIMCO Shipmaster’s Security Manual is designed to help members safeguard their crews, ships, cargo, and operations from threats such as piracy, cybercrime, drug smuggling, stowaways, terrorism, and migration. It also offers guidance on navigating the comprehensive regulatory framework in the security domain.

The manual is organized into seven key chapters: Piracy, Cyber Security, Smuggling, SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code, Stowaways, Mass Mixed Migration by Sea, and Armed Conflict and War. Each chapter provides strategies for managing specific security threats, outlining preventive measures to minimize the risk of incidents.

For clarity, the manual includes original-format annexes of various guidelines, such as Maritime Safety Committee Circulars. These annexes are essential and should be read thoroughly. However, lengthy official documents, like the ISPS Code and SOLAS, are not included since they are mandatory onboard most ships.

The Shipmaster’s Security Manual is not meant to be a complete set of procedures. Instead, it seeks to clarify existing guidelines and highlight key areas where a ship’s master must focus to reduce risks to the vessel, crew, and operations. These preventive steps are also relevant for shipowners and operators, who can enhance security by training and motivating seafarers to adopt company policies tailored to each specific risk.

A crucial part of due diligence is conducting a risk assessment of the ship’s activities under various threat scenarios, implementing defensive measures where necessary to prevent or reduce threats. A successful risk assessment requires careful evaluation of both the actual threats to the ship and its vulnerabilities, which can be a complex task. To support members in this process, BIMCO advises that a full security risk assessment be completed before each voyage.

Shipmaster’s Security Manual, 2025 edition, BP109621, BIMCO