UN Conference on the Law of the Sea

Part VII High Seas Section 1 General Provisions

UN Security Council

Resolution 1816 (2008): Temporarily Permit Naval Action within Somali Territorial Sea (6 Months)

Resolution 1838 (2008): Requesting Other States to Deploy Naval Vessel or Aircraft to Somali Territorial Sea

Resolution 1846 (2008): Approve NATO Countries’ Supports for WFP Escort and Naval Actions to Depress Piracy for 1-Year Period

Resolution 1851 (2008): Authorizes States to Use Land-Based Operations in Somalia

ATP 2(B) Vol I thru Chg 1, Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) Manual

Concept of Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping

Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping Operations

NCAGS Communications

Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping Toolbox

ATP 2(B) Vol II, Naval Co-Operation and Guidance for Shipping Manual (NCAGS) Guide to Owners, Operators, Masters and Officers

NCAGS Operations

The NATO Shipping Centre

NCAGS Information Forms

Routing/Passage Plans and Amendments

Communications

Message Types

Procedural Guidance For Ships At Sea

Protective Measures Against Threats To Merchant Ships

Recommended Protective Measures

ATP 71 thru Chg 2, Allied Maritime Interdiction Operations

Definition of Key Terms

Detection and Surveillance

Interrogation, Approach, and Stopping

Boarding and Searching

Non-cooperative Boardings

Support for Embarked Special Operations Forces during Maritime Interdiction Operations

Boarding Team Equipment

Boarding Kit

Boarding Procedures

STANAG 1444 HOS (Edition 2), Maritime Considerations on the Conduct of Fast Roping and Rappelling (FRR)

Maritime Considerations on the Conduct of Fast Roping and Rappelling

MTP 1(D) Vol I thru Chg 4, Multinational Maritime Tactical Instructions and Procedures

Antisurface Warfare

Surface Action Checkoff List

Anti-FPB Checkoff List

Force Protection In Harbor

AJP 2.5(A), Captured Persons, Materiel and Documents

Introduction

Procedures for Handling Persons, Materiel and Documents upon Capture

Procedures for Handling Captured Persons

Interrogation of Captured Persons

Captured Materiel and Associated Technical Documents

Non-Article 5 Crisis Response Operations

Technical Format and Detail Procedures, Summary of Geneva Convention

Special Provisions for the Handling of Persons Captured at Sea

Sample Format of a Tactical Questioning Report

Guidelines for Handling Evidence

Escorts and Guards

Summary of Geneva Conventions Which Should Be Communicated to Prisoners of War

AJP 3.1 thru Chg 1, Allied Joint Maritime Operations

Protection of Shipping

Operations in the Littorals

Command of Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping

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0404 Interrogation Procedures

1. It is imperative that the overall tone of any hailing or interrogation be firm, yet cordial and nonconfrontational. The bridge watch of the suspect vessel may not be proficient in English and may have

to locate someone who is; this person may not necessarily be the master. It is important to ensure the vessel’s master is present during hailing and interrogation, even if the master does not speak English. Due to

accents and colloquialisms, the responses may not be easily understood, with questions having to be repeated more than once. The suspect vessel’s crew should break down the hail into short phrases to assist

in translation or understanding. Request that the vessel spell words, if necessary. A list of ports in the area of operation should be prepared and used as a ready reference. While maintaining a polite attitude, remain alert for any delaying tactics.

2. Initial Query. The scripted hailings included in this section should only be used if the MIO commander

does not provide specific scripts.

a. A ship or an aircraft may conduct the initial query. The purpose of this query is to obtain the

information about the merchant vessel to determine whether or not a boarding will be required.

Units should make initial contact with the vessel on VHF channel 16, having attracted attention by

night by the use of appropriate coloured light. Interrogation procedures are then conducted on an

assigned VHF working channel. To gain the attention of the vessel, specifically if its name is

unknown, refer to its latitude/longitude position in reference to a known geographic reference

point, course, and speed. In the absence of specific guidance, the following hail is recommended:

“Merchant vessel ____________, this is (nation) Navy warship/aircraft. Request

you state your port of origin, your flag, registry, international call sign, your cargo,

your last port of call, next port of call, and final destination, over.”

b. If it is determined that a boarding operation will not be necessary based on stated destination, the

following may be used to dispatch the vessel:

“Merchant vessel ___________, this is (nation) Navy warship/aircraft. We do not

intend to conduct an inspection. You are instructed to proceed directly to your destination

of _______________. Thank you for your cooperation.”

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0503 Boarding Party Composition

1. The boarding party should be comprised of a minimum of 10 members designated as follows:

a. Boarding Officer. The BO is usually an officer. This member must be mature, in excellent

physical condition, small arms qualified, and have the complete confidence of theCOof the ship.

b. Assistant Boarding Officer. The assistant boarding officer (ABO) is usually an officer

who should be in training or qualified as a BO. This member must be in excellent physical

condition, small arms qualified, and have the confidence of the CO of the ship.

c. Security Team Leader. The security team leader should be a senior enlisted member of the

boarding ship. This member must be mature, in excellent physical condition, and small arms

qualified.

d. Security Team. The security team is a group of five members (usually ratings). They must be

mature, in excellent physical condition, and small arms qualified. Composition of security teams

that are in charge of securing engineering spaces should (when available) include an experienced

engineering officer or rating.

e. Search Team. The search team is a group of two of the most experienced and mature men on

the boarding party (senior petty officers preferred). They must be mature, in excellent physical

condition, and small arms qualified. Search team members must be proficient in the use of climbing

equipment in order to conduct container searches.

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MARITIME CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CONDUCT OF FAST ROPING AND RAPPELLING (FRR)

Annex: A. FRR BRIEFING GUIDE FOR AIRCREW/BOARDING PARTY

AIM

1. The aim of this agreement is to specify the detailed requirements for the safe

conduct of maritime cross deck fast roping and rappelling (FRR) utilising national and/or

another nation’s aircraft and personnel.

AGREEMENT

2. The participating nations agree to adhere to, as a minimum, the requirements and

procedures specified in this STANAG.

GENERAL

3. The requirement exists for NATO nations to be able to conduct combined joint

maritime FRR operations. This may include FRR of a national helicopter and crew

composition to another nation’s deck as well as mixing aircraft and crews from different

nations for a specific operation.

4. Before using mixed nation FRR teams for operational missions the formal bi- or

multi-lateral agreement(s) of each participating nation is required. Pre briefing is a

mandatory requirement before conducting cross deck FRR Operations, specifically hand

signals, emergencies and method of descending are to be briefed. An intensive training

phase prior to conducting multinational FRR on an operational level is mandatory. FRR

operations in general should only be undertaken when it is viewed as the most efficient

and practical method of completing a task. The decision to FRR will be decided based on

such constraints as hover height, team member weight, etc.

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Procedures for Handling Captured Persons

0301 General Handling Procedures

1. Standard administrative procedures for the handling of CPERS will be as set out below.

Operational conditions may require deviations from these procedures. Where this is the case, the

principles and procedures will be followed as far as circumstances allow. The provisions of applicable

international law will always be observed.

The Detaining Power will at all times be responsible for the care, custody and control of CPERS.

Article 12 of GC3 permits the transfer of POWs from the custody of the Detaining Power to the

custody of another power that has ratified GC3 and has the will and means to uphold the provisions of

the Convention.

2. The interrogation of CPERS is set out in Chapter 4 of this publication and should be read in

conjunction with this chapter.

3. As soon as possible after capture, individuals are to be provided with tags in accordance with

the procedures outlined in Annex A and collected at a suitable point or area where a GROUPCAPREP

should be compiled (see Annex B).

4. Evacuation is to be carried out as soon as the tactical situation permits to one of the following

facilities that should be situated far enough from the combat zone for the CPERS to be out of danger:

a. Collecting points.

b. Holding areas.

c. Long-term detention facilities.

d. Medical facilities.

e. Interrogation units (usually collocated with a-c above).

5. Figure 3-1 illustrates the CPERS evacuation chain and lists recommended actions at each stage

in the CPERS handling process.

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