The St Kitts and Nevis Department of Maritime Affairs join the growing list of official organisations who have granted official approval to Securewest International for monitoring SSAS including, amongst others, the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency and one of the largest registries, the Marshall Islands.  SSAS, the silent alarm system designed to indicate vessel distress due to a threat or compromise of security, is activated by pushing a concealed button on the vessel with a signal then transmitted via satellite to a land based communication service provider (CSP).

But it is what happens next which often determines the effectiveness of the service, and looking for the required competent authority to monitor their SSAS systems on a round-the-clock basis can prove challenging. Singer explained, ‘One of the key ways in which Securewest International differs from the others is that we can offer a single ‘live’ point of immediate human contact with the vessel’s SSAS hardware should an alert take place, 24/7 all year round, rather than entrusting the notification procedure to a fully automated system that can only contact pre-set destinations.’

The importance of this part of maritime security legislation is reinforced by the alarming spread of stowaway reports worldwide as well as by pirate attacks on shipping, and the potential connections with terrorist activity that these attacks throw up. Regulations dictate that there has to be an answer to any alert. Therefore, engaging the services of a professional ‘competent authority’ to deal with any alerts which may arise (false or real) is absolutely essential.

The official ruling by The Department of Maritime Affairs recognises Securewest International as a designated Competent Authority according to the Merchant Shipping (Ship and Port Facility Security) Regulations, 2004, Section 11(2)(a) as being authorised to receive and process security alerts from St Kitts and Nevis shipping in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS 74, Chapter XI-2, Regulation 6.1.2.

MJ Information No: 22705