Page 12: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2026)

OCIMF

LEADERSHIP AT

THE SHARP END OF

MARITIME SECURITY

With guidance in place and inspections underway, the challenge for maritime security now is leadership. Turning vessel hardening from intent into a mindset is where con? dence, consistency and protection are built.

By Russell Pegg, Security Adviser, OCIMF aritime security guidance has matured signi? - The guidance is explicit. Access to accommodation should cantly in recent years. The industry BMP Mari- be controlled and minimised. External doors should be se- time Security (MS) publication clearly sets out cured and checked as part of watch routines. Windows and how ships can identify threats, assess risks, portholes that present potential entry points should be protect-

M plan effectively and apply vessel hardening measures that are ed where appropriate. Physical barriers should delay access proportionate and practical. What matters most now is how without compromising escape routes or emergency response.

consistently guidance is translated into action on board in day- Human factors are equally critical. BMP MS highlights to-day operations, particularly when conditions are uncertain the importance of additional lookouts, clear alarm signals and time is limited. and regular drills that re? ect realistic threat scenarios. Crews

Vessel hardening is often associated with visible measures, should know instinctively where to muster, what equipment such as barriers rigged on deck, doors secured, and hoses laid to take and how to communicate under pressure. These ac- out. These elements are important, but BMP MS is clear that tions are not exceptional; they are the fundamentals of effec- vessel hardening is a system, not a collection of items. Its ef- tive vessel hardening.

fectiveness depends on how measures are selected through the They form the mindset that underpin consistent readiness.

identi? cation of threats and risk assessment, integrated into routine operations and reinforced through effective leadership. Inspection as Insight

The guidance emphasises a layered approach. Early detec- OCMIF’s SIRE 2.0 Focused Inspection Campaign for mari- tion through enhanced situational awareness, vigilant watch- time security, launched in October 2025, examines how these keeping, physical barriers to delay boarding, controlled access principles translate into everyday practice. By looking closely to accommodation and machinery spaces, and clearly de? ned at vessel hardening and access control arrangements, the cam- security muster points all work together. No single measure is paign helps to build a clearer picture of whether BMP MS and suf? cient in isolation. Leadership is what helps ensure these vessel hardening guidance is being applied as intended, and layers remain coherent, functional and maintained over time. where gaps may exist.

This insight moves the conversation beyond compliance. It

Consistency: The Real Measure of Vessel Hardening highlights whether crews are familiar with their Vessel Hard-

BMP MS stresses that security measures should be practi- ening Plans, whether mitigations are rigged with intent, and cal, sustainable and understood by the crew. Razor wire that whether procedures align with the realities of the ship’s layout is poorly secured, access points that are routinely left open, and operation.

or alarms that are not distinctive or regularly rehearsed can This knowledge is central to OCIMF’s role. OCIMF pro- undermine the entire vessel hardening plan. vides guidance, promotes best practice and, through veri? ed 12 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • February 2026

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