Notice is hereby given that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) has started its escort operations on 13 March 2009 which aims to protect ships, regardless of their nationalities, from acts of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and waters o ff the Coast of Somalia.

All concerned persons, shipping companies/ship operators/ship managers who are interested to apply for escort to protect their ships from possible piracy attack in the said regions, are required to pre-register with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) of the Government of Japan to provide the necessary information or details of the ship which needs to be escorted. The pre-registration form can be down-loaded from the MLIT website at http://www.mlit.go.jp/maritime/gaikoh/pirate/index.html.

Attached is a copy of the pre-registration form to be filled up and sent to MLIT Anti-Piracy Contact and Coordination Office with e-mail address at INFO-PIRACY@mlit.go.jp.

All shipowners/ship operators who applied for MSDF escorts are required to inform MARINA in writing immediately upon pre-registration with MLIT.

For information and guidance.

Adopted: 11 Aug. 2009

(SGD.) MARIA ELENA H. BAUTISTA
Administrator