1. Emergency

Dealing with the Media

• at sea

• in port

2. Application

• Shorebased Organisation

• All ships

3. Situations and Action on Board

Situation	Respon­sibility	Action	Comments
News embargo	Master	Imposes external news embargo: instructs all members of complement not to grant interviews	Mustering of crew
Interviews	Master	Does not give radio interviews, arguing there is no time and ship safety has priority; does not grant interviews in port; refers reporters to headoffice (where notice to the press has been prepared)
Gangway watch in port		Watches ship's gangway around the clock; locks all entrances from inside except entrance nearest the gangway; every person boarding the ship must identify him/herself (includes stevedores, agents, etc.) and must be recorded (search for cameras); admits insurance agents, average adjusters, agents only with Master's express permission; makes all visitors sign guest book	Walkie-Talkie Guest book

4. Training on Board

• Presentation and Discussion

• Make everybody aware that information reaching the outside world may cause harm to the company and to individual crew members, leading to substantial legal and financial damage. This applies to the time of an incident and until well after its immediate termination.

• Make everybody realise that the media thrive, and live, on spectacular cases, increase their circulation out of them and that journalists use every conceivable trick to get on board and take photographs (camouflaging as mechanics, under false pretences, etc.)

5. Situations and Action Ashore

Situation	Respon­sibility	Action	Comments
Communication with ship	Managing Director / Fleet Manager	Telephone communications via safe lines, i.e. via Satcom or GSM only (NOT by VHF, critical frequency, medium wave or short wave)
Safe telephone communications	everybody	Use 'safe' lines only for telephone conversations (do not use analogous cordless telephones; do not use hotel extension circuits) safe lines include: ISDN telephones, fixed net phones, GSM phones, DECT - cordless phones.
Agreeing / co-ordinating data	Managing Director / Fleet Manager	Agrees/coordinates all data and information prior to release to outside world with the insurance company, instructs Emergency Response Team to abide thereby	Notes, complete with date and time
Press release	Managing Director / Fleet Manager	Prepares 'harmless' press release: restricted information on topical case (general info only); generous information on ship, route, cargo (diverts curiosity by supplying trivialities); does not voluntarily distribute press release but on media request only	Press release

Situation	Respon­sibility	Action	Comments
Interviews	Managing Director / Fleet Manager	Releases agreed information only. If appropriate, tells about spectacular rescue operations; diverts from actual incident and details thereof or states that details unknown as yet
Press conference	Managing Director / Fleet Manager	A press conference called by headoffice may have the effect of journalists seeking information from that source, leaving ship alone; important: agree all information prior to release ! if journalists want to interrogate Master, offers to arrange meeting with Master after his return	Large room, beverages

6. Training Ashore

• Preparation of initial press releases for simulated case of emergency

• Agreeing procedures with insurers, exchange of telephone numbers of people in charge in case of an emergency (including legal departments of insurers)

• Draw up list of media assumed to be interested to receive press releases, including telefax numbers of editorial office

• Joint exercises with ship

7. Reference Documents

• Emergency Response Manual

• Telephone numbers of insurers and names of people in charge

• List of media

• Specimen initial press releases

Emergency Response Plan

Schiffahrtskontor tom Wörden GmbH & Co. KG Wilhelm-Schröder-Str. 3 D-21726 Oldendorf

NP-020

Revision 0

18.12.2002

Page 1 of 4

Emergency Response Plan

Reederei Heinz Corleis Kampweg 4a D-21706 Drochtersen

prepared: 28.03.1998	approved:	released:	Revision 0
			Emergency Response Plan No.: NP-020
J.Köster	H.Corleis	H.Corleis	Page 1 of 4

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