News Media Handling Policy


	ECP 14-00 News Media Handling Policy	Doc No.: ECP 14-00 Revision: 01 Date: 15 Oct 2024 Issued by: DPA Approved by: MD

14.1. GENERAL

(a) It is Company policy that all contact with news media, at any stage, shall be handled by the company.

(b) TD has been designated as the person whom Master/ Shipboard and Office staff shall direct all Media calls to.

(c) The Master shall control all contacts made by the media and politely direct them to the TD, which is the established Company media relation point. Please refer to CCD for details.

(d) In situations where media requests for information pertaining to any incident or accident on board, Office staff / Master shall obtain the contact details of media persons and convey it to the PIC for sharing with TD.

(e) In no case shall Office or any shipboard staff make any statement to the media, at any time, unless with the express knowledge and permission of the company.

(f) In no case shall Office or any shipboard staff make comments or upload any photos/videos on any social media websites, at any time, unless with the express knowledge and permission of the company.

(g) As per company discretion and current Social Media Policy ECP-15-00, which is subject to change from time to time, following an incident, internet firewall will be activated on ships, and Personal Laptops, hand phones with cameras may be temporarily secured in Masters Custody.

(h) The company will appoint a media company to take control of and guide the dissemination of information during the period any emergency has occurred on board managed fleet vessels.

(i) Master and Office staff are not authorised to issue any Media Holding statement.

(j) During the time any emergency situation occurs in the office or onboard managed vessel, the President or COO, as per his authorisation, shall issue a ‘Holding Statement’ for all concerned to know and be aware of.

(k) The statement shall clearly provide the basic information required to be mentioned dependent on the arising situation, in case any media approaches them.

(l) Such a statement shall briefly describe the type of emergency and the responsible party assigned for dealing with all communication related to it.

(m) For all purposes, as indicated above, the mainstay of any communication with media shall be by the appointed media company.

14.1.1. Message to News Media

(a) All office staff, shipboard Masters, and Bridge Teams should be aware that the media will in all likelihood telephone their vessel to obtain information during, or following, an incident or accident. They may contact physically also in a port or during shore leave or some of those on vacation. This happens with greater frequency during casualty situations.

(b) Company strictly prohibits all vessels from providing any information to outside parties/media via this channel. Instead, the Office staff, Master, or Bridge Team should ensure that the company is immediately notified of the media interest and the following message given to the caller:

“Thank you for your call. Everyone on board the ship is extremely busy at the moment dealing with the current situation. We have to free up this line immediately, but we are happy to give you the number of our management office who will be able to help you. The number is (Company Office Tel No. as appropriate and ask to speak to TD specifically) Thank you (close line).”
“Our company has established an ‘Information Centre’ to deal with media and public information calls. They have the latest information and will be happy to assist you. The number you require is (Company Office Tel No. as appropriate) We now have to free up this telephone line now. Thank you (close line).”

Note: CART Tel Nos. MUST NOT be provided to external parties at any time.

(c) Above Message to be kept posted at important points of communication like Bridge and Master’s cabin and should be familiarised with. It should also be readily available by all office staff.