2. Sail ships in convoy or as independents according to policies set forth. 3. Arrange protection in port and at sea for merchant ships under his/her control. 4. Maintain operational control of the Naval Control of Shipping officers and reporting officers in his/her area. NAVAL CONTROL OF SHIPPING OFFICER (NCSO) The NCSO controls and coordinates the routing and movement of merchant ship convoys and merchant ships moving independently out of assigned ports. The NCSO deals indirectly with the ships' masters from the time the masters report for routing to the time they depart to a convoy anchorage to await inclusion in a convoy. If the ship is independent, the NCSO deals indirectly with the master until the ship leaves the harbor for its next port designation. The NCSO's operational duties include the following: Briefing masters Obtaining and checking data prior to sailing Checking vessel's convoy eligibility Inspecting communications equipment Issuing sailing permits and orders Organizing convoy conferences Assisting masters with local operating problems Providing instructions on the Crypto system Arranging for pilots Arranging convoy anchorage berth Routing and movement of vessels Checking and issuing publications Checking and issuing charts and hydrographic publications VOLUNTARY NAVAL CONTROL OF SHIPPING (VNCS) During periods of international tension, provocative incidents, particularly at sea, are a real possibility. Should this occur, it is hoped there can be a voluntary, smooth, and gradual progression from a peacetime organization to full naval control of shipping if required. Command Structure For operations, the seas of the world have been divided into merchant shipping areas, each commanded by an area commander. The area commander is responsible for Naval Control of Shipping measures both in port and at sea in his/her area. Detailed operational control may be delegated by the area commander to subordinate commanders who are known as OCAs. The NCSO is the OCA's representative at a port. Escalating Situation When in peacetime a situation develops that represents a threat to the passage of allied merchant shipping through a particular area or areas, the NCSORG is established. First they are to advise, and if the situation escalates to what is considered to be a dangerous level, they are to direct allied merchant shipping so that, when necessary, protection can be provided. With the establishment of the NCSORG, National Shipping Administration/Ministries will encourage shipowners/operators to consign their vessels to voluntary naval control. Advice to Shipping Merchant ships will be advised of the situation by an instruction to open an envelope (envelope T), carried by the ships in peacetime and containing a set of instructions for VNCS. If the ship is in a port where there is an NCSO, the master will be visited by an officer of the NCSO's staff, whose task is to make sure the master has an up-to-date briefing on the situation and to collect information on the ship's voyage that will enable a plot to be kept ashore. Subsequently, a further briefing will take place at each port. If the ship is not contacted on arrival, the ship's master should contact the NCSO. Control of Shipping There is little action required of the merchant ship other than to accept the briefing and to supply the plot information. There will be no positive form of control of shipping until it becomes necessary to establish and promulgate clearly designated danger zones where the threat is high. The establishment of such a zone (called a MERZONE) will be made at the highest political/ military level. 7-2