According to reports, pirates boarded the Nave Constellation tanker vessel and kidnapped 19 of the vessel’s crewmembers, while the vessel was sailing around 100 nautical miles off Bonny Island, Nigeria on December 3, 2019.
In its weekly report, 26 November – 2 December, ReCAAP ISC discusses three incidents which took place in Asia. Two of the three were CAT 3 incidents, and occurred when the ships were underway in the eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait; The remaining one was a CAT 4, while the vessel was anchored in Batangas, Philippines.
Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe has stated that West African states’ failure to coordinate their response to piracy off their coastline is the reason why attacks are still apparent. Bloomberg reports that while the 15 states and western partners signed a pact in 2013 to collaborate in the fight against piracy, the region still accounts for 40% of the world’s reported incidents.
The Union of Greek Shipowners, in light of the recent piracy incidents that gained attention, expressed their great worry and concern and highlighted that all shipping stakeholders should place the piracy incidents as a top priority, as they pose great challenges for the seafarers.
In our special column this time, we are pleased to host an interview with Mr Dimitris Maniatis, Chief Commercial Officer, Diaplous, who discusses the importance of protecting human life at sea and the everyday struggle on ensuring the utmost seafarer safety.
The Global Maritime Forum launched its 2019 “Global Maritime Issues Monitor” report addressing shipping’s current issues, from the diversity in maritime workforce to a zero-emission industry, based on the results of a survey of senior maritime stakeholders from 46 countries.
The Japanese Government donated 17 patrol boats to Kenya’s Maritime Police, boosting the country’s efforts in the promotion of maritime security and the fight against terrorism. The Japanese Ambassador to Kenya further noted that Japan could not afford to ignore Kenya’s problem, due to the warm cordial relations between the two nations of more than 50 years.
The Observer research Foundation (ORF) launched a report focusing on today’s maritime piracy, analysing where the shipping industry stands, the possibility of piracy in Asia increasing and also measures to improve maritime readiness against piracy incidents.
The UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) applauds Nigeria on its efforts of tackling maritime piracy and smuggling of rdugs by passing an antipiracy law to confront the problem in the country’s waters. Chairman, Ship Owners Forum, Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, bemoaned the issue of illegal fishing on Nigerian waters, saying appropriate measures must be applied to stop this for the interest of the shipping industry.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has given his assent to the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Bill of 2019, in an unprecedented move to enhance security on the country’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
