Tag: IMB

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) warns that despite the global piracy downturn, new figures reveal growing violence off the coast of West Africa, where 44 seafarers have been captured so far this year.

Piracy and armed robbery on the world’s seas is persisting at levels close to those in 2014, despite reductions in the number of ships hijacked and crew captured, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) annual piracy report reveals.

The IMB cautions against complacency in its latest report on piracy and armed robbery which covers the period from 1 January 2015 to 30 September 2015.

IMB Infographic of piracy numbers for Q3 Despite an overall global reduction in serious piracy attacks this year, the International Maritime Bureaus Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) cautions against complacency in its 2015 report for the year to 30 September.Southeast Asia cracks downIn Southeast Asia, a piracy crackdown appears to be bearing fruit, with only two hijackings reported in the third quarter of the year. Indonesian and Malaysian authorities have also arrested and in some cases prosecuted, members of product tanker hijacking gangs, notably those behind the MT Sun Birdie and MT Orkim Harmony attacks.The robust actions taken particularly by the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities including the arrest of one the alleged masterminds is precisely the type of deterrent required commented P Mukundan, IMB Director.The two hijackings, on a small product tanker in the Straits of Malacca and a fishing vessel 40-miles west of Pulau Langkawi, were among 47 incidents the IMB PRC recorded globally between July and September.To date 190 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships have been officially counted this year, the greatest number in Indonesia, which tallied 86 mainly low-level incidents, followed by Vietnam with 19 low-level reports.Actual number of attacks believed to be higherWhile ...

IMB organised a two day conference in Kuala Lumpur on International Piracy, Armed Robbery and Maritime Security

The need for a common worldwide information sharing framework In the shadow of alarming global statistics showing a continual increase in the number of piracy and armed robbery attacks against merchant ships, an international gathering of key maritime stakeholders discussed the major risks in a changing threat environment.These discussions took place at the IMB International Meeting on Global Piracy, Armed Robbery and Maritime Security on 14 and 15 September in Kuala Lumpur, where more than 200 delegates from 30 countries assembled. Reflecting the cooperation between civil and governmental entities, the meeting was organised by the ICC International Maritime Bureau was co-hosted by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Interpol and the Royal Malaysian Police.The keynote speech delivered by the Malaysian Deputy Home Minister commented on the resurgence of piracy and armed robbery in South East Asia, stressing the importance of maritime domain to Malaysia and the need for cooperation with neighbours in the region in order to apprehend the kingpins behind the piracy activity.The Inspector General of the Royal Malaysian Police gave a review of the issues in respect of the collection of evidence and international conventions affecting the law enforcement perspective of piracy and armed robbery investigations further stated that ...

13 vessels have been hijacked globally so far in 2015 A new report from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) highlights a continuing trend in South East Asia in the hijacking of small coastal tankers by maritime pirates, averaging one attack every two weeks.According to the report, five small tankers were hijacked in South East Asian waters in the second quarter of 2015 alone, bringing the total number of vessels hijacked globally in 2015 to 13.IMB has stressed however that enhanced cooperation between regional authorities is paying off and that early detection of approaching skiffs has resulted in attacks being aborted.IMB highlighted the tracking and arrest off Vietnam of an eight-man Indonesian gang responsible for the hijacking of a Malaysian tanker last month. IMB also praised the Malaysian authorities for the June conviction of nine Indonesian pirates, apprehended after the January hijacking of an anchored product tanker off Johor.Pottengal Mukundan, Director of IMB said: "Information sharing and coordinated action between concerned coastal states is crucial in responding to this threat. We commend the effort that caught one gang and also the hefty custodial sentences imposed on another which will help deter further incidents."Global trendsThe latest global ...

Within an interval of three hours on 17 Jun 15, three vessels while underway in the eastbound lane of the Straits of Malacca

The missing of Malaysian-registered tanker, MT Orkim Harmony is likely a case of piracy

Reuters reports that this month, a second small oil tanker, the Orkim Harmony, went missing off Johor, Malaysia