Tag: IMB

HRAS commences investigation into the murders of seafarers

IMB: Guard against threat of cyber attacks

According to latest IMB piracy report The Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) raises concerns over a worrying trend of small tanker hijacks in its 2014 half yearly report released this week.Globally, 116 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships have been reported to the PRC in the first six months of 2014, down on the 138 incidents for the corresponding period for 2013. In 2014,10 vessels were hijacked, seven fired upon, 78 boarded and 21 vessels reported attempted attacks against their vessels. Two hundred crewmembers were taken hostage, five kidnapped from their vessels and there were two fatalities according to the report.In Southeast Asia, at least six known cases of coastal tankers being hijacked for their cargoes of diesel or gas oil have been reported since April this year, sparking fears of a new trend in pirate attacks in the area. Until then, the majority of attacks in the region had been on vessels, mainly at anchor, boarded for petty theft."The recent increase in the number of successful hijackings is a cause for concern," stated IMB Director, Pottengal Mukundan. "These serious attacks have so far targeted small coastal tankers. ...

IMB warns small tankers to maintain strict anti-piracy measures The ICC Commercial Crime Services' International Maritime Bureau (IMB) is warning small tankers to maintain strict anti-piracy measures in the South China Sea following a spate of tanker hijackings in the region.At least six known cases of coastal tankers being hijacked for their cargoes of diesel or gas oil have been reported since April this year, sparking fears of a new trend in pirate attacks in the area. Up until then, the majority of attacks in the region were boarding's for petty theft.The latest hijackings seem to follow a specific modus operandi, where armed pirates seize a small tanker and siphon off its cargo to large bunker barges or other small tankers in a ship-to-ship operation. In some cases navigational equipment are destroyed but the crew are left unhurt. They then release the hijacked vessels."These types of incidents are not common in this region which makes the situation even more alarming", says the IMB. It has issued a warning to all ships that these attacks have occurred against small coastal tankers primarily in the South China Sea waters off Bintan and Bintulu islands."The pirates appear to be interested in oil products ...

ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has posted on its website updated data regarding the piracy and armed robbery figures as follows (updated on May 2, 2014):

The threat is still present reports IMB The International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has revealed that piracy on the world's seas is at its lowest first-quarter level since 2007, but warns that the threat is still present.The latest IMB Piracy Report, published, shows 49 piracy incidents in the first quarter of 2014 - the lowest first quarter figure since 2007, when 41 incidents were recorded.In the first three months, two vessels were hijacked, 37 vessels boarded, five vessels fired upon and five attempted attacks were reported. Forty-six crewmembers were taken hostage and two kidnapped from their vessel.Off Somalia, five incidents were reported - the same number as the first quarter of 2013. In 2014, three attempted attacks were recorded and two vessels fired upon. IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan stated "Although the number of attacks continues to remain low, the threat of Somali piracy is still clearly evident."The report cites the example of an incident in January 2014 when a Panamax sized product tanker was fired upon approximately 115NM south of Salalah, Oman from a skiff launched from a mother vessel. The attack was repelled and the international navies subsequently intercepted the mother ship - an Indian dhow ...

IMB warns of new charter party fraud tactics

Shipowners are now facing new dangers from criminal gangs in West Africa There are fears that shipowners are facing new dangers from criminal gangs making spurious oil fraud claims. The 'victims'/fraudsters try to extort money from owners by bringing action against them for failing to deliver cargoes of oil they allegedly own.Such scams were previously confined to West Africa but now appear to have spread to other countries, as a case reported recently to the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) shows.It involves a vessel that trades regularly into the Arabian Gulf. A claim has been lodged against the shipowner to recover over $50 million, the full value of a consignment of oil.The claimant alleges that the cargo of oil it owns was loaded onto the vessel in Russia but was never delivered to the designated discharge port in the Arabian Gulf.Moreover they apparently have documents to prove this, and a local court in the region has now been persuaded to issue a warrant of arrest against the vessel named in the claim.The case has put the shipowner in a dilemma. He is reluctant to risk taking the vessel into the jurisdiction where the warrant was issued for fear it will ...

Seafarers transiting the Indian Ocean and South China Sea have been urged by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) to listen out for maritime satellite safety messages as part of efforts to locate missing Malaysian airliner MH370

Nigeria, Benin and Togo are dangerous areas for ships transiting West African waters The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) is asking ships to be extra vigilant when transiting West Africa as piracy in the region becomes a growing concern.IMB'sLive Piracy Map shows that since the beginning of the year, one vessel, MT Kerala, has been hijacked and six were boarded in West Africa. There was also one attempted attack.The hijacking of the Liberian-flag product tanker in January by Nigerian pirates has sparked fears these gangs are venturing further south.In that incident, the pirates hijacked the MT Kerala off the coast of Luanda in Angolan waters. The vessel was released by the pirates eight days later after the cargo was illegally transferred in a ship-to-ship operation along the West African coast. Whilst the incident shows the willingness of these gangs to venture further to commit their crime, it also raises concern due to the violence associated with such hijackings. One crew member was injured while the vessel was under the custody of the pirates.The IMB has warned in itsannual piracy report of the dangers to ships transiting West African waters particularly around Nigeria, Benin and Togo, and urge continued vigilance as ...