Tag: IMB

Pirates armed with machine guns in two speed boats approached an offshore support vessel underway on March 9, off Brass, Nigeria, as IMB reports. The pirates boarded the ship, stole crew's belongings and kidnapped five men. What is more, there are reports that one Nigerian Navy armed guard was killed during exchange of fire.

A robber attacked and stole fuel from a bulk carrier that was anchored at China’s Caofeidian Anchorage, on February 10. Namely, the duty officer on board the ship notice that a hose was connected from a tank. The alarm was raised and the robber lowered the hose and escaped. It was reported that DO had been stolen and the incident was reported to VTS Caofeidian.

The International Maritime Bureau announced that it has launched a new initiative aiming to mitigate bills of lading fraud conducted by non-vessel owning common carriers (NVOCCs). The IMB NVOCC Register provides a business solution to a business problem impacting parties involved in international shipping and trade.

Piracy and armed robbery in Asia decreased in 2018, says the latest ReCAAP ISC report. However, recognizing the challenge in other parts of the world too, particularly in in the West Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, there is still great need of law enforcement agencies to continue their effective ship protection measures.

IMB issued its annual piracy report for 2018, confirming a rise in piracy figures on the world’s seas last year, and specially in West African waters. The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) recorded a total of 201 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships worldwide in 2018, up from 180 in 2017.

The ICC Academy in collaboration with the International Maritime Bureau, has established a specialised certificate for Non-Vessel Owning Common Carriers Bills of Lading. The programme aims to increase standards and reliability of maritime trade for active NVOCCs and their trading partners.

The 2017 Annual Report of the International Maritime Bureau reported a decrease in piracy incidents globally with 180 reported incidents in 2017, down from 191 in 2016 and 246 in 2015. On the other hand, ReCAAP ISC reported that, in Asia, there was a 19% increase in the number of piracy incidents in 2017 in comparison to 2016.

The United Nations Secretary General's office launched the 'Activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel' report, focusing on Nigeria loosing approximately $2.8 billion during 2018, as a result of crude oil and maritime crimes. Maritime crime, including piracy, dominated in the coast of West Africa and posed a big threat to peace and development in the region.

IMB reported two piracy incidents that took place off Nigeria, on January 7. Both happened in Lagos, where in the first case 4-5 robbers in a small skiff came near an anchored product tanker and tried to board. In the second case, two robbers with plastic hoses boarded an anchored tanker.

According to IMB, on December 5, four armed persons approached a tug towing an unladen barge, off Malaysia, and opened fire. As a result, the Master was shot in the leg. He was transferred to the hospital, while the rest of the crew are safe. According to local media, one of the crew members fired around 10 shots from flare guns at the suspects.