In collaboration with the Kontinentalist, Stable Seas have released ‘Troubled waters: piracy and maritime security in Southeast Asia’. This is an interactive experience on how piracy and armed robbery affect the safety of waterways.
During 13 – 19 August 2019, four CAT 41 incidents of armed robbery against ship were reported to the ReCAAP ISC. The four incidents took place on 31 July 19 at Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia; 9 August 19 northeast of Pulau Bintan, Indonesia; 12 August 19 at Phuoc Long Mooring Buoy No 3, Vietnam; and 15 August 19 southeast of Tanjung Piai, Johor, Malaysia.
The US Navy and maritime forces from 10 Indo-Pacific partner countries started the 18th iteration of Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) in Singapore, August 19. The goal of the SEACAT exercise is to gather regional partner nations to engage in “real world, real time” training designed to enhance partner nation ability to communicate, coordinate and counter illegal smuggling and piracy.
As MC-Schiffahrt informed, its vessel MarMalaita was attacked by pirates on 14th of August between 23.00h and 24.00h local time on the anchorage of Douala / Cameroon. A group of pirates boarded the ship and abducted 8 of the 12 crewmembers.
Following the Stena Impero seizure from Iran, the UK called for a European-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz, to ensure safe navigation. After a meeting of COBR, Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, presented the government’s plan on how to keep the area safe.
Pirates attacked a South Korean-flagged cargo ship in the South China Sea early on July 22, and stole thousands of dollars in cash, as well as the sailors’ shoes. Because of the attack, two people sustained minor injuries. What is more, after the pirates boarded the CK Bluebell, they took $13,000 and belongings, such as mobile phones, clothes and shoes from the 22 crewmembers. The incident happened near the Singapore Strait.
BIMCO’s Head of Maritime Security, Jakob P. Larsen, highlighted that there’s no reason to ‘turn a blind eye to piracy’ in the Gulf of Guinea. He supports the establishment of a contact group to fight piracy in the Gulf and protect the shipping industry.
Dryad has received reporting indicating that China has increased the security level for Chinese-flagged vessels heading through the Strait of Malacca to the highest threat warning available, namely MARSEC Level 3. Sources have showed that China may have increased threat levels because of a specific threat of criminality.
The US Maritime Administration launched a MSCI Advisory informing about Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Indian Ocean violence due to regional conflict and piracy, highlighting that there’s still risks for commercial vessels operating in these areas.
Companies, company security officers (CSO), ship security officers (SSO) and Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSC) of Panamanian flagged vessels should implement the necessary security measures described in the latest edition of the Best Management Practices before, during and after the transit through High Risk Areas.
