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.
ICC’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reports 119 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships for 2019, in comparison to the 156 incidents that were reported in the same period in 2018, with the Gulf of Guinea remaining a high risk area for piracy and armed robbery.
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.
In its weekly report, 1-7 October, concerning armed robbery and piracy incidents against vessels in Asia, ReCAAP ISC informs of two piracy incidents that took place in Hong Kong and Tanzania, respectively. In both incidents, no crewmembers were injured.
ISWAN operates the Piracy Survivor Family Fund on behalf of the United Nations Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) for seafarers and families who have been affected by Somali piracy, and encourages any seafarer, seafarers’ welfare organisation, or seafarers’ families that have been affected by Somali piracy.
The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre reported that a group of pirates has boarded a bulk carrier off the Indonesian cost. The coast guard sailed along with the vessel to Singapore, but when they searched for the pirates onboard, they were nowhere to be found.
The North P&I Club informed that the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued a maritime security advisory for the Red Sea. This comes after a maritime threat has been reported in the Red Sea near Yemen. Vessels are suggested to exercise caution when sailing through this area.
In order to protect ships from piracy attacks at Douala anchorage, Cameroon decided to supply armed guards, free of charge, that will stay on board a vessel for the duration of its stay at the anchorage. The new arrangement will limit the administrative delays that arise when completing an application for government armed guards on board.
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.
