The Information Fusion Centre (IFC) reports a rise in theft, robbery and piracy at sea (TRAPS) incidents with a record of two Sea Robberies, six Sea Thefts, and two Attempted Actions incidents from January to August 2020 in both Manila and Batangas Bay, Philippines.
A court in Nigeria completed its first ever convictions using the nation’s new anti-piracy law, and the defendents have been sentenced to a five-figure fine.
The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) released its monthly report for July 2020 on the situation of piracy and sea robbery in Asia, revealing that six incidents took place in July.
BW Offshore announced that all offshore workers that had been kidnapped in early July have been safely released.
ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre held a dialogue with the shipping sector in efforts to strengthen maritime situation awareness and deepen cooperation to tackle piracy and sea robbery in Asia.
An ambitious roadmap to develop a National Maritime Security Strategy for Kenya was agreed on 21 July. The strategy aims to bring significant opportunities for social-economic growth.
On 17 July the product vessel MT Curcacao Ttader was been boarded 244nm South Cotonou in Nigeria, by 8 armed individuals. The pirates kidnapped 15 crew.
Panama Maritime Authority issued a merchant marine notice, urging all Panama Flag vessels to be fully cautious and protect the vessel and crew when transiting high risk areas off Mexico.
The US Government issued a warning about the risk posed by pirates to boats and oil installations in the southern Gulf of Mexico.
During the past few years, there has been a singificant fall in piracy and armed robbery incidents off East Africa. However, the threat has not entirely gone away, as recent incidents indicate.
