Preliminary findings of the investigation into the coordinated attacks on four oil tankers, that took place in the morning hours of 12 May off the port of Fujairah, revealed that these attacks were part of a sophisticated and coordinated operation carried out most likely a state actor.
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.
According to BBC’s Anne Soy, foreign navy powers have played a crucial role in handling piracy off Somalia’s coast. Somali territorial waters saw a rise in smuggling, illegal fishing by foreign trawlers, illegal dumping and later piracy. But 10 years ago, the European Union, Nato and others began to deploy naval forces to the region shortly after the UN Security Council allowed warships to enter Somali territorial waters. Pirate attacks have now all but stopped, after reaching a peak in 2011.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has called for more accountability for human traffickers in Libya, after the UN Security Council added to its Sanctions List six individuals accused of leading smuggling and trafficking networks in the country, in early June.
In late March, the UN Security Council Committee updated its 1718 Sanctions List, adding 22 entries, comprising 21 entities and one individual. UNSC Resolution 1718, adopted in October 2006, imposes a series of economic and commercial sanctions on North Korea, on the aftermath of the country’s nuclear test.
The United Nations Security Council added 27 ships and 21 shipping companies to its blacklist over oil and coal smuggling by North Korea. The UN Security Council proceeded to blacklist these entities upon a request by the US. Namely, the United Nations Security Council added 21 shipping companies, 15 North Korean ships, 12 non-North Korean ships and a Taiwanese man, on its blacklist.
The US announced the largest set of sanctions ever imposed in connection with North Korea, targeting shipping companies, vessels, and individuals across the world accused of illicit trading with the country. Specifically, the US is sanctioning 27 entities, 28 vessels, and one individual, all involved in sanctions evasions schemes.
The Hong-Kong Marine Department issued a Shipping Note to inform operators about the adoption of UN Security Council sanction measures against North Korea and advise them to take these measures into account when conducting and planning their business.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore issued a circular informing of the United Nations Security Council resolution, imposing sanctions against the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea.
Condemning the acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, the United Nations Security Council called for a comprehensive response to prevent and minimize such acts and tackle their underlying causes.
