PiracyNews

Armed Robbery in Asian Waters Increased in July

By MarEx 2018-08-08 19:36:32

ReCAAP ISC reports seven incidents of armed robbery against ships in July, an increase from June when only one incident was reported. Of the seven incidents reported in July 2018, two incidents occurred on board ships while underway and five were on board ships at anchor or berth. Most involved petty theft. During January to July this year, 47 incidents, 36 actual incidents and 11 attempted incidents, have been verified and reported to the ReCAAP ISC. Compared to January-July 2017, this...

Kidnappings Accelerate in the Gulf of Guinea

By EOS Risk Group 2018-08-01 10:38:36

According to security firm EOS Risk Group, Nigerian pirates have kidnapped 35 seafarers from vessels in the Gulf of Guinea so far this year. From January through June 2018, EOS recorded 34 Nigerian pirate attacks on merchant and fishing vessels in the Gulf of Guinea. These attacks resulted in the kidnap of 35 seafarers for ransom and the hijacking of several vessels. “Most concerning this year has been the resurgence of ‘petro-piracy,' involving the hijacking of tankers for oil theft,” said Jake...

Nigerian Authorities Participate in Anti-Corruption Project

By MarEx 2018-07-28 18:35:38

The private maritime sector and Nigerian authorities have undertaken an anti-corruption project together with the aim of port calls being conducted without demands for in-kinds payments, harassment or the threat of illicit delays. Nigeria can be a challenging place to do business in, with unlawful demands commonplace, says Danish Shipping, a trade and shipowner organization. For the shipping industry there are numerous steps in the vessel clearance process which lead to inefficient operations and increase the opportunity for illegitimate demands...

Asian Piracy at Ten-Year Low

By MarEx 2018-07-18 19:06:06

ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre has released its January to June 2018 report, noting a 10-year low in Asian piracy and armed robbery and a 15 percent decrease in cases compared to the same period in 2017. There were 40 incidents reported, with 11 of those being attempted cases. There were no incidents of abduction of crew or theft of oil cargo, despite attempts, and there was a decrease in the number of incidents at ports and anchorages in the Philippines....

Human Trafficking Widespread in Global Fishing Industry

By MarEx 2018-07-01 21:59:15

The U.S. Department of State has released its 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report, an annual publication that provides a global overview of the nature and scope of trafficking in persons and various efforts underway to confront it. The report’s theme of “local solutions to a global problem” highlights the critical role of communities in recognizing and combating slavery. The report highlights many countries where human trafficking in the fishing industry is evident. As...

Operation Thunderstorm

By MarEx 2018-06-30 22:00:48

An international operation against the illegal trade in wildlife and timber has seen hundreds of seizures worldwide as well as suspects arrested. Code-named Thunderstorm and targeting the people and networks behind global wildlife crime, the operation involved police, customs, border, environment, wildlife and forestry agencies from 92 countries and resulted in millions of dollars-worth of seizures. The month-long operation, conducted in May, resulted in over 1,900 seizures and the identification of some 1,400 suspects, triggering arrests and investigations worldwide. Seizures...

New Resources on Security and Mooring Safety Released

By MarEx 2018-06-30 21:28:33

International shipping industry organizations, with military support, have launched a new website dedicated to providing comprehensive maritime security guidance to companies and mariners. The new website www.maritimeglobalsecurity.org provides security-related guidance produced by the industry as well as links to other useful maritime and military security resources. The aim is to ease access for companies and seafarers to maritime security related information and guidance. Central to the website are new best practice guides to help companies and mariners risk assess voyages...

Thailand Ratifies Convention to Tackle Forced Labor

By MarEx 2018-06-09 18:17:25

Last week Thailand officially ratified the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention at the International Labour Organization summit in Geneva. The ratification has been hailed as a crucial step forward, especially for the country’s fishing and seafood processing industries, which have in the past been notorious for labor rights violations and forced labor cases. The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), which has worked to expose incidences of forced labor in the Thai fishing industry since 2013, strongly applauds the...

UN-Chartered Vessel Attacked off Yemen

By MarEx 2018-06-05 18:45:00

On Sunday, an offshore supply vessel chartered by the U.N. World Food Programme was attacked off Hodeidah, Yemen, the latest in a series of reported rebel attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea. A spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP) told Reuters that the VOS Theia had recently completed a delivery of 80 tons of food and 55 tons of medical supplies to Hodeidah, and she was waiting at an anchorage about 30 nm off the coast of...

Report: Piracy Threat Continues off East and West Africa

By MarEx 2018-05-23 18:41:00

On Wednesday, Oceans Beyond Piracy released its review for 2017, and the numbers show that pirate attacks remain a serious threat off the Horn of Africa, the coast of Latin America and in the Gulf of Guinea. Off the coast of East Africa, the number of pirate attacks in 2017 was double the number the year before. “Pirate activity in 2017 clearly demonstrates that pirate groups retain their ability to organize and implement attacks against ships transiting the region,” said...