A group of international trade associations and law enforcement agencies want to find ways to better share data to respond more efficiently to pirate attacks against merchant ships.
A group of industry experts meeting in Kuala Lumpur Sept. 14-15 considered how a common global information-sharing framework could more efficiently facilitate naval and law enforcement responses to better protect seafarers from pirate attacks.
“Information sharing and coordinated action between concerned coastal states is crucial in responding to this threat,” said Pottengal Mukundan, director of International Maritime Bureau, which tracks global pirate activity against merchant shipping. “However, the proliferation of reporting centers in different regions has created a degree of confusion that can leave seafarers and ships unnecessarily at risk.”
More than 200 delegates from 30 countries gathered at the meeting, which was organized by the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) and co-hosted by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Interpol and the Royal Malaysian Police.
“For crimes at sea, rapid response is crucial if there is to be any possibility of prosecuting the pirates,” Mukundan said. “The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre plays a crucial role liaising between merchant ships and coastal authorities and navies, and is prepared to further enhance the effectiveness of these joint efforts.”
Beyond the reporting and response issues, the meeting considered other piracy-related concerns, such as the impact on seafarers and their families, post-incident protection of evidence, and the regional differences in the pirates’ strategies of attack.
IMB said attacks on merchant vessels by pirates have not diminished. Pirates have increasingly targeted product oil cargoes on board “vulnerable vessels.” The organization called for “a fresh and more holistic strategy to respond to recent attacks in [Southeast] Asia.”
IMB’s Piracy Reporting Center reported 134 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships during the first six months of 2015, an increase of 116 reported incidents compared to the same period last year. According to IMB, pirates boarded 106 of those vessels and were responsible for 13 hijackings and 15 attempted attacks worldwide. “So far in 2015, 250 crew members have been taken hostage, 14 assaulted, 10 kidnapped, nine injured and one killed,” IMB said.
A third of the attacks took place off the coast of China, but were deemed by IMB as “low-level, opportunistic thefts from vessels.” There has been a noticeable uptick in pirate incidents reported off the coasts of Bangladesh and Nigeria during the first half of 2015.
“Encouragingly, in the second quarter of 2015, no reports were received off the coast of Somalia,” IMB said. “Although no attacks have been reported off Somalia, IMB advises that the security situation in the Horn of Africa remains uncertain. IMB urges ship masters to remain vigilant when transiting these waters and to adhere to the industry’s best management practice.”
Information sharing to help take down maritime piracy
