In a major development, the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) today held a virtual dialogue with representatives of shipping associations and companies based in Singapore and Malaysia to address growing piracy and deep-sea robbery issues in Asia, says a press release published on their website.
What happened at the meeting?
During the dialogue, ReCAAP ISC presented the Half-Yearly Report 2020 (January to June) during which a total of 51 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 50 actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported in Asia.
Following the presentation, the participants had discussions on two main areas of concern:
- the increase of incidents in the Singapore Strait and
- the threat of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and off Eastern Sabah.
They exchanged their assessment of the situation and their views on how to address these incidents.
COVID19 Effect on Piracy Preventing Measures
The participants of the shipping industry also provided views on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the industry, particularly safety measures against piracy and sea robbery incidents.
“As a provider of timely and accurate information, ReCAAP ISC is making efforts in understanding the challenges the shipping industry is facing—particularly in this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic—and incorporating their views in our activities,” said Mr. Masafumi Kuroki, Executive Director of ReCAAP ISC.
“With regard to COVID-19, what we are hearing during the dialogue is that the pandemic has posed severe challenges to the shipping industry, particularly on the well-being of the seafarers. Despite these challenges, we ask the shipping industry to continue to uphold vigilance and the enforcement agencies to enhance patrol and law enforcement particularly in the areas of concern,” concluded Mr. Masafumi Kuroki.
Shipping Organizations That Participated
The organizations represented at the dialogue included the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA), the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), the Sarawak & Sabah Shipowners’ Association (SSSA), the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), the Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Association (FASA), BP Shipping, NYK Ship Management, Thome Group, Teekay Tankers, and Anglo Eastern Ship Management. Mr. Masafumi Kuroki, Executive Director of ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre, chairs a dialogue with the shipping industry to raise situation awareness and reduce incidents of piracy and sea robbery in Asia.
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Source: ReCAAP
