The briefing on maritime piracy
The news, views and numbers you need to know this month
News in numbers
24/7
Sailors’ Society’s Crisis Response Network set up its 24/7 rapid response team in South Africa in 2015
59%
of those supported by CRN were affected by piracy, death at sea and abandonment
100th
Earlier this year, CRN provided support to its 100th case
26%
More than a quarter of seafarers seeking crisis response were affected by piracy
52
There are now 52 CNR chaplains trained to offer crisis support to seafarers
156
incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea were reported in the first nine months of 2018
In quotes
Stuart Rivers, CEO of Sailors’ Society:
Piracy, and the fear of piracy, is a massive issue for seafarers. Survivors of piracy and kidnappings are exposed to violence and terror, which can have a devastating impact on them and their families for years to come. That such a high number of those seeking support from our Crisis Response Network have been affected by the trauma of piracy is sadly not surprising.
Captain Valentin Dudnik, survivor of ten months in captivity at the hands of Somali pirates:
Seafarers must be protected and it’s an incredible shame that in the 21st Century, there is still the threat of piracy.
Top stories
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has warned the International Maritime Bureau to stop misrepresenting Nigeria on piracy reporting. It said that the report could create negative perception of the country in global maritime arena.
Source: New Telegraph
The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed its readiness to cooperate with other countries to advance Africa’s blue economy, as well as drafting of a dedicated anti-piracy bill, which is currently before the National Assembly. This will provide the requisite framework to fight piracy in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea and calls for the acquisition of military and intelligence gathering maritime assets.
Source: Maritime Executive
India is slowly but steadily upgrading its capability to keep an eagle eye on the expansive Indian Ocean Region to detect and thwart maritime security threats in real time, with the overall plan being to tie-up with as many as 36 countries and three multi-national networks for dynamic exchange of shipping data.
Source: Times of India
IMO is providing training to countries in the west Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden on managing insecurity in the maritime domain in a regional workshop at the Djibouti Regional Training Centre. It’s the latest in an ongoing series of capacity-building initiatives in the region, targeted at national focal points and key personnel in maritime security.
Source: Hellenic Shipping News
