News
Following recent spate of attacks against merchant shipping, the Combined Maritime Forces issue statement to industry.
The International Maritime Bureau have issued a new report on piracy for the first quarter of 2017.
Our correspondents in Dubai – GAC - have provided the following bulletin in respect to the continuing conflict in the Yemen and its impact on key ports.
Another serious daylight attack on a merchant ship took place in the Sulu Sea- Celebes area on Sunday 19th February when pirates boarded the bulk carrier Giang Hai killing one crew member and abducting six officers and crew.
More crew were kidnapped at sea in 2016 than in any of the previous 10 years. The ICC International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) annual piracy report published on the 10th January reveals a three-fold increase in kidnappings since 2015 despite global piracy reaching its lowest levels since 1998.
The continuing threat of piracy and crew kidnappings in the Gulf of Guinea region has led to further update of the maritime industry “Guidelines for Owners, Operators and Masters for Protection against Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea”.
The UK P&I Club has advised of its concerns on the risk of robbery and attack at Nouadhibou, Mauritania. A gang of men armed with knives boarded one of their Member's ships during loading operations and threatened the crew. The gang also broke into the ship’s stores and machinery spaces and stole various supplies.
Recent press reports have stated that 113 named crude carriers have been blacklisted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). This article includes comment on Club cover and references to legal and operational advisories for tankers that may visit Nigerian waters.
UPDATE: The latest strike against a merchant ship off the Libyan coast on the 24th May emphasises the unpredictable situation that currently prevails in this region. The tanker ‘Anwaar Afriqah’ which was damaged and with one crew member killed in the air attack is a Libyan flagged ship with the state-owned General National Maritime Transport Company employed to transport national oil company cargoes to state-owned power stations.