Hot Port News from GAC

Use of existing serviceable protective clothing and equipment meeting standards stated in Appendix 2 of the 1st Edition of the Code of Practice is allowed until the time of the next renewal but should not exceed 18 months from the effective date of the 2nd Edition of Code of Practice.

The above COPs can be obtained from the Marine Industrial Safety Section, Marine Department, 23rd Floor, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong (Enquiry No.: 2852 4477) or can be downloaded from the Marine Department website at the addresses below:
– http:/www.mardep.gov.hk/en/pub_services/ocean/miss_cop313.html
– http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/pub_services/ocean/miss_cop548.html

(For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)

Source: Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.21 of 2016

Agents and vessels will be notified when the anchorage is reopened.

For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com)

However Mr Mukundan urged shipmasters to maintain strict anti-piracy and robbery watches. South East Asia still accounts for most of the world’s incidents. Almost 55% of the region’s attacks were against vessels underway compared to 37% in 2014. Most were aimed at low-level theft. IMB cites this rise on moving vessels as a cause for concern as it increases potential risks to the vessels and their crew.

The IMB PRC continues to work closely with the Indonesian Marine Police and other Indonesian authorities to monitor high-risk areas. Reports have reduced in the majority of the 11 designated anchorages with only Belawan and Nipah recording marked increases in attempted thefts, reporting 15 and 26 incidents respectively in 2015.

Nigeria: oil and kidnappings
Nigeria is a hotspot for violent piracy and armed robbery. Though many attacks are believed to go unrecorded, IMB received reports of 14 incidents, with nine vessels boarded. In the first of these, ten pirates armed with AK47 rifles boarded and hijacked a tanker and took all nine crewmembers hostage. They then transferred the fuel oil cargo into another vessel, which was taken away by two of the attackers. The Ghanaian navy dispatched a naval vessel to investigate as the tanker moved into its waters, then arrested the pirates on board.

Somalia still risky
No Somali-based attacks were reported in 2015. Following a new 55% reduction in the industry-defined High Risk Area, IMB warns vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean to stay particularly vigilant.

Mr Mukundan explained: “Somalia remains a fragile state, and the potential for an attack remains high. It will only take one successful hijacking to undo all that has been done, and rekindle this criminal activity.”

Elsewhere…
Incidents in Vietnam surged from seven in 2014 to 27 in 2015. The main cause is low-level theft against vessels anchored in Vietnam, with 15 reports from around the port of Vung Tau alone.

In China four incidents were recorded in December 2015, the first in a long time. These include three thefts of bunker diesel oil from large bulk carriers off Tianjin, and one failed attempt to do the same.

Meanwhile, low-level incidents in Bangladesh dropped to 11 in 2015, from 21 in 2014.

IMB Piracy Reporting Centre
The IMB PRC is the world’s only independent office to receive reports of pirate attacks 24-hours-a-day from across the globe. IMB strongly urges shipmasters and owners to report all actual, attempted and suspected piracy and armed robbery incidents to the IMB PRC. This first step in the response chain is vital to ensuring that adequate resources are allocated by authorities to tackle piracy. Transparent statistics from an independent, non-political, international organization can act as a catalyst to achieve this goal.

(For information about operations around the world contact the respective GAC office. Details may be found athttp://gac.com/gac-worldwide)

Source: International Maritime Bureau (www.icc-ccs.org) news release dated 2 February 2016