Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea remains a big problem but local laws and enforcement practices make it difficult for vessels to call at ports in the region with foreign armed guards onboard
The 2018 amendments to the MLC, 2006 will bring about a change to a seafarer's employment agreement (SEA) where it shall continue to have effect and wages shall continue to be paid while a seafarer is held captive on or off the ship as a result of acts of piracy or armed robbery against ships.
The Club have recieved a security bulletin from INTERTANKO regarding attacks on tankers in the Gulf of Guinea region.
The UK Club has received the following annual report from the ICC International Maritime Bureau, regarding piracy and armed robbery against vessels throughout the year.
The new resource aims to provide easy access for companies and seafarers to valuable information and guidance
Piracy Update - Venezuela
05/06/2018
The UK Club have received the following update from Matheus & Ulloa, regarding piracy in Venezuela.
The Club wishes to bring to Members' attention that during the recent XIX Party Congress in Beijing, the local authorities in China implemented enhanced security measures at all ports. We were aware of a number of cases where crew members were required by local authorities to surrender their mobile phones or other electronic devices for inspection when ships call at ports in China. Those inspections appeared to have been conducted at random, of if a ship was specifically identified as posing a security threat.
Re-escalation of Piracy: Gulf of Aden
06/04/2017
Members will be aware that since the end of March there has been a reescalation in the number of suspicious approaches around the Southern Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb & Gulf of Aden.
It has been announced this week that as of May 2017 Philippines, Malaysia & Indonesia will launch joint piracy patrols in waters of the Sulu Sea.
More crew were kidnapped at sea in 2016 than in any of the previous 10 years.
BIMCO, ICS, INTERTANKO and INTERCARGO have jointly released an updated version of 'Guidelines for Owners, Operators and Masters for Protection Against Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Region.' This document now supersedes the previous guidance for the region.
BIMCO publish new virulent disease clauses
03/02/2015
Prompted by the issues raised within the shipping industry as a result of the recent Ebola outbreak, together with the issues raised by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ("SARS") outbreak some 10 years ago, BIMCO have now drafted a new set of generic clauses (for voyage and time charters) dealing with infectious or contagious diseases.
This pdf document "Interim guidance to UK flagged shipping on the use of armed guards to defend against the threat of piracy in exceptional circumstances" sets out the UK government's policy on the use of armed guards onboard UK ships and the exceptional circumstances under which their use may be considered.
Prevention & Defences against Piracy
23/09/2011
Two new advisories published this week provide up to date guidance for Members on protecting their ships against pirate attacks
Citadels in Shipping: Definition & Meaning
22/09/2011
A Citadel in Ships is designed and constructed to resist a determined pirate trying to gain entry into a Ship for a fixed period of time