Forging Ahead - Singapore Shipping Association

Photo courtesy of US Naval Forces Central Command
Maritime Security Sub-Committee
The Maritime Security Sub-Committee is chaired by
Capt. George Solomon of Neptune Shipmanagement
Services (Pte) Ltd. The Sub-Committee works closely
with the MPA, the ReCAAP Information Sharing
Centre (ISC) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)
and discussed proposed measures and submissions
concerning maritime security and to make the
appropriate recommendations including practical
measures to improve security arrangements for ships
transiting or calling at Singapore and the surrounding
region.
➥ Piracy & Armed Robbery
The Sub-Committee constantly analysed the
quarterly and annual reports of the International
Maritime Bureau (IMB) and ReCAAP ISC to identify
if there are any clear trends of pirate attacks on
ships around the world.
Based on the reports, the number of pirate
attacks for 2008 had increased to 293, which is
11.4% more attacks than the 263 reported for
2007. The number of hostages taken in 2008 also
shows a very steep increase of 204.5% or 889 crew
members as compared with 292 crew members
taken hostage in 2007. 49 vessels were hijacked in
2008, 42 of which were by Somali pirates.
The pirates and armed robbers boarding vessels were
reportedly better-armed with a great number of
incidents involving guns.
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Geographically,
attacks in the
African region
ranked highest
with 189 attacks.
South-East Asia
ranked second
with 65 incidents
and the Indian
Sub-Continent
ranked third
with 23
incidents. Nigeria
and Somalia in Africa were identifi ed as crucial
hotspots of piracy with attacks accounting for 65% of
the global total.
The Sub-Committee was however pleased to note that
incidents of piracy and armed robbery in South-East
Asia had continued to show a year-on-year decline.
In view of the deteriorating situation off the coast of
Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, the Sub-Committee
encouraged SSA members to share and disseminate
industry best practices aimed at countering attacks by
Somali pirates. SSA members were strongly advised
to make use of the voluntary reporting system
when their ships are navigating through the Gulf of
Aden. The ship masters should cooperate with and
abide by the advisories and guidance issued by the
Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA)
and navigate their ships within the safe corridor
as designated or advised by the United Kingdom
Maritime & Trade Offi ce (UKMTO) from time to time.
The Sub-Committee stressed that all governments and
littoral states should take a strong interest in ship’s
navigational safety and security in the Gulf of Aden
and is pleased to note that at least 20 countries have
committed their naval and air assets to protect ships
in the Gulf. The industry is highly appreciative of the
multilateral efforts to protect shipping and trade in
this vital sea lane between the East and the West.
Undoubtedly this large naval presence has achieved
some success in deterring attacks in the Gulf of Aden
but the pirate attacks are still continuing.