MSC 70/15/1/Add.1
Chemical, gas and oil tankers were the target of 26.6% of
the reported incidents; bulk carriers of 21% and other cargo
ships of 25%.
4 The principal purpose of the mission was to
increase awereness of the problem; impress upon the
Governmental representatives concerned the need for action;
and, more importantly, motivate political will to act at
national and regional levels. The mission also aimed at
encouraging the countries visited to participate in the
regional seminar and workshop scheduled to be held in
Singapore from 3 to 5 February 1999 for countries bordering
the South China Sea (including the two IMO Associate Members
in that region) and the Malacca and Singapore Straits.
5 High-level Governmental representatives of
the countries visited participated in the meetings, which
were characterized by an open and frank exchange of views,
clear expressions of political will to act at national and
regional levels and willingness to participate in next year's
regional seminar and workshop in Singapore.
6 The co-operation of the representatives of
the Indonesian, Malaysian and Philippino authorities and the
constructive and positive atmosphere in which the meetings
were conducted was acknowledged by the visiting IMO group; as
was the information provided on the existing and planned
national and regional infrastructure to combat piracy and
armed robbery against ships in the three countries' areas of
responsibility.
Mission of experts to Brazil and regional seminar on
piracy and armed robbery against ships for selected countries
in South and Central America (18 to 23 October 1998)
7 A mission of experts on piracy and armed
robbery against ships was undertaken, with the co-operation
of the Government of Brazil, to the ports of Santos and Rio
de Janeiro on 19 and 23 October 1998 respectively. Between
those two visits, a seminar and workshop on piracy and armed
robbery against ships was conducted in Brasilia. It was
attended by representatives of the Governments of Brazil,
Colombia, Panama, Suriname and Venezuela and observers from
Chile, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.
8 The Governments of Denmark and the
Netherlands provided experts and lecturers for the missions
and seminar/workshop, which were also attended by
observers/lecturers from BIMCO and ITF/ICFTU. The Secretariat
was represented by two senior MSD officials.
9 The principal purpose of the mission to the
ports of Santos and Rio de Janeiro was similar to that
outlined in paragraph 4 above; while the main objective of
the Brasilia seminar and workshop was to improve safety at
sea through assisting Governments and officials in the
countries invited to enhance their capability for preventing
and suppressing piracy and armed robbely against ships
through implementation of the IMO guidelines annexed to MSC
circulars 622 and 623. It also aimed at considering the
development of co-operation agreements between neighbouring
countries for the purpose of combating the piracy/armed
robbery threat through co-ordinated patrols and other
appropriate means and reviewing MSC circulars 622 and 623 to
augment the guidance therein, where appropriate, with
additional advice on measures specific to the problems in the
region.
I:/MSC/70/15-1 A 1.WPD
