REPORT OF THE IMO MISSION OF EXPERTS ON PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY AGAINST SHIPS TO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA/MALACCA STRAIT AREA
(5 to 11 October 1998)
INTRODUCTION
1 In response to the grave concern expressed by several IMO Member Governments and international organizations regarding the increasing incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships, in various parts of the world. IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) established in 1984 “Piracy and armed robbery against ships” as a separate and fixed item in its work programme. Under this item, the Committee receives a summary of all reports on piracy and armed robbery against ships submitted by Member Governments and international organizations and these are circulated on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis to IMO Members and international organizations.
2 In 1993 an IMO Working Group on the Malacca Strait composed of experts from a limited number of IMO Member Governments, including experts from the littoral States concerned, visited Indonesia. Malaysia and Singapore. Based on the Working Group's report MSC/Circs.622 and 623 on Recommendations to Governments for combating piracy and armed robbery against ships and on Guidance to shipowners and ship operators, shipmasters and crews on preventing and suppressing acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships, respectively, were issued.
3 At its sixty-eighth session (28 May to 6 June 1997), the MSC, while reviewing the latest reports submitted, noted with deep concern that the situation had deteriorated in some parts of the world with both seafarers and passengers being exposed to an ever increasing danger from pirates and armed robbers. The Committee noted, in particular, that at least twelve seafarers had been killed in 1996 and that a considerable number of seafarers had been traumatized in the incidents reported.
4 Following this, the MSC requested the Secretary-General to enter into consultations, at Ambassadorial level, with the Governments of countries in whose waters acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships had most frequently been reported. The Committee further requested him, during the consultations, to explore whether a mission of IMO experts to the regions for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in co-operation with their national experts, possibly followed with a series of regional technical seminars and workshops to elaborate on IMO's recommendations, would assist the countries concerning in implementing them.
5 The principal purpose of the missions of experts would be to increase awareness of the problems; impress upon the Governmental representatives concerned the need for action; and, more importantly, motivate political will to act at national and regional levels.
6 During these missions, the experts, using the recommendations available, would be able to work out, together with the national law enforcement agencies concerned, the best ways of implementing the IMO recommendations taking account of national laws and local situations.
