7 The follow-up seminars and workshops were intended to provide an opportunity for the agencies responsible for combating a piracy and armed robbery in the regions, including those from countries which were not visited by IMO experts, to exchange views with their counterparts in the regions and with the IMO experts with the objective of developing an effective regional response to the problem where this was considered appropriate.
PURPOSE OF THE MISSION - GENERAL COMMENTS
8 The mission to the South China Sea/Malacca Strait area was organized in co-operation with the Governments of Indonesia. Malaysia and the Philippines and the IMO experts visited Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta from 5 to 11 October 1998.
9 The principal purpose of the mission was to achieve the objectives laid down in paragraph 5 above, i.e. to increase awareness 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 to review, with the agencies responsible for law enforcement, the current situation and jointly explore which and how improvements could be made. The terms of reference are given in annex 1. To this effect it aimed at:
- identifying both the general and specific problems relating to piracy and armed robbery against ships in the area, including a profile of the typical pirate/robber and most likely targets;
- studying existing national and regional infrastructure (administrative and equipment) for dealing with the problem and determine how effective it was; and what else could and should be done;
- exploring ways of linking anti-piracy measures to existing law-enforcement measures thus pooling resources, if possible and saving costs, e.g. existing resources for anti-drug trafficking, anti-smuggling and anti-terrorism measures; and
- explaining available guidance materials (mainly MSC/Circs.622 and 623) for dealing with piracy and armed robbery against ships, as well as other IMO recommendations to improve safety of life at sea.
10 The mission was undertaken against some disturbing statistics compiled over the period from 1995 to the present, given in annex 2, which showed 244 incidents reported to have taken place in the area out of 715 worldwide. Of the incidents reported in the area 87% had taken place in territorial waters or in port areas. 56% of the incidents reported concerned ships at anchor or in berth. In 23% of the reported incidents violence had been used and in 16% violence was threatened. Chemical, gas or oil tankers were the targets of 27% of the reported incidents, bulk carriers of 21% and other cargo ships of 25%.
11 The Governments of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States as well as the International Chamber of Shipping/International Shipping Federation (ICS/ISF) and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) provided experts for the mission and bore their participation costs. A list of the mission experts is given in annex 3 and the timetable of the mission is given in annex 4.
