4 On 26 January 1999, the M.V. PCC Panama, which was at anchor in Guanta port, notified the Coastguard Station that four (4) aluminium laders had been stolen from it. This report subsequently enabled the Coastguard Station authorities to capture eight (8) criminals and to recover not only the goods stolen from the M.V. PCC Panama but also three (3) outboard motors and one (1) 12-calibre shotgun stolen from the S.V. Force III.
Conclusions
5 The crew of the M.V. Sea Explorer II did not report the assault of which it had been the victim, and the local authorities therefore had no knowledge of the incident and were unable to take any action as a result.
6 To describe other common crimes as acts of piracy, a clearly defined term in international law, can give rise to regrettable legal confusion which is of benefit to criminals.
7 Then incidents occur such as the one which took place on the M.V. Sea Explorer II, to which the local authorities are not alerted at the time and which they learn only afterwards bough other organizations that have no political or judicial authority, then suspicions are aroused, and such incidents encourage the idea to be formed that crimes can be committed on board a ship that will subsequently be taken for "acts of piracy and armed robbery".
Action requested of the Committee
8 Member Governments should be invited to instruct shipping companies, shipowners and ships' captains to report to the local authorities of the first port of arrival, if they are at sea, or those of the port in which they are berthed, of any acts of piracy or armed robbery of which they have been a victim.
9 The format of the annex to the reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships should be modified in such a way that "acts of piracy" can be clearly distinguished from "armed robbery".
