The in-depth analysis elaborated by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) was divulgated at the occasion of the High-Level Conference on Oceans that took place in Brussels on 19 March 2019. The paper addresses the most pressing challenges in relation to maritime security: piracy and armed robbery at sea. Africa is particularly vulnerable to these…
In February 2019, the Information Sharing Centre (ISC) of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) reported three incidents of armed robbery at sea in Asia. The incidents occurred respectively at Belawan anchorage in Indonesia, at Caofeidian anchorage in China and in the Singapore Strait. The number…
On February 22, 2019 an Iranian dhow caught fire in the waters of Seychelles, while it was being towed to the main island by the national Coast Guard. The vessel was apprehended during a joint operation of the Seychelles Coast Guard, Seychelles Defence Forces’ Air Force and the National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre. Thirteen…
The 2018 Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) Report highlights the UNODC’s recent efforts in tackling the activities of transnational organised crime at sea in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Indo-Pacific Ocean regions. These crimes are not limited to piracy and armed robbery at sea, but they also include human smuggling, drug-trafficking and terrorist activities.…
The Information Sharing Centre (ISC) of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) reported a 25% decrease in incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in Asia between 2017 and 2018. According to the data collected in the 2018 ReCAAP ISC Annual Report, the total number of incidents reached…
During the Our Ocean Conference in October 2018, the Seychelles became the first state launching the sovereign blue bond, a financial instrument designed to support sustainable marine and fisheries projects. Within this framework, the Seychellois authorities are now announcing the launching of a campaign of information on the bond. The campaign will start in April and it…
On 26 November, Kenya signed a security pact with France, Madagascar, Seychelles and Djibouti to share intelligence and strengthen maritime security in the Indian Ocean. On the sidelines of the Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi, Kenyan Defence secretary seized the opportunity to announce that Tanzania and Somalia were about to sign the deal as well.…
Interpol and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the results of the month-long operation “30 Days at Sea” launched between 1 and 31 October, where 122 national coordinators supported the international law enforcement operation against maritime pollution. As a result of this global effort, 276 law enforcement and environmental agencies detected over 500 offences…
In the latest report by International Maritime Bureau (IMB) on piracy incidents, 156 incidents were globally reported in the first nine months of 2018. The Gulf of Guinea alone accounts for 57 of the 156 reported incidents. Most of these incidents have been reported in and around Nigeria (41), but there has also been a noticeable…
From November 3 to 10, the European Union, Portugal, Brazil, Spain, France and the United States conducted African NEMO, the Navy’s Exercise for Maritime Operation in the Gulf of Guinea. The EU project Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network (GoGIN) acted as a partner in the operation, along with the marine forces of 14 countries which…
