Maritime Safety Committee MSC, of the International Maritime Organisation IMO, an agency of the United Nations has reported a 23per cent reduction in incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the first half of 2021 across the globe.

The MSC at its 104th session, held between October 4-8 2021, also approved a draft update of IMO Assembly resolution A.1069(28) on Prevention and suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships and illicit activity in the Gulf of Guinea. The resolution has been submitted to the 32nd session of the IMO Assembly slated to hold December 6-15, 2021 with a view to its adoption.

Details of the committee report showed that a total of 83 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in the first six months of 2021, which indicates a decrease of approximately 23per cent at the global level compared to the same period last year.

The areas most affected by acts of piracy and armed robbery during period under review were West Africa (Gulf of Guinea), which accounted for 27 out of the 83 incidents, the Straits of Malacca and Singapore  accounted for 23 incidents while the South China Sea was responsible for 12 incidents.

The report also indicated that the number of incidents in the Gulf of Guinea (West Africa) decreased in the first half of 2021 by five compared to the same period in 2020, a decrease of 16per cent.

The Committee noted the ongoing implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct, as amended, in the in the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. The region has established, with the support of the IMO Secretariat, a strong governance framework to spearhead the implementation and is now better prepared to find regional solutions to address existing gaps in Maritime Domain Awareness MDA and to develop response capabilities.

The Committee therefore requested member states to continue to report incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the IMO Secretariat, using the reporting form and also invited them to consider making financial contributions to IMOʹs West and Central Africa Trust Fund WCA TF.

Meanwhile the committee’s approved draft update of IMO Assembly resolution on Prevention and suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships and illicit activity in the Gulf of Guinea will include a reference to the definitions of ʺpiracyʺ and ʺarmed robbery against shipsʺ in the preambular part of the draft resolution in addition to other editorial changes.

The MSC also approved a draft IMO Assembly resolution consolidating issues related to crew change, access to medical care, ʺkey workerʺ designation and seafarers’ prioritisation for COVID-19 vaccination, with a view to its adoption at the 32nd session of the IMO Assembly scheduled for December 6-15, 2021.

The draft Assembly resolution on comprehensive action to address seafarers’ challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic urges member states to designate seafarers as ʺkey workersʺ in order to facilitate shore leave and safe and unhindered movement across borders, and recognise their relevant documentation for this purpose.

Consider the implementation of the Industry recommended framework of protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; prioritise vaccination of seafarers, as far as practicable, in their national COVID-19 vaccination programmes and consider exempting seafarers from any national policy requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition for entry, taking into account that seafarers should be designated as ʺkey workersʺ and that they travel across borders frequently.

Others include to provide seafarers with immediate access to medical care and facilitate medical evacuation of seafarers in need of urgent medical attention when the required medical care cannot be provided either on board or in the port of call.

The MSC also approved Guidance on seafarers’ training and certification for issuing Administrations, flag States and port States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance contains recommended practices for exceptional measures adopted as a consequence of the pandemic. The guidance outlines the principle that force majeure is temporary and that STCW Parties should seek to revert to performing their obligations under the STCW Convention and Code as soon as possible, among others.