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 The
Indian Coast Guard along with the Regional Cooperation Agreement
for Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ship in Asia
(ReCAAP), Information Sharing Centre (ISC) co-hosted the Capacity
Building Workshop at Goa from 15-17 Nov 2011. The ReCAAP is
the first government to government instrument, which deals
with the issue of combating piracy and armed robbery. Based
on the three pillars viz information sharing, capacity building
and cooperative arrangements amongst the Contracting States
the agreement aims at facilitating smooth flow of information
on incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in
Asia. Being the fifth in the series, the workshop was attended
by 39 participants from 21 countries including, International
Maritime Organisation and Project Implementation Unit, Djibouti
Code of Conduct (DCoC). This is the first time the workshop
is being held in India.
Piracy
is age old Julius Caesar was taken by Pirates but when he
came to power he removed Piracy and PAX ROMANA saw no piracy.
Today with US Navy combating Piracy with low results it shows
US Navy is in relative decline as a sea power Piracy is now
business for the Lawyers. Money Providers and War Lords and
good income for the unemployed seamen of Somalia as Westerners
took away their fishing control and Somalia has no Government
worth the name. Ship owners, Cargo interests and insurance
companies are happy to negotiate and pay the ransom in cash
or via Dubai, Kenya Djoubiti or helo drop or an Agent even
one Indian in Turkey.
China
has got its chance to learn expeditionary work up in the Indian
Ocean and are doing well and wanted to parcel IOR during SHADE
in Bahrain. India stopped it. . China was always the centre
of gravity except for 100 years 1830-1930s and today it is
the Rise of China with its economic and maritime power to
catch up with USA. A cold war between USA and China has just
begun but will be more on TRADE, MARITIME ACESS, ANTI-ACESS
and CYBER AND SPACE DOMINATION with normal issues of national
security. India will be the bridging power with secret not
articulated ambitions to be a power but not take steps to
achieve that.
In that preface it proves that India will be important. In
an effort to build up the capacity of its Focal Points and
share best practices for development of compatible standard
operating procedures, ReCAAP ISC conducts Capacity building
Workshop every year. Representatives of the Focal Points,
Member State Agencies, shipping industry, observers from international
bodies including IMO are invited to the workshop to refine
the process of existing information flow mechanism for expeditious
and prompt delivery of response to an incident.
During the opening address, Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan,
AVSM, NM, Director General Indian Coast Guard, who is also
the Indian Governor to the ReCAAP ISC Governing Council, recognized
the efforts of ReCAAP ISC towards developing the cooperative
framework to address the menace of piracy and armed robbery
and facilitating information exchange between the various
stake holders. He also highlighted the Indian efforts in combating
piracy and armed robbery against ships in Indian waters. Early,
this year based on the information received through ReCAAP
ISC, the Indian Coast Guard, which is also the ReCAAP Focal
Point of India, successfully carried out anti-piracy operations
leading to apprehension of 121 pirates and rescue of the crew,
who were held hostage for many months.
LTC (Retd.) Nicholas Teo, Deputy Director ReCAAP ISC in his
opening remarks recognized the steps taken by Indian Agencies
including Indian Coast Guard to ensure safe and secure seas
for the seafarers. He also conveyed that information sharing
is a shared responsibility of the governments and the shipping
industry and the purpose of information sharing would be better
served if it is accurate and timely.
The delegates at the workshop shared various perspectives
on dealing with the scourge of piracy and charted a way ahead
for enhancing the response to deal with incidents of piracy
and armed robbery in Asian waters. The workshop culminated
with an anti-piracy exercise held off Goa by ICG ships and
aircraft, which provided firsthand experience to the participants
on conduct of anti-piracy operations at sea and real time
flow of information from the scene of incident.
This
shows importance of India's Maritime status to hold such meetings
and exercises. IDU congratulates CG and VADM M P MURLIDHARAN
for his elevation to DG CG and wish him all success.
PS
A Report from UK Shipping Centre
NSC Weekly Unclassified Update
Overview
During the reporting period from 10 Nov - 16 Nov 11 there
were three suspicious approaches, two disruptions, and one
attack in the Gulf of Aden (GOA); one suspicious approach
in the Arabian Sea (AS); one suspicious approach in the Southern
Red Sea (SRS); one suspicious approach and one attack in the
Somali Basin (SB).
Weather conditions are improving in the region and this may
lead to an increase in activity by the pirates.
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