On 17 June 2011, the London P& I Club reported an increase in pirate activity in the waters off Benin. Since then the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (click here for a link to their website) has received reports of a further three incidents involving tankers off Cotonou. In one case, a vessel was captured, in the other two the focus was theft of personal effects and valuables. In each case the vessels were boarded during darkness and whilst undertaking or preparing for STS operations.
News Alerts
We issue News and other Alerts to keep members posted about developments at the Club and other industry news. Please see our latest Alerts below.
Those who wish to receive an Email Alert as soon as a new report is posted can register for this service by subscribing here
1 July 2011
30 June 2011
As the reach of pirates operating out of Somalia has spread well beyond the Gulf of Aden and military resources have as a consequence become ever more stretched, the deployment of private guards on ships transiting high risk waters has become more prevalent. The use of armed private guards is also becoming more common, which in turn is attracting an increasing number of providers of such services.
28 June 2011
Last week, the US added Tidewater Middle East Co to its list of designated entities. Tidewater Middle East Co is a port operating company in Iran and is reportedly owned by sanctioned entities including Mehr Bank and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Tidewater Middle East Co is not connected with Tidewater Inc, a well know provider of off shore services.
17 June 2011
The Correspondent in Benin, TCI Africa, report that piracy in West African waters is on the rise. Most attacks occur while ships are at anchor or close to the shore, unlike East Africa, where Somali pirates have netted millions of dollars in ransoms in exchange for the release of ships captured hundreds of miles from the coast.
26 May 2011
As Members should be aware, Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) provides a regime for determining the amount of remuneration to be awarded to salvors for their services in saving property at sea and minimising or preventing damage to the environment.
24 May 2011
Members should recall previous Circulars in respect of recommendations for the carriage of Calcium Hypochlorite, resting with Circular dated 30 December 1999 (click here) and Circular dated 20 December 2000 (click here).
28 April 2011
Members will recall the previous News Alert of 16 February 2011 in respect of sanctions against Côte d’Ivoire. The sanctions designated various persons/entities, including both the Port of Abidjan and the Port of San Pedro, as subject to an asset freeze and prohibition on making funds and economic resources available to them. We are now able to update Members as follows:- 1. Council Regulation (EU) No.
28 April 2011
Members will be aware of the recent tragedy in Japan and the issues arising from it, particularly the potential threat of nuclear contamination. In response to the on-going situation at the Fukushima nuclear plant, BIMCO has drafted a standard Radiation Risk Clause for Time Charter Parties in order to try to achieve a balanced contractual solution for both owners and charterers.
21 April 2011
In light of the continuing pirate attacks on merchant ships traversing the Gulf of Aden area and the widening geographical range of attacks despite the presence of a number of international navies, Members may be interested to note that the International Maritime Employers Committee (IMEC – for further details click here) after discussions with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) have agreed to extend the geographical coverage of the International Bargaining Forum (IBF) High
18 April 2011
Members may be aware that, due to the upsurge in piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden/Indian Ocean region, there has been widespread discussion in the media as to whether vessels should carry armed security personnel, which would of course include the carriage of arms and ammunition.