Senior maritime law enforcement and regulatory officers gather in Incheon

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC), with the support of the Republic of Korea Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, also the focal point for the Republic of Korea, concluded a five-day capacity-building Building Senior Officers’ Meeting (CBSOM) in Incheon, South Korea. Senior officers of maritime law enforcement and regulatory agencies from 16 ReCAAP focal points/contact points (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong (China), India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Vietnam), as well as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and BAKAMLA, attended the CBSOM. Participants took stock of the current maritime security challenges in Asia and explored ways to strengthen cooperation to deter and suppress piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia.

Capacity building is one of the three main pillars of the ReCAAP ISC’s mission. The CBSOM provided a platform for the ReCAAP focal points/contact points to update their knowledge on maritime security issues, network, and exchange best practices on combating armed robbery against ships in ports, anchorages, and territorial waters.

Participants presented and discussed a range of topics, including:

• Efforts by maritime authorities in Asia to prevent and combat piracy and sea robbery incidents

• Case studies on incidents of unauthorised boarding and theft from ships

• Ways to enhance the timeliness of incident reporting

• Application of domestic and international maritime laws to piracy and armed robbery against ships

In addition, the senior focal point officers have taken part in a group discussion and deliberated on the future 10-year roadmap of ReCAAP ISC. Krishnaswamy Natarajan, Executive Director, ReCAAP ISC, said, “From January to October 2024, there were 78 incidents of piracy and sea robbery in Asia, representing a 14% decrease in the number of incidents compared to the same period in 2023. The improved situation can be attributed to proactive efforts taken by littoral state law enforcement agencies to deter and suppress maritime crimes. I would like to urge all ReCAAP focal points to keep up their monitoring and enforcement efforts to ensure the continued safety and security of seafarers and cargo in Asia.”

Choi Seong-yong, ReCAAP ISC Governor for the Republic of Korea and Director General of Maritime Affairs and Safety Policy Bureau, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, “As a Contracting Party to the ReCAAP Agreement, the Republic of Korea is pleased to co-host the CBSOM and play a part in enhancing regional cooperation and information sharing to combat piracy and sea robbery in Asia. The Republic of Korea supports ReCAAP ISC’s capacity-building efforts, and we will continue to work closely with the Centre and ReCAAP member states to deter piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia.