NATH OR
MARITIME TION
MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE
62nd session
Agenda item 15
IMO
PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY AGAINST SHIPS
Submitted by Hong Kong
MSC 62/15/2
31 March 1993
Original: ENGLISH
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1
In accordance with action suggested in MSC/Circ. 597, Hong Kong instituted a system for its Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) to receive reports of piracy attacks. As a result of this action, a significant number of reports have been received both directly through the MRCC and indirectly as a result of greater awareness of the importance of reporting such attacks.
2
Information has been received of 28 pirate attacks on merchant ships in the South China Sea and adjacent waters. 27 of these attacks have occurred since 9 September 1992. Locations and dates of attacks are shown in ANNEX 1.
3
The frequency and mode of these attacks gives cause for concern for the safety of life at sea. Information contained in reports indicate some common patterns. On three occasions, attackers posed as officials and ordered ships in international waters to stop for inspection On one occasion, a ship was requested to stop and provide assistance though no distress signal had been transmitted. On four occasions, attacking vessels were described as official launches or patrol boats; speedboats operating from larger vessels were used on three occasions. In one case, the attacking boat was estimated to be travelling at a speed of 40 knots.
4
Firearms were used by attackers in 20 cases. Four of the ships fired on were tankers. Weapons used include automatic rifles, rocket grenades, and heavy machine guns. Lighted firecrackers were thrown on to the deck of one loaded tanker and the tanker was also struck by about 50 bullets from automatic weapons. The deck cargo of another ship was set on fire by rifle grenades. The master and chief officer of one ship recruited by a Hong Kong company were murdered by attackers, and one seaman on another ship was wounded by a bullet.
5
Many of these attacks occurred in daylight with no attempt at concealment. On one occasion attackers using a speedboat operating from a fishing vessel abandoned their attack when an unarmed search aircraft arrived on scene. A photograph of the pirate vessel is
at ANNEX 2. The original colour photograph will be available at MSC 62 for the inspection of delegates.
For reasons of economy, this document is printed in a limited number. Delegates are kindly asked to bring their copies to meetings and not to request additional copies.
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