TNAG-2897-FCO40-4171-Hong-Kong-piracy-in-the-South-China-Sea-1993 — Page 42

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25 The work of collation requires the formulation of an accurate statistical base of all incidents and the comparison of attack reports to determine

accuracy both geographically and for precise timing. It may be necessary for the collating authority to revert to the flag States, owners or shipmasters to check on matters of detail.

Assessment

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Normally the work of assessing the numbers, modus operandi and types of attack is best done within the same agency as collects and collates the information. However, because of the peculiar nature of piracy and armed robbery, namely world-wide distribution, complexities of jurisdiction, numbers of ships and flag States involved, it is judged that only the COLLECTION and INITIAL ASSESSMENT should be done by IMO itself. The detailed and painstaking work of assessment should be carried out by the coastal States' security forces who will probably have access to further information to complete the picture and background of the attacks and those persons responsible. Accordingly, it is recommended that, once the information has been collected and collated, it be passed to the coastal States concerned for use by their security forces as well as to the RPC for statistical purposes. It should be repeated to the Governments of the flag States of the ships involved, who may use their own resources in military, police and marine administration agencies to form their own national assessments.

The Malacca Strait littoral States

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As this study focused upon the three Malacca Strait littoral States (Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore), it is timely to comment upon the established links between the three States in exchanging information on piracy and armed robbery which is well organized and judged to be working well. It is especially important that such close working co-operation be established in other coastal States whose territorial waters are linked in order to prevent pirates and sea robbers using maritime borders as protection against counter-measures by security forces. This is especially pertinent when considering that hot pursuit of such pirates is generally not permitted under law without the adjoining coastal States' agreement. How much of the fully assessed information on pirates and robbers is passed between such States is a decision which only the States themselves can determine. However, it is recommended that such exchanges be developed as fully as possible within the bounds of security in order to contain what has become an international disease.

Dissemination of information

28 It is important that, once the collection and collation stages have been completed, the product be distributed to all agencies that need to know. These agencies will include the Governments of coastal States for onward passing, the Governments of flag States for passing through maritime Administrations to shipowners and to other interested Government departments. It is judged that this dissemination should be in two forms routine and urgent:

1

.1.1

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Routine This should be published quarterly and be as comprehensive as possible. Listed in date/time order, it should give the following information:

serial number (i.e. 31.3.93 first quarter report of 1993);

11/0101

.1.2

name of ship, type, flag and GRT;