World briefs

Piracy up

Kuala Lumpur: Piracy attacks rose to 370 worldwide in the year ending December 2002, up from 335 the year before.

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) of the International Crime Committee issued its annual report 'Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships' in March.

In most cases pirates were armed with knives, not guns. Most attacks occurred while ships were at anchor.

Indonesia recorded the most attacks (103) while Bangladesh (32) overtook India due to increased patrols in Indian waters.

Also considered high risk are Malaysia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Guyana, Ecuador, Somalia and the Gulf of Aden/Red Sea.

The IMB is the maritime crime prevention division of the International Chamber of Commerce.

Dutch Boycott

AMSTERDAM: Firm action has forced a flag of convenience shipowner to withdraw instructions to seafarers to carry out cargo handling work, ITF News reports.

Dutch port workers warned that they would boycott the Antigua flagged Grietje unless the crew, comprising 18 Filipinos and two Germans, refrained from undertaking dockers' work.

The threat had the desired effect.

The ITF has recently stepped up its campaign in response to a proposed European Union directive on the deregulation of port work, which would permit 'self-handling' of cargo by seafarers.

World briefs

Piracy up

Kuala Lumpur: Piracy attacks rose to 370 worldwide in the year ending December 2002, up from 335 the year before.

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) of the International Crime Committee issued its annual report 'Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships' in March.

In most cases pirates were armed with knives, not guns. Most attacks occurred while ships were at anchor.

Indonesia recorded the most attacks (103) while Bangladesh (32) overtook India due to increased patrols in Indian waters.

Also considered high risk are Malaysia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Guyana, Ecuador, Somalia and the Gulf of Aden/Red Sea.

The IMB is the maritime crime prevention division of the International Chamber of Commerce.

Dutch Boycott

AMSTERDAM: Firm action has forced a flag of convenience shipowner to withdraw instructions to seafarers to carry out cargo handling work, ITF News reports.

Dutch port workers warned that they would boycott the Antigua flagged Grietje unless the crew, comprising 18 Filipinos and two Germans, refrained from undertaking dockers' work.

The threat had the desired effect.

The ITF has recently stepped up its campaign in response to a proposed European Union directive on the deregulation of port work, which would permit 'self-handling' of cargo by seafarers.