ICC’s PIRACY REPORT SHOWS RISE IN ATTACKS

ICCÆS PIRACY REPORT SHOWS RISE IN ATTACKS    The International Chamber of Commerce, through its International Maritime Bureau, has issued a piracy report for 2002, showed 370 incidences of ships attacked on the high seas, up from 335 in 2001.
   Hijackings increased to 25 incidents, from 16 the previous year.
   “In some parts of the world, it is all too easy to board a merchant vessel unlawfully. It is vital that coastal states allocate resources to patrol their waters more effectively,” said Pottengal Mukundan, director of the ICC’s International Maritime Bureau.
   In regard to terrorism, the report specifically recommended that “port authorities designate approach channels under coast guard or police supervision, from which all unauthorized craft would be banned.”