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Legal Systems News

30 Jun 2017

Piracy Situation Serious in Gulf of Guinea

European shipowners are concerned about the continued piracy, armed robbery attacks and kidnapping for ransom events in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), and particularly off Nigeria. According to the latest International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy report in total 33 vessels were boarded and four fired upon in the first three months of 2017 worldwide. During the same period, of the 27 seafarers kidnapped for ransom, 63% were in the Gulf of Guinea. In its Global Maritime Security Conclusions adopted 19 June, the Environment Council recognised the problematic situation in the Gulf of Guinea. It underlined the need for regional states to take ownership and adapt their legal systems in order to fight piracy.

12 May 2015

Containership Sold in Aruba after Bank Arrest

Haco van der Houven van Oordt (Photo: AKD)

Rotterdam-based law firm AKD has completed the sale at auction of the container vessel Caribbean Sea in the courts of Aruba following its arrest by Rabobank for outstanding mortgage debts in excess of $28 million. The entire arrest and auction process was completed in just 20 days. The 2007-built vessel arrived and was arrested in Aruban waters on March 25, 2015 as security against an outstanding debt of $28,398,786, and was sold at auction on April 14. AKD partner Haco van der Houven van Oordt…

27 Oct 2014

Korean Prosecutors: Death for Ferry Master

South Korean prosecutors on Monday sought the death penalty for the captain of a ferry that capsized in April, leaving 304 people, most of them school children, dead or missing, in a trial of 15 crew who abandoned ship before it sank. Lee Joon-seok, 68, charged with homicide, should be sentenced to death for failing to carry out his duty, which in effect amounted to homicide, the prosecution told the court before resting its case in a trial that has taken place amid intense public anger. Sentiment turned sharply hostile after evidence surfaced that the mostly teenage passengers waited in their cabins, obediently following orders, as the crew escaped. Lee was among 15 accused of abandoning the sharply listing ferry. Four, including the captain, face homicide charges.

27 Mar 2014

ICC: Beware Spurious Oil Fraud Claims

Photo: ICC

The ICC reported that shipowners are facing new dangers from criminal gangs making spurious oil fraud claims. The “victims”/fraudsters try to extort money from owners by bringing action against them for failing to deliver cargoes of oil they allegedly own. Such scams were previously confined to West Africa, ICC said, but now appear to have spread to other countries, as a case reported recently to the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) shows. It involves a vessel that trades regularly into the Arabian Gulf.

06 Dec 2012

The 100 Series Rules for the Use of Force

With the 100 Series Rules for the Use of Force attracting considerable attention from the key stakeholders in the industry. Adam Swierczewski, Corporate and Legal Affairs Manager of the leading Maritime Security Company, Ambrey Risk, has made observations from the Industry perspective. The 100 Series is said to be designed to ‘alleviate uncertainty’* and provide ‘clear legal basis for acts of self-defense’*. At the moment individual Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) submit their Rules for the Use of Force (RUF) to flag states as a part of the flag state approval process.

02 Oct 2012

New Report Reveals World Fish Stocks Crisis

Head of international ocean conservation organization, Oceana, responds to alarming new report on the status of the world's fisheries. Andrew F. Sharpless, CEO of Oceana, issues the following statement about a new report: Status and Solutions for the World's Unassessed Fisheries. "This study finally lays to rest the question of whether or not the world's fisheries are in crisis – they are. As the authors report, more than half of the world's fisheries are in decline. And as they point out, worst hit are small scale fisheries which are critical for feeding hungry people all around the world. We believe that this report provides a clear call to action. We need to quickly put in place responsible management measures in the countries that control most of the world's wild seafood.