Introducing ‘Lo-Jack’ For Ships
A successful anti-piracy tracking system supported by ICC's International Maritime Bureau (IMB) now has a dedicated website that demonstrates how ship owners can log-on and view the exact position of their vessels at any time. Shiploc, an inexpensive tracking system, is based on a small device that reports to ship owners the position of their vessels via a satellite network several times a day. The launch of www.shiploc.com means that owners, armed with only an Internet connection and a confidential user name and password, can access data and maps online to check whether their ships are on course. If a ship is hijacked, the IMB, with authorization from the ship's owner, can check the ship's exact position and alert the appropriate law enforcement agencies immediately.
Piracy Solution Must Be Found
Asian countries need to join forces to combat the piracy that makes the region's sea lanes the most dangerous in the world. Pirate booty these days include cargoes of oil worth millions of dollars rather than the treasure chests of earlier centuries, but today's buccaneers can still be cut-throat murderers. Incidents of piracy have increase 50 percent worldwide in the past year, and around half the attacks and hijackings occur in Southeast Asia. Indonesia, the world's largest archipelego state, was singled out as the country with the biggest problem at the meeting of 20 nations in Kuala Lumpur. There were over 100 acts of piracy in Indonesian waters alone last year. "We are very concerned about Indonesia, extremely concerned," P.K.
