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During IMO Legal Committee, 110th session, that took place 21-26 March, 2023, the IMO adopted resolution (LEG.6(110)) to provide Guidelines for port State and flag State authorities on how to deal with seafarer abandonment cases.

The Guidelines on how to deal with seafarer abandonment were adopted by the first meeting of a joint International Labour Organization (ILO)–International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tripartite Working Group, which met in December 2022, following development by an intersessional correspondence group reporting to the Legal Committee.

According to the IMO/ILO joint database of abandonment of seafarers, from 1 January 2022 to 23 December 2022 a total number of 109 new cases have been reported. Of these 109 new cases, only 41 had been resolved.

Overall, IMO noted that there is an alarming spike in cases of crew abandonment.  In 2020, the total number of reported cases was 85 and of these, 50 cases had so far been resolved. In 2021, the total number of reported cases was 95, and of these, only 47 have been resolved. Approximately 21 of the cases that were reported since 1 January 2020 were related to the COVID-19 pandemic, further exacerbating the crew change situation of seafarers at the time.

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During IMO Legal Committee, 110th session, that took place 21-26 March, 2023, the IMO Committee discussed proposals for guidelines relating to fair treatment of seafarers detained on suspicion of committing maritime crimes, highlighting the need to establish a database to record such incidents.

IMO explains that such guidelines would aim to ensure fair treatment of seafarers in other circumstances where seafarers might be detained.  A working group developed initial draft text for the proposed guidelines. To remind, existing Guidelines on fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident were adopted in 2006.  

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On April 1st, the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) in collaboration with Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore, released an informative infographic with measures to prevent piracy.

With the increase of theft, robbery and piracy at sea (TRAPS) incidents at the Singapore Strait, IFC has prepared an infographic on resource light measures that they recommend the master to adopt while transiting in the area of concerns especially the Phillip channel and Singapore Strait.

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Five incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia (two CAT 3 and three CAT 4 incidents), between 28 March – 3 April 2023.

The two CAT 3 incidents occurred on board a bulk carrier and a tanker while underway off Pulau Cula in the Singapore Strait (SS). All the three CAT 4 incidents occurred on board bulk carriers while underway in the SS off Tanjung Pergam, off Pulau Karimun Kecil, and south of Nipa Transit Anchorage.

The crew members were not injured in all of the incidents. Engine spares were stolen in two of the incidents, and nothing was stolen in the other three incidents.