ReCAAP: Asian Piracy Incidents Rise in May
*Panama Canal to Modify Its Tolls Structure
WMN..The number of piracy and armed robbery incidents in the Asian region has increased to seven in May compared to preceding months, according to piracy watchdog ReCAAP.
Although there were no reports of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah, as well as a lack of hijacking incidents for theft of oil cargo, ReCAAP said that the abduction of crew for ransom in these waters remains a serious concern.
In May 2019, six actual incidents of armed robbery against ships and one attempted incident of piracy were reported.
Compared to the same month last year, there was a 22% decrease in the number of incidents reported, however, compared to the past six preceding months the number of incidents reported in May 2019 has increased.
Between November 2018 and April 2019, a total of three incidents to four incidents were reported each month.
Of the seven incidents reported in May 2019, three incidents occurred on board ships at anchor/berth (at Kandla in India; and Dumai and Cigading in Indonesia) and four incidents on board ships while underway (off Pulau Mapur, Indonesia; off Mindanao, Philippines in the
Pacific Ocean; and off Tanjung Piai, Malaysia in the Singapore Strait).
ReCAAP informed that, of the six actual incidents reported in May 2019, one was a CAT 2 incident and five were CAT 4 incidents, reports World Maritime News.
Meanwhile, the Panama Canal has released a proposal to modify its current tolls structure with an “aim to better serve the global maritime industry,” according to Jorge L. Quijano, the canal Administrator.
The move marks the beginning of a 30-day formal consultation period for industry feedback, which will close on July 15, 2019.
“Our proposed modifications will increase transparency and flexibility, among other improvements, to ensure the Panama Canal remains competitive and optimal for the industry today and moving forward,” Quijano added.
For the dry bulk segment, the proposal offers matching the tolls charged to Neopanamax vessels carrying iron ore with the tolls assessed for grains and “other dry bulk” cargoes, as well as a tariff increase for Neopanamax dry bulkers transiting in ballast.
The proposal also aims to add transparency to the tolls structure of the passenger segment by charging based on the maximum passenger capacity that can be carried by each specific passenger vessel. To that end, the canal is proposing to change the unit of measurement from a “per berth” to a “per passenger” basis, making it easier for cruise lines to transfer transit costs to their customers, the authority explained.
For the containership segment the proposed toll modifications “will help retain and incentivize increased cargo volumes” through the Panama Canal. Specifically, the proposal offers more attractive rates for customers who benefit from the Panama Canal Loyalty Program by adding new levels with reduced rates in the capacity charge for shipping lines deploying between 2 million to 3 million TEUs, and additional reductions for lines deploying an incremental over 3 million TEUs. The incentive implemented in the last toll modification of fiscal year 2018 for total TEU loaded in the return voyage (TTLR) will remain in effect.
Additionally, the proposed modifications for the Vehicle Carrier and RoRo segment include a new tariff category or range precisely designed for Neopanamax vessels to account vessel sizes and capacity, as well as slight increments in tolls tariffs for Panamax-sized vessels, as well as minor adjustments based on vessel size ranges.
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