Mozambique becomes 20th nation to sign IMO anti-piracy code
Mozambique has signed the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) anti-piracy code of conduct.
The IMO code is known as the Djibouti Code of Conduct and it concerns the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.
His Excellency Carlos dos Santos, High Commissioner of Mozambique in the United Kingdom signed the code on behalf of his country July 6, 2012, the IMO said in a statement.
Mozambique is now the 20th State to sign the Djibouti Code of Conduct, which was set up by IMO to develop regional capacity to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean.
The other signatories are the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, the Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen.
Signatories to the Djibouti Code of Conduct, which has been in effect since January 29, 2009, undertake to co-operate in a variety of activities, including:
• The investigation, arrest and prosecution of persons reasonably suspected of having committed acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships, including those inciting or intentionally facilitating such acts;
• The interdiction and seizure of suspect ships and property on board such ships;
• The rescue of ships, persons and property subject to piracy and armed robbery and the facilitation of proper care, treatment and repatriation of seafarers, fishermen, other shipboard personnel and passengers subject to such acts, particularly those who have been subjected to violence; and
• The conduct of shared operations – both among signatory States and with navies from countries outside the region – such as nominating law enforcement or other authorized officials to embark on patrol ships or aircraft of another signatory.
In addition, the Code encourages the sharing of related information, and a regional network has been established by IMO’s Djibouti Code of Conduct Implementation Unit, with three Information Sharing Centres based in Sana’a, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.
The network also shares information with international naval headquarters and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre, which is based in Singapore.
By Ekow Quandzie