Maritime Security
ReCAAP Capacity Building Executive Programme 2023
September 10, 2024
- On 25 and 29 September 2023, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre (ISC), in cooperation with the Australia Border Force (Maritime Border Command), organized a four-day Capacity Building Executive Programme (CBEP) in Sydney, Australia. CBEP is a capacity building training on combatting piracy and armed robbery against ships, in which senior officers of the maritime law enforcement agencies of the ReCAAP Contracting Parties, including Japan, as well as Indonesia and Malaysia participated.
- The CBEP provided participants with the tools and knowledge in a wide range of topics, including:
- Updates and situational analysis on the piracy and sea robbery incidents in different parts of Asia
- Efforts to address unauthorized boarding and petty theft onboard ships in territorial waters, anchorages and ports
- Case studies on the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators
- Legal issues related to piracy and armed robbery against ships
- Representing Japan, Mr. Kuramoto Akira, Director of Piracy Countermeasures Office, Japan Coast Guard, attended the meeting, where he shared JCG’s experience of cooperation with the coast guard agencies of littoral states and explained Japan’s efforts to combat piracy and armed robbery against ships.
- Japan played a leading role in establishing ReCAAP to address piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. As a main donor, Japan has since been constantly contributing to the projects to enhance the capacity of littoral states organized by the ReCAAP ISC. Owing to the efforts by the ISC and the littoral states, the recent number of incidents in Asia is lower compared to the previous years. However, the increase of less serious incidents in the Singapore Strait, which is Japan’s important sea lane, has been of concern. Against this backdrop, Japan expressed its gratitude to the ISC’s contribution to the safety of Asian seas and intension to continue to play a leading role in fighting against piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia, through utilizing the ReCAAP framework and cooperating with all related countries.