Press Office -
PR#69–2012, August 15, 2012 |
Over 18,000 Filipino Seafares Protected by Japan from Piracy
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Following the entry into force of “The Laws on Punishment of and Measures against Act of Piracy” on July 24, 2009, the Japan Self-Defense Force has started vessel escorting operation in the Gulf of Aden not only for Japanese vessels but also for all foreign vessels . Since then, 2,632 vessels with various national flags have benefited from the escort operations.
After 3 years from the commencement of the operation, the Government of Japan released a summary of escorted vessels and the operation of the Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft and two escort vessels. As it is shown in the attached material, Filipino seafarers are by far the biggest beneficiaries (total 18,573 people) of this escort operations in terms of the nationality of the crew.
The legislation enables the Japan Self-Defense Force to protect vessels from acts of piracy regardless of their nationality, complementing other efforts made globaly to ensure a safe passage for ships in response to the rampant acts of piracy and hijacking occurring off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. Japan's Maritime Bureau under MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) is receiv ing applications from various maritime-related organizations/officers such as ship operators, ship owners/managers, etc. from around the world for escort assistance and safe passage of ships.
Result of Japanese Escort Activities
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