02-16-2008, 06:29 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Decline in piracy on high seas
<b>NEW DELHI, Feb. 13: Incidents of piracy on the high seas have declined considerably since India ratified a regional agreement one-and-a-half years ago, said the Brigadier General (NS), Mr Tay Lim Heng, the chairman of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia (ReCAAP).</b>
During his meeting with Vice Admiral RF Contractor, Director General, Indian Coast Guard (DGICG) and Vice Chairman of ReCAAP, Mr Heng discussed steps to enhance cooperation and force building.
<b>India had acceded to the ReCAAP on 6 June 2006. It is aimed at enhancing cooperation among its 16 member countries, including the ASEAN, China, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. ReCAAP had enabled the maritime forces to seize ships or aircraft involved in piracy and armed robbery besides information sharing, capacity building and cooperation for extradition and mutual legal assistance.</b>
During his stay in New Delhi, Brig. General Tay Heng, who is heading a four member ReCAAP delegation, also held discussions with the Special Secretary of Defence Ministry, Mr P K Rastogi.
They will visit the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), which is also the Piracy Reporting Centre in India, and participate in a table top exercise on piracy control during their visit to Mumbai over the next two days. The Coast Guard is Indiaâs nodal agency for the ReCAAP.
<b>The role of the Indian Coast Guard shot into fame when it tackled the 1999 piracy incident of MV Alondra Rainbow and seized the hijacked cargo vessel carrying aluminium ingots worth $10 billion.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>NEW DELHI, Feb. 13: Incidents of piracy on the high seas have declined considerably since India ratified a regional agreement one-and-a-half years ago, said the Brigadier General (NS), Mr Tay Lim Heng, the chairman of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia (ReCAAP).</b>
During his meeting with Vice Admiral RF Contractor, Director General, Indian Coast Guard (DGICG) and Vice Chairman of ReCAAP, Mr Heng discussed steps to enhance cooperation and force building.
<b>India had acceded to the ReCAAP on 6 June 2006. It is aimed at enhancing cooperation among its 16 member countries, including the ASEAN, China, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. ReCAAP had enabled the maritime forces to seize ships or aircraft involved in piracy and armed robbery besides information sharing, capacity building and cooperation for extradition and mutual legal assistance.</b>
During his stay in New Delhi, Brig. General Tay Heng, who is heading a four member ReCAAP delegation, also held discussions with the Special Secretary of Defence Ministry, Mr P K Rastogi.
They will visit the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), which is also the Piracy Reporting Centre in India, and participate in a table top exercise on piracy control during their visit to Mumbai over the next two days. The Coast Guard is Indiaâs nodal agency for the ReCAAP.
<b>The role of the Indian Coast Guard shot into fame when it tackled the 1999 piracy incident of MV Alondra Rainbow and seized the hijacked cargo vessel carrying aluminium ingots worth $10 billion.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->