A live map of piracy - overlay on Google Earth available

[FullCircle]

From ECDIS no 8, from UKHO (a good read BTW).

There is a new service available here: http://www.icc-ccs.org/main/news.php?newsid=71

A NEW SERVICE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME BUREAU HELPS
USERS UNDERSTAND THE RISK OF PIRATE ATTACK, WRITES NEVILLE SMITH
IMO LAUNCHES FREE
ONLINE MAP
MASTERS whose voyages regularly take them
near to or into piracy hotspots can be better
informed of the risks ahead thanks to a free
online map launched by the International
Maritime Bureau.
Created as an overlay to Google Earth
software, the map provides a visual
representation of the nature and location of
attacks, giving owners, managers and masters
the ability to track previous incidents.
The map is available either in satellite or plain
views (with countries and borders indicated),
or a combination of both. Viewers see not just
a relief map of the coastline but also the bays
and coves from which pirates may initiate
their attack.
Red balloons mark actual attacks while yellow
balloons show attempted attacks. Clicking
either will display a pop-up with a summary of
the attack including the date and time, type of
vessel attacked, type of attack and the number
of crew affected.
As with IMB’s quarterly and annual piracy
reports, the information is sourced direct from
masters and shipowners. Once verified by
IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre new attacks will
be added within 24 hours.
IMB director Pottengal Mukundan says the
map’s creation lies in the reality that it is hard
to get an immediate picture of the piracy risk
of an area by reading lengthy reports full of
data and numbers. "We hope the map,
coupled with the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre
alerts, will help seafarers spot the warning
signs and better prepare for possible attacks."
While the map is primarily aimed at helping
shipowners, managers and their crews, Capt
Mukundan noted that law enforcement
Pictured right:
IMB Live piracy map
17
officials will find it useful in deciding where
best to concentrate their searches for pirates,
and researchers should benefit from actually
seeing the geographical circumstances of
piracy attacks to predict trends.
The map can be accessed via the IMB website
www.icc-ccs.org and users on board ship will
obtain best results using a fast (64k) data
connection as the amount of information in
the map makes them a little slow to download.
Feedback and suggestions for future
development are welcome and should be
directed to the IMB directorate via the website.
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.icc-ccs.org

 

[Danny Jo]

Thanks - very useful link, a must for "favorites".

 

[MYStargazer]

Thanks. Very useful and much appreciated.

 

[Guest]

This is a non-government backed organization of major global companies.

It is irrelevant to yachts as they are considering only ships with respect to cargo and trade.

The people that go after ships are so different to the yacht pirates. Would you use a map of all UK bank robberies to find out which cities have muggers.

 

[SkerryMerry]

[ QUOTE ]
It is irrelevant to yachts ....... Would you use a map of all UK bank robberies to find out which cities have muggers.

[/ QUOTE ]So you reckon it's pretty shite then?

I'm not an expert in these matters, although our vessel was attacked when we attempted to enter the Molendinar last year, Mind you, looking at the map, aren't these the same places where yachts are attacked.

What are the other areas where you would expect yachts to be attacked?

 

[Guest]

A few other spots that we have known trouble other than the places on the map

Mexico: Drug smugglers wanting yachts
Haiti
Amazon:
St. Vincent:
Isla Margarita:
Panama to Galapagos:
Honduras:
Costa Rica:

Not counting the ports where yachties have been mugged off the boats.

 

[shamrock]

Although it does include some yacht attacks ( I see one off the coast of Venezuala). Data a bit sparse and I'd still rather use noonsite for this, but a useful idea