Australia joins the ReCAAP

2013-08-06

On 3 August 2013, Australia became the nineteenth Contracting Party to the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).

The ReCAAP ISC welcomes Austalia’s joining to the ReCAAP. Australia supports fully the ReCAAP aims of enhancing multilateral cooperation among its members. Australia’s accession to ReCAAP signifies the growing strength of the ReCAAP network and demonstrates the importance of international cooperation to effectively address the challenges in combating piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia.

Rear Admiral David Johnston, Commander Border Protection Command said “Australia proudly welcomes the accession as the 19th member to the ReCAAP.” “Australia is committed to combating the crime of piracy and is equally committed to comprehensive engagement in the Asia Pacific region through cooperation, capacity building and active participation in regional organisations such as the ReCAAP.”

“Participation in the ReCAAP will provide Australia with greater visibility and awareness to monitor emerging regional threats from piracy and armed robbery at sea,” Rear Admiral Johnston said. “The Australia Government looks forward to joining the ReCAAP discussion and drawing upon the vast experience and expertise of our regional partners on piracy. “Australia, together with the ReCAAP ISC, recognises the importance of strengthening regional capacity in order to advance the protection of trade, security and sea lanes and, ultimately, ensure the safety of seafarers on the high seas,” Rear Admiral Johnston said.

Commander Border Protection Command reinforced that international cooperation is the most effective way to tackle piracy, as demonstrated by the successes in the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia, and is confident that the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) will continue to demonstrate its effectiveness in improving security at sea in Asia.

The Commander of Border Protection Command has been appointed as the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) Governor for Australia. Border Protection Command’s Australian Maritime Security Operations Centre has been designated to be the focal point of Australia.

A ReCAAP ISC Team led by its Deputy Director, LTC (Retd) Nicholas Teo, visited the ReCAAP ISC Governor and the key officials of the Focal Point of Australia. In addition to operationalise the Information Network System (IFN), the team gained an insight on Australia civil maritime security arrangements in Australia.

Source from : ReCAAP

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