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Anticorruption and Bribery
What is the definition of Anticorruption?...
Opposing, discouraging or punishing corruption.
In the maritime sector over the last decade, many anti-corruption agencies and establishments have emerged to counter the growing threat of international corruption and bribery.
Traditionally many authorities would deal with matters relating to bribery and corruption domestically. However, as the maritime industry has expanded, many public and private organisations have sprung up to deal with the issues collectively.
What is the definition of bribery?...
The offering, promising, giving, accepting or soliciting of an advantage as an inducement for an action that is illegal, unethical or a breach of trust.
Examples of bribery in maritime could be seeking to influence a decision-maker by giving an extra benefit to that decision-maker rather than what can legitimately be offered as part of a tender process. These instances occur when officers give cigarettes and money to a ship's pilot to enable safe transit on a voyage.
An overview of fraud-prone areas.
Many emerging countries have import and export requirements that lack transparency, and it is this lack of transparency that makes the movement of goods in and out time-consuming and costly. When factoring these requirements in especially high-risk locations, local officials may be severely underpaid, and where the corruption is routine, the temptation to bribe local officials to facilitate the import/export of products is very high.
Shipping is a global business with several stakeholders and jurisdictions involved in a single shipment of products. Along this product's transport route, there are many pitfalls that criminal activity will try to take advantage of. As organisations are likely based in multiple locations, they will often deal through third-party brokers.
