Today, shipping is playing an increasingly vital role as primary transportation mode for world trade, and sea lanes serve as "main arteries" in the global distribution system. On the other hand, in accordance with a sharp increase of demand for food and energy, many countries are launching into exploitation of marine resources. However, the waters where heavily trafficked sea lanes run are fraught with danger from piracy and terror, whilst interstate conflicts have emerged in recent years on such issues involving sovereign rights over marine resources as delimitation of jurisdictional waters and territorial rights over mid-ocean islands. Thus, maritime security has now become more important than ever to realize sustainable use of the ocean.
Against this backdrop, we opine that extensive collection and adequate analysis and evaluation of maritime security information is indispensable to help develop policies on national security and defense. OPRF is issuing "OPRF MARINT Monthly Report" for the perusal of our readers interested in maritime security issues.

2008

December 2008

• Major Events in December 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • Somali Piracy
     - Reactions of the United Nations, Countries and International Institutions -
     Enclosure: Information by OPRF on the Status of Hijacking Incidents off Gulf of Aden and Somalia in 2008 (As of December 31, 2008)

November 2008

• Major Events in November 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • Somali Piracy and its Status
     Enclosure: Information by OPRF on the Status of Hijacking Incidents off Gulf of Aden and Somalia in 2008 (As of December 15)

October 2008

• Major Events in October 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  Special report : Ukrainian ro-ro ship and follow-on information
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships: Report until third quarter in 2008 (1 January - 30 September 2008)
     Enclosure : Information by OPRF on the Status of Hijacking Incidents off Gulf of Aden and Somalia in 2008 (As of November 16)

September 2008

• Major Events in September 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  Hot topic：UN CLCS recommends New Zealand to extend the outer limits of continental shelf
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • Somali Piracy Incidents and Responses from Countries and Agencies Concerned

August 2008

• Major Events in August 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • 2.1 Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships during the first half of 2008: Analysis from the ReCAAP Reports
     2.2 The Significance of Deploying the Nuclear-Powered Carrier, USS George Washington, at Yokosuka

July 2008

• Retrospect: the First Half of 2008

1. Security
2. Military
3. Diplomacy and International Relations
4. Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous

• Major Events in July 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  Diplomacy and International Relations
  Hot topic：Overview of the 9th Meeting of the UN open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS-9)
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships during the first half of 2008:
     — Characteristics viewed in the IMB Report —

June 2008

• Major Events in June 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • 2.1 UN Security Council adopts resolution: Foreign vessels authorized to take all necessary measures to tackle Somali piracy
     2.2 Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou’s National Security Policy and Prospect of Taiwan Strait

May 2008

• Major Events in May 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  Hot topic：Judgment on sovereignty over rocks in dispute between Malaysia and Singapore: ICJ
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • The U.S. New Maritime Strategy: A Revolutionary Innovation or a Lost Opportunity?

April 2008

• Major Events in April 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  Hot topic：UN CLCS recommends Australia to extend the outer limits of continental shelf
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • Piracy and armed robberies in the first quarter of 2008
     — From the IMB Report and the ReCAAP Report —

March 2008

• Major Events in March 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • 2.1 U.S. Defense Department Report on China's Military Power 2008
     2.2 Controversy over the Philippines' territorial demarcation

February 2008

• Major Events in February 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • Patterns and Trends of Piracy and Armed Robbery in Asia
     —From ReCAAP Annual Research Report 2007—

January 2008

• Retrospect:the Second Half of 2007

1. Security
2. Military
3. Diplomacy and International Relations
4. Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous

• Major Events in January 2008

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Security
  1.2 Military
  1.3 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.4 Shipping, Resources, Environment and Miscellaneous
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the year 2007
     (1 January - 31 December):—From IMB Annual Report—