The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network has released the results and lessons learned from 10 years of collecting data of corrupt demands in maritime trade.  This data has been collected in over a decade through MACN’s Anonymous Incident Reporting platform, a system designed to allow the maritime industry to report when it has been faced with corrupt demands in ports globally. To date, the reporting system has close to 50,000 incidents reported in over 1,000 ports, across 149 countries.

This report – the first of its kind covering maritime corruption – provides a unique insight into the scale, type, and volume of corruption in the maritime supply chain. MACN is pleased to share insights and experiences of why data collection is important to drive change and reduce corruption.

Data shows the extent of a global problem

Across the world’s ports, corrupt demands are most commonly made for cigarettes, alcohol, and cash. While multiple actors are reportedly involved in making corrupt demands, the consequence of rejecting such demands is similar across the world’s ports – delay of the vessel, which has knock-on detrimental effects. “The cost of corrupt demands, and the repercussions for refusing them, have massive consequences for the industry and trade said MACN CEO, Cecilia Müller Torbrand.

“At a time when supply chains and economies are under increasing pressure, corruption is having a real impact on trade and livelihoods – onshore and at sea.”

During the Covid – 19 pandemic MACN has noticed that the incidents have dropped in numbers, most likely due to reduced interaction with port authorities and increased adoption of electronic systems for vessel clearance.

“Despite increased awareness of MACN’s reporting system globally we see a slight reduction in reporting. We can carefully draw the conclusion that some of the mitigating actions taken to reduce health risks are also having a positive effect by limiting the person-to-person interaction usually associated with corrupt demands. We hope this trend will continue in the post-Covid era,” says Müller Torbrand.

The report demonstrates the importance of data collection

The report highlights regional and temporal trends and features further analysis of top ports. The report also helps to emphasize the importance of MACN’s incident reporting system, demonstrating the value of the data to stakeholders in the maritime industry, governments, and civil society partners. MACN’s incident reporting not only highlight’s the issue but also to provides a benchmark by which to measure the effectiveness of port governance and of anti-corruption initiatives taken by MACN and other stakeholders.

The data has progressed and developed MACN’s in-country work, serving as a door opener with governments globally. The data is not intended to serve as evidence or to replace law enforcement but, in several countries, it has triggered actions such as further investigations, gap assessments, integrity training for port officials and improved port governance.

Müller Torbrand said “MACN was founded in 2011 because the shipping industry saw the need for private sector action. Corruption hurts our seafarers and staff and damages our business. Regulations and law set an important foundation but, as this data shows us, this is not enough to drive on-the-ground change.”