ReCAAP Information Sharing Center has issued its Monthly Report for October 2015 on Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia. The report reveals an improvement in the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ship in Asia in October 2015.
According to ReCAAP ISC report, a total of 13 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in October 2015 compared to 18 incidents in September 2015 and 25 incidents in August 2015. Of the 13 incidents reported in October 2015, 12 were actual incidents and one was an attempted incident. No piracy incident was reported. Graph 1 shows the monthly reported incidents from October 2014 to October 2015
From January 2015 till October 2015, a total of 174 incidents (comprising 162 actual and 12 attempted incidents) were reported. Notably, the total number of incidents reported during the first 10 months of 2015 is higher than the annual number of incidents reported in 2011, 2012 and 2013; but lower than that in 2014. However, if the average number of incidents of about 17 incidents reported per month for the period of January-October 2015 continues, the number of incidents for the entire 2015 is expected to be higher than that reported in 2014 (187). Graph 2 shows the number of incidents reported in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and January-October 2015.
The report concludes that comparing to August 2015 and September 2015, the number of incidents reported in October 2015 has decreased by 48% and 28% respectively. Notably, no incident involving hijacking of tankers for theft of cargo oil on board was reported in October 2015. Nevertheless, there is no room for complacency, and the ReCAAP ISC will continue to monitor the situation closely. Ship’s crew are advised to exercise vigilance, coordinate and report all piracy and sea robbery incidents to the nearest coastal State; and littoral States are to step up their patrols/presence and beef up surveillance. Worth commending was the response by the MMEA in foiling the robbery on board Almi Spirit, which demonstrated the littoral State’s enforcement efforts towards addressing the situation in SOMS.
The ReCAAP ISC together with its Focal Points are committed towards information sharing on incidents, best practices and lessons learned with the industry; and cooperating with the regional enforcement agencies in eradicating incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia.
Further details may be found be reading the report for October 2015 issued by ReCAAP ISC
Source: ReCAAP ISC
