A total of four incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in May 2021, including three actual and one attempted incident, according to ReCAAP ISC monthly piracy report. There was no piracy incident, while the number of incidents reported during January-May 2021 has decreased compared to January-May 2020.
Of concern is the continued occurrence of incidents in the Singapore Strait and the persisting threat of abduction of crew by the ASG in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah. In May 2021, three incidents were reported in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait.
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While there was no report of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah, the threat of abduction of crew remains high, with information such as the operation on 3 Nov 20 by the Philippine authorities in preventing a kidnap-for-ransom plan by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the escape of one of the ASG Commanders responsible for the abduction of crew in Sulu area during a military operation on 23 Apr 21.
The ReCAAP ISC urges the law enforcement agencies in Asia to continue to enhance surveillance, increase patrols and respond promptly to report of incidents. Ships transiting the areas of concern are advised to enhance vigilance, maintain all round lookout and report all incidents to the nearest coastal State and flag State. Ships are also advised to implement preventive measures recommended in the “Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia”.
Key points – May 2021
In May 2021, four incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia.- Of the four incidents, three were actual incidents and one was an attempted incident.
- Of the four incidents reported in May 2021, three occurred onboard ships while underway in the Singapore Strait and one onboard a ship while underway off Diu, India.
- Of the three actual incidents reported in May 2021, one was a CAT 3 incident and two were CAT 4 incidents (where the perpetrators were not armed and crew not harmed).
January-May 2021
-During January-May 2021, 28 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia.
-Of these incidents, 26 were actual incidents and two were attempted incidents.
-No piracy incident was reported.
-Compared to January-May 2020, the total number of incidents during January-May 2021 decreased by 45%. A total of 51 incidents (50 actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported during January-May 2020.
-The decrease of incidents during January-May 2021 occurred in the following locations:
- In Bangladesh, no incident was reported during January-May 2021 compared to three incidents during January-May 2020.
- In India, two incidents were reported during January-May 2021 compared to seven incidents during January-May 2020.
- In Indonesia, five incidents were reported during January-May 2021 compared to 15 incidents during January-May 2020.
- In the Philippines, three incidents were reported during January-May 2021 compared to five incidents during January-May 2020.
- In the South China Sea, no incident was reported during January-May 2021 compared to two incidents during January-May 2020.
- In the Sulu-Celebes Seas, no incident was reported during January-May 2021 compared to one incident during January-May 2020.
-The number of incidents in the Singapore Strait and Vietnam during January-May 2021 is the same as that reported during January-May 2020. A total of 15 incidents were reported in the Singapore Strait; and two incidents reported in Vietnam during each of the two periods.
-Of the 26 actual incidents reported in Asia during January-May 2021, one was a CAT 2 incident, eight were CAT 3 incidents and 17 were CAT 4 incidents.
Singapore Strait
- In May 2021, three incidents (comprising two actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait.
- The two actual incidents occurred while the ships were underway off Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island, Indonesia; and the attempted incident occurred while the ship was underway off Pulau Nongsa, Batam Island, Indonesia.
- In the two actual incidents, the perpetrators were sighted either in the engine room or in its vicinity.
- Of the three incidents reported in May 2021, the two actual incidents occurred within an interval of 2.5 hours on 23 and 24 May.
Recommendations
Due to the continued occurrence of incidents in the Singapore Strait, the ReCAAP ISC strongly urges the littoral States to increase patrols and law enforcement in their respective waters, and to promote cooperation and coordination among the littoral States for patrols and information sharing on incidents and criminal groups involved in order to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
While transiting the Singapore Strait, ship masters and crew are strongly advised to enhance vigilance and proactively adopt the following measures:
- Maximize alertness of lookouts for suspicious small boats and increase watchkeeping on board ships; particularly daylight time for barges and during night time for bigger ships;
- Maintain communication with their shipping company by providing periodic updates and establish daily communication checks;
- Report all incidents, suspicious activities and presence of suspicious small boats in the vicinity to the nearest coastal State and flag State;
- Sound alarm when suspicious boats are sighted loitering in the vicinity of the ship or barge or suspicious individuals on board the ship or barge; and
- Keep abreast of the latest situation and tune-in to advisories and navigational broadcasts announced by the authorities.
FINF THE FULL RECAAP ISC REPORT HERE
