ReCAAP Information Sharing Center has issued its Monthly Report for April 2016 on Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia.A total of 10 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in April 2016, of these nine were actual incidents of armed robbery and one was an attempted incident. No incident involving hijacking of tankers for theft of oil cargo was reported in April 2016, a situation which has continued since September 2015. However there were two incidents involving the abduction of crew from tug boats in waters off east Sabah and southern Philippines in April 2016 and these were Category 1 (very significant) incidents. The ReCAAP ISC is concerned with the situation there, and has published a Special Report on 22 Apr 16 to share information on the recent situation and proposed measures to be taken by the shipping industry when operating in the vicinity.
Of the 10 incidents reported in April 2016, two were Category 1 incidents involving the abduction of crew off east Sabah and southern Philippines,seven were Category 4 incidents of petty theft in nature involving perpetrators who were not armed and escaped immediately when sighted by the crew; and one was an attempted incident reported in the South China Sea. Compared to April 2015, there has been a decrease in Category 4 incidents. Refer to Chart 3. However, there were two Category1 incidents involving the abduction of crew from Massive 6 on 1 Apr 16 and Henry on 15 Apr 16.
The ReCAAP ISC concludes that the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia hascontinued to improve with no report of incident involving hijacking of
tankers for theft of oil cargo since September 2015. However, there were two incidents involving the abduction of crew for ransom in the waters off east Sabah and southern Philippines in April 2016. There is no room for complacency as more need to be done to enhance port security at certain ports and anchorages, and the situation in the waters off east Sabah and southern Philippines. Cooperation and collaboration among littoral States need to be reinforced; and the shipping industry is strongly encouraged to adopt precautionary measures when operating in locations of concern.
Please clcik below to read the report for further details
Source: ReCAAP ISC
