A total of seven incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in October 2019, ReCAAP ISC said in its monthly piracy report. ReCAAP ISC is concerned of the increase of incidents reported onboard ships while underway in the Singapore Strait. However, the total number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships reported during January-October 2019 has decreased by 13% compared to January-October 2018.
Meanwhile, ReCAAP ISC figures for the third quarter of 2019 revealed a total of 54 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia during January-September 2019, compared to 64 incidents during January-September 2018. This accounts for a 16% decrease.
Highlights
- A total of seven incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in October 2019. No piracy incident was reported.
- There were also no reports of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah; and no hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo reported in October 2019.
- However, the abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah remains a serious concern.
- The ReCAAP ISC is also concerned about the increase in the number of incidents reported onboard ships while underway in the Singapore Strait.
Key figures – October 2019
- Of the seven incidents reported in October 2019, five were actual incidents and two were attempted incidents.
- Of the seven incidents reported in October 2019, three incidents occurred onboard ships while underway in the Singapore Strait, and four incidents onboard ships anchored at ports and anchorages in India and Indonesia
- Of the five actual incidents, one was a CAT 2 incident and four were CAT 4 incidents. The CAT 2 incident occurred on board a bulk carrier while underway in the Singapore Strait.
Key figures – January-October 2019
- During January-October 2019, a total of 61 incidents (comprising 54 actual incidents and seven attempted incidents) were reported in Asia.
- Of the 61 incidents, 59 were incidents of armed robbery against ships and two were piracy incidents.
- The piracy incidents occurred in the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
- Compared to January-October 2018, there was a 13% decrease in the total number of incidents reported during January-October 2019.
- The number of actual incidents had also decreased by 4%.
- A total of 70 incidents (comprising 56 actual incidents and 14 attempted incidents) were reported during January-October 2018.
- Both the total number of incidents and the number of actual incidents reported during January-October 2019 are the lowest among the 13-year period of January-October of 2007-2019.
- A total of 18 incidents were reported in the Singapore Strait during January-October 2019 compared to seven incidents during the same period in 2018.
- Of the 54 actual incidents reported during January-October 2019, two were CAT 1 incidents, four were CAT 2 incidents, eight were CAT 3 incidents and 40 were CAT 4 incidents.
Ports and Anchorages
The improvement of the situation during January-October 2019 can be attributed to the decrease in the number of incidents in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Philippines.
- No incident was reported at Bangladesh’s ports and anchorages during January-October 2019 compared to 11 incidents reported at these ports and anchorages during the same period in 2018.
- The number of incidents at Indonesia’s ports and anchorages also decreased to 20 incidents during January-October 2019 compared to 27 incidents during the same period in 2018.
- There was also improvement at Philippines’ ports and anchorages with three incidents reported during January-October 2019 compared to seven incidents during the same period in 2018.
- On the other hand, there was an increase in the number of incidents in the Singapore Strait during January-October 2019 compared to January-October 2018.
The ReCAAP ISC urges law enforcement agencies to continue to enhance surveillance, increase patrols and respond promptly to reports of incidents. Ships transiting areas of concern are to exercise enhanced vigilance, maintain all round lookout for suspicious boats, report all incidents to the nearest coastal State and flag State immediately, and implement preventive measures recommended in the ‘Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia.
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