According to ReCAAP ISC, a total of 100 incidents of ARAS were reported in Asia in 2023. There was no piracy incident reported in Asia for 2023.
Of these, 99 were actual incidents and one attempted incident4. This marks a 19% increase in the number of incidents reported in 2023 compared to 84 incidents (80 actual and four attempted incidents) reported in 2022.
According to the report, in 2023, for Quarter 4 (Q4) compared to Q3, there has been a decrease of incidents [16 incidents versus 23 incidents]. The number of incidents reported in Q4 2023 is the lowest among the four quarters of the year in review. In addition, based on a quarter-to-quarter comparison among the five year reporting period of 2019-2023, the 16 incidents reported in Q4 2023 also represents the lowest number of incidents.
Incidents in 2023 Versus 2022
The total number of incidents reported in 2023 has increased compared to 2022, in the following locations:
- In Indonesia, 16 incidents were reported compared to 10 incidents.
- In the Philippines, 10 incidents were reported compared to four incidents.
- In the SOMS, 63 incidents were reported compared to 55 incidents.
- In Thailand, one incident was reported compared to no incident.
- In Vietnam, three incidents were reported compared to two incidents.
Location of incidents
Areas of concern
There were two areas of concern for ARAS incidents in Asia for 2023:
- SOMS – Increase of incidents
A total of 63 incidents were reported in SOMS in 2023 compared with 55 incidents in 2022. Of the 63 incidents, five incidents occurred in the Malacca Strait (MS) and 58 incidents in the Singapore Strait (SS). In 2022, all 55 incidents occurred in the SS, and no incident was reported in the MS.
- Sulu-Celebes Seas – Threat of abduction of crew for ransom
No incident of abduction of crew for ransom by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was reported in the Sulu-Celebes Seas in 2023. The last incident reported to ReCAAP ISC occurred on 17 Jan 2020. However, due to the presence of the remnants of the ASG in the Sulu and Tawi Tawi area, the threat of abduction of crew for ransom remains.
The ReCAAP ISC classifies each actual incident into one of the four categories to provide a qualitative perspective of the incidents, and defines each category by the significance (or commonly known as severity) level:
– CAT 1 very significant
– CAT 2 moderately significant
– CAT 3 less significant
– CAT 4 least significant
lane of the TSS, 11 incidents in the precautionary area, six incidents in the westbound lane and one incident outside the TSS.
In particular, the ReCAAP ISC is concerned with the clusters of incidents off Pulau Cula (Indonesia) [indicated in black outline – 27 incidents], and the involvement of armed perpetrators reported in 18 incidents in this cluster.
EXPLORE MORE AT RECAAP ISC’S ANNUAL REPORT
