A total of 161 incidents reported in Asia during Jan- Sep 2015
ReCAAP ISC has issued report to provide an update on the status of maritime piracy during the first half of 2015 (January – September)
According to the report, a total of 161 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships had been reported in Asia during January-September 2015. Of these, 11 were piracy incidents and 150 were armed robberies against ships. On a quarter-to-quarter comparison, there had been a 25% increase in the total number of incidents in 2015 compared to 2014
Number of incidents (January-September of 2011-2015)
Of the 161 incidents, 11 were CAT 1 incidents, 21 were CAT 2 incidents, 26 were CAT 3 incidents, 92 were CAT 4 incidents, and 11 were attempted incidents. Compared to the same period in 2014, the bulk of the increase were CAT 1 incidents and CAT 4 incidents; while CAT 2 and CAT 3 incidents had fluctuated within the range of between 20-30 incidents over the last four years. Accounting for the bulk of the CAT 4 incidents were incidents on board ships while underway in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) which had reported a surge in numbers during January-September 2015 compared to the same period in past four years. Continued to be of concern was the CAT 1 incidents involving the hijacking of product/oil tankers (majority <5000 GT) for theft of its cargo oil occurred between one to two incidents per month on an average.
Significance Level of Incidents (January-September of 2011-2015)
Straits of Malacca and Signapore (SOMS)
A total of 96 incidents were reported in SOMS during January-September 2015 comprising 88 actual incidents and eight attempted incidents. Compared to the same period in 2014, the number of incidents had increased 2.7 times, from 26 to 96 incidents. This is also the highest among the 5-year period since 2011. Of the 96 incidents, three were CAT 1 incidents, 11 were CAT 2 incidents, 20 were CAT 3 incidents, 54 were CAT 4 and eight were attempted incidents.
The three CAT 1 incidents were reported in the Malacca Strait involving theft of cargo oil from Ocean Energy, Lapin and Joaquim. Of these, 86 (90%) of the incidents occurred on board ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of SOMS, five in the westbound lane and six in the Malacca Strait. Refer to map below on incidents reported in SOMS during January-September 2015
Location of incidents in SOMS (January- September 2015)
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Conclusions
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Click here to view ReCAAP’s Infographic whichdepicts the status of maritime piracy during the first half of 2015.
Please click below to read ReCAAP report
Source: ReCAAP ISC
