The ReCAAP Information Sharing Center has issued second part of the Special Report on abducting of crew from ships in waters off eastern Sabah and southern Philippines which occurred since March 2016. The purpose of this Special Report is to provide an update of the situation focusing on the modus operandi of the perpetrators, status of the abducted crew and actions carried out by the littoral States and the ReCAAP ISC.
A Special Report on ‘Abducting of Crew from TugBoats in Waters off Eastern Sabah and Southern Philippines’ was the first part of the Special Report, published by the ReCAAP ISC on 22 April 2016. Between March till July 2016, the ReCAAP Focal Point (Philippines) reported to the ReCAAP ISC a total of six incidents occurred on board five tug boats towing barges and one fishing trawler. Of these, one occurred in March 2016 (Brahma 12), two in April 2016 (Massive 6 and Henry), one in June 2016 (Charles 00) and two in July 2016 (unnamed fishing trawler and Serudong 3). The abducted crew of Brahma 12, Massive 6 and Henry had been released after ransom was believed to have been paid to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). See map below on the location of the six incidents, and refer to Annex A for description of the incidents.
Actions Taken
The ReCAAP ISC is working closely with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) which is also the ReCAAP Focal Point for Philippines in monitoring the situation closely, and sharing the latest situation, best practices and lessons learned with the shipping industry and regional authorities; amongst others at the 3rd Meeting of the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA)’s Maritime Safety and Security Sub-Committee held in Singapore on 12 May 2016, the 25th Annual General Meeting of the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA) in Shanghai, China on 19 May 2016, the 116th Session of the IMO Council Meeting in London on 5 July 2016 and the ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Sea Robbery Conference in Bangkok, Thailand on 14 July 2016.
Following the spate of incidents involving the abducting of crew from ships in waters of eastern Sabah and southern Philippines, the shipping industry is advised to adopt the following measures when in the vicinity:
- Enhance vigilance and increase security watch rotations.
- Sound alarm when sighted unknown people on board ship or suspicious boats in the vicinity
- Maintain a continuous watch to the advisories issued on NAVTEX
- Report all incidents in accordance with the IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1334 on ‘Revised guidance to ship owner, ship operator, ship master and crew on preventing and suppressing acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships’
- Maintain continuous communication with shipping company and enforcement agencies
- Avoid confrontation with the perpetrators
- Refer to ReCAAP ISC’s website for updates on incidents and trends
- Conduct risk assessment
- Reroute/Avoid area if feasible
The shipping industry is advised to report to Philippine Coast Guard’s Operations Centre when their ships are transiting the area; for monitoring by the Philippine Coast Guard and immediate response in any eventualities:
Conclusion
With concerns over the escalation of the situation involving the abduction of crew from ships in waters off eastern Sabah and southern Philippines, the ReCAAP ISC reiterates the need to strengthen regional coordination and cooperation among the littoral States in conducting joint/coordinated patrols and surveillance; and apprehension of the mastermind.
The shipping industry is strongly advised to adopt relevant preventive measures, taking reference from the Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia, to contact the PCG Operation Centre when transiting the area and report all incidents to the relevant authorities. As tug boats are most vulnerable especially when engaged in towing operation, re-routing away from the area would lessen the probability of being attacked. The ReCAAP ISC reiterates collective and shared responsibilities among all stakeholders to institutionalise their respective efforts.
Further details may be found by reading the Special Report below
Source: ReCAAP
