Over the past week, 17-22 December, one incident of piracy and two incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia were reported to the ReCAAP ISC.
The incident of piracy (CAT 4) occurred onboard a barge towed by a tug boat in the South China Sea on 11 Dec 2024 at at 0940 hrs The perpetrators were not armed and no crew injuries were reported. Moreover, two incidents of armed robbery against ships (one CAT 3, with the perpetrators armed with knives & a gun-like object and one CAT 4) occurred onboard ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait (SS) on 17 Dec 2024 and 22 Dec 2024 respectively.
Area of concern
With these two incidents in SS, a total of 61 incidents (60 incidents in SS and one incident in the Malacca Strait) were reported in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) since January 2024. The ReCAAP ISC advises ships to exercise enhanced vigilance when transiting SOMS and the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in these areas.
Situation of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off eastern Sabah
Re-Assessment and Downgrading of Threat Level
The efforts by the Philippine Government in Zamboanga, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi through continuous military operations led to the dismantling of the support base and neutralizing the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the Sulu archipelago. In light of this, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in coordination with other stakeholders and counterparts involved in the maritime security of the Sulu-Celebes Seas, reviewed the threat situation and recommended further downgrading the threat level of “Abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas” from “MODERATE” to “MODERATE LOW.” This means incidents are unlikely due to perpetrators’ perceived lack of capability to carry out an attack, although minimal damage to the vessel and crew is still possible in case of an attack.
Update of ReCAAP ISC Advisory
Following the downgrading of the threat on the ‘Abduction of Crew for Ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas’ by the PCG, ReCAAP ISC has updated its advisory for ships to “exercise vigilance and adopt necessary preventive measures while transiting the area.”
Ship masters and crew are strongly encouraged to exercise extra vigilance when transiting the area and report all incidents immediately to the Operation Centres of the Philippines and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia.
Recommendations
Ship masters and crew are to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal State and flag State, referring to the Poster on the Contact Details for Reporting of Incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia. They should also exercise vigilance and adopt appropriate preventive measures, taking reference from the Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia, both produced by the ReCAAP ISC.
