ReCAAP ISC informs that a total of 25 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during January-March 2023. This accounts for a 9% increase in the total number of incidents during the same period in 2022.
#1 Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia
A total of 25 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during January-March 2023. No piracy incident was reported during this period. All were actual incidents. There was a 9% increase in number of incidents reported during January-March 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. A total of 23 incidents (comprising 22 actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported during January-March 2022.
Areas of Concern
- Increase of incidents in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS). A total of 19 incidents were reported in the SOMS during January-March 2023 compared with 18 incidents during the same period in 2022. Of the 19 incidents, one incident occurred in the Malacca Strait (MS) and 18 incidents in the Singapore Strait (SS). During January-March 2022, all 18 incidents occurred in the SS, and no incident was reported in the MS. More details of the situation in the SOMS can be found in Part Two of this report.
- Threat of abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas. No incident of abduction of crew by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was reported in the Sulu-Celebes Seas during January-March 2023. 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.
#2 Armed Robbery Against Ships in the Singapore Strait
During January-March 2023, a total of 19 incidents were reported in SOMS during January-March 2023. Of these, 18 incidents occurred in the SS and one incident in the MS.
- Of the 18 incidents in SS, 11 incidents occurred in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), four incidents in the precautionary area and three incidents in the westbound lane.
- Majority of the 18 incidents occurred to bigger ships, namely bulk carriers and tankers (13 incidents). The other five incidents occurred on board tug boats towing barges and mostly during daylight hours.
- Ten of the 18 incidents reported groups of 4-6 perpetrators while another four incidents involved groups of 1-3 perpetrators. There was one incident that involved 9 perpetrators, two incidents involved 10 perpetrators, and one incident had no information on the number of perpetrators involved.
- 56% of the incidents had no information if the perpetrators carried weapons (8 incidents) or the perpetrators were not armed (2 incidents). Of the remaining eight incidents, the perpetrators carried knives and other weapons such as adjustable wrench and spanners.
- Of the 18 incidents, the perpetrators did not harm the crew in majority of the incidents (16 incidents). There were two incidents where the perpetrators were violent to the crew. In one incident, the perpetrators tied the duty oiler who managed to escape. In the other incident, the perpetrators threw knives and spanners at the crew, which resulted in injuries to the motorman (hand) and 3rd engineer (head).
- The perpetrators were sighted in or in the vicinity of the engine room in eight incidents, and engine spares were stolen in three incidents.
- Of the 18 incidents, 15 incidents occurred during hours of darkness. The other three incidents that occurred during daylight hours were reported on board tug boats towing barges.
Recommendations
- Keep abreast of the latest situation (at www.recaap.org) particularly the incident-prone areas in the SS. The ReCAAP ISC’s reports indicate detailed locations of incidents with latitude and longitude.
- Tune-in to advisories and navigational broadcasts announced by the authorities. • Maximise vigilance, lookouts for suspicious small boats and increase watch keeping. Particularly for crew on board tug boats towing barges during daylight, and for crew on board bigger ships during night time.
- Keep the CCTV and other devices including communication equipment operational to alert the ship crew and record the movement of perpetrators.
- Rounds of the ship’s compartment be taken and locked prior entering the area of concern and record on the log book. Ensure that all doors and hatches having direct access to the bridge, accommodation, store rooms, steering gear compartment and engine room are closed/properly secured.
- Maintain communication with their shipping company by providing periodic updates and establish daily communication checks.
- Report all incidents, suspicious activities and presence of suspicious small boats in the vicinity to the nearest coastal State and flag State.
- Sound alarm when suspicious boats are sighted loitering in the vicinity of the ship or barge or suspicious individuals are sighted on board the ship or barge.
#3 Abduction of Crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and Waters off Eastern Sabah
There was no report of incident of abduction of crew for ransom during January-March 2023. The last known incident occurred on 17 Jan 20. No crew is currently being held in captivity by the ASG. The Philippines, Malaysian and Indonesian authorities continued to maintain surveillance and military operations to neutralise the ASG.
#4 Incidents in Asia using Data Analytics
The characteristics of the incidents reported in Asia during January-March 2023 are as follows:
- 68% of the incidents were CAT 4
- 64% involved perpetrators in groups of 4-6 men
- 68% of incidents involved perpetrators who did not carry weapons or no information on the weapons carried, and 32% armed with knives, machetes and other weapons
- 92% of incidents with no injury sustained by crew
- 40% of incidents reported nothing was stolen, 4% reported losses cannot be ascertained Type of items stolen: unsecured items (28%), engine spares (16%), ship stores (12%)
- 52% of incidents occurred on board bulk carriers, 20% on board tankers, 20% on board tug boats/ supply vessels and 8% on board container ships
- 88% occurred during hours of darkness
EXPLORE MORE AT RECAAP ISC’S PIRACY REPORT
