The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) has released its 3rd Quarterly Report of 2024 for the period of January to September.
A total of 68 incidents, comprising one incident of piracy and 67 incidents of Armed Robbery Against Ships (ARAS), were reported in Asia during January-September 2024. Of the 68 incidents, 61 were actual incidents and seven were attempted incidents. This represents a 19% decrease in the number of incidents during January-September 2024 compared to 84 incidents (83 actual and one attempted) reported during January-September 2023. Refer to the Appendix on ‘Description of incidents (January-September 2024)’ for details of the incidents.
The number of incidents reported during Q3 of 2024 (July-September) decreased by 26% compared with the preceding quarter, Q2 of 2024 (April-June) [17 incidents vs. 23 incidents]. The 17 incidents reported during Q3 of 2024, together with Q1 and Q3 of 2021, as well as Q4 of 2023, are the lowest among all quarters throughout the five-year reporting period (2020-2024).
Key findings
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There was a 19% decrease in Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships (ARAS) in Asia during January-September 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with 68 incidents reported in 2024 versus 84 incidents in 2023. The improvement occurred in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), the Philippines, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, with incidents in SOMS decreasing by 38% during this period.
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However, there was an increase in the number of incidents in Bangladesh and Indonesia during January-September 2024 compared to 2023.
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No incidents of abduction of crew for ransom were reported in the Sulu-Celebes Seas during January-September 2024, with the last such incident occurring in January 2020. However, the threat remains due to the presence of remnants of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the Sulu and Tawi Tawi area. Ships are advised to exercise vigilance, adopt preventive measures, maintain communication with authorities, and report all incidents to the Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM).
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To help the shipping industry stay updated on piracy and ARAS in Asia and encourage timely incident reporting, ReCAAP ISC has introduced initiatives such as an enhanced mobile app for easier reporting, an interactive dashboard for tracking incidents, posters with reporting guidelines for ship masters and crews, a Regional Guide 2 on preventive measures, and an updated guide on identifying suspicious fishing boats to assist in investigations.
Incidents of January-September 2024 versus January-September 2023
The total number of incidents reported during January-September 2024 decreased compared to January-September 2023. The decrease occurred in India, the Philippines, the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), Thailand, and Vietnam.
However, other locations reported an increase during January-September 2024, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the South China Sea (SCS).
Areas of concern
Despite the overall decrease in incidents during January-September 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, there are two areas of concern for ARAS incidents in Asia:
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SOMS – Continued occurrence of incidents:
Incidents continued in the SOMS since January 2024. As of September 2024, a total of 35 incidents were reported in SOMS, accounting for 51% of the total number of incidents in Asia (35 of 68). More details of the situation in SOMS can be found in Part D of this report. -
Sulu-Celebes Seas – Threat of abduction of crew for ransom remains:
Although the last abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas occurred in January 2020, the threat remains due to the presence of remnants of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the Sulu and Tawi Tawi area.
Significance level of incidents:
The ReCAAP ISC classifies each actual incident into four categories, providing a qualitative perspective based on severity:
- CAT 1: ‘Very significant’ – Armed with guns/knives; crew faces injury, violence, abduction, or death. The ship may be hijacked or cargo siphoned.
- CAT 2: ‘Moderately significant’ – Armed with knives/machetes; crew faces threats or injury, possibly held hostage.
- CAT 3: ‘Less significant’ – Armed with knives/machetes or sticks; crew faces duress, but no harm. Minor theft may occur.
- CAT 4: ‘Least significant’ – Perpetrators unarmed; no injury to crew. Small or no theft.
According to ReCAAP ISC, the categorization of 61 actual incidents during January-September 2024 was: 10 CAT 2, 22 CAT 3, and 29 CAT 4 incidents, with no CAT 1 incidents reported.
Comparing Q3 of 2024 with Q2, the severity of incidents slightly increased. CAT 2 incidents in Q3 accounted for 12% of total incidents, while in Q2 they accounted for 10%. The severity during January-September 2024 also increased compared to the same period in 2023, with CAT 2 and CAT 3 incidents making up 52% of actual incidents, compared to 36% in 2023.
Status of ships
Of the 68 incidents reported during January-September 2024, 31 incidents (46%) occurred while ships were at anchor/berth, and 37 incidents (54%) occurred while ships were underway.
