ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) has issued its annual report revealing a significant improvement in the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia in 2016 compared to the past four years (2012-2015). The total number of incidents reported in 2016 has decreased by 58% compared to 2015. 2016 has the lowest total number of reported incidents amongst the five-year reporting period of 2012-2016.
A total of 85 incidents were reported in 2016 compared to 203 incidents in 2015. Of the 85 incidents reported in 2016, five were incidents of piracy occurred in the South China Sea and 80 were incidents of armed robbery against ships, mostly occurred at ports and anchorages.
The decrease in overall numbers for 2016 was most apparent in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS). Two incidents were reported in the SOMS in 2016 compared to 104 incidents reported there in 2015. The improvement in SOMS was due to joint coordinated patrols and enhanced surveillance carried out by the littoral States and stringent enforcement on land. This had resulted in several arrests of the perpetrators responsible for the incidents occurred in 2015.
There were also improvement in incidents involving hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo. Three incidents were reported in 2016 compared to 12 incidents in 2015. Other improvements were reported at ports and anchorages in Vietnam and Bangladesh.
However, of serious concern was incidents involving the abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters off eastern Sabah which accounted for 10 of the 13 Category 1 incidents. Most of these incidents were claimed by a terrorist group based in the Philippines. The other three Category 1 incidents involved the hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo. The authorities had successfully arrested the perpetrators involved in one of the incidents, and recovered the stolen cargo. Except for the Category 1 incidents, there was decrease in the number of incidents across all categories of incidents in 2016 compared to the past four years (2012-2015).
Conclusions
The overall situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia in 2016 has improved significantly compared to 2015. The total number of incidents reported in 2016 was the lowest among the past five years (2012-2016).
The improvement was mainly attributed to the remarkable improvement of the situation in SOMS, the reduction of incidents involving the hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo, and the decrease of incidents reported at certain ports and anchorages in Bangladesh and Vietnam. This is the result of strong commitment, cooperation and coordination among the littoral States and the shipping industry in timely reporting of incidents, information sharing among littoral States, the ReCAAP ISC, ReCAAP Focal Points and regional authorities, and prompt operational responses by the enforcement agencies which led to several arrests of the perpetrators involved. However, there is no room for complacency. Of serious concern was the increase in incidents of abduction of crew in Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters off eastern Sabah since March 2016.
The ReCAAP ISC urges the respective littoral States to step up surveillance, enhance patrols and initiate timely operational responses to reports by victim ships. The ReCAAP ISC also urges shipping industry to exercise enhanced vigilance, keep abreast of latest situation update by connecting to ReCAAP ISC website and reports, and adopt relevant preventive measures as recommended in the ‘Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia’.
Source & Image Credits: ReCAAP ISC
