ReCAAP ISC has issued its monthly report on piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia for May 2016.A total of eight incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in May 2016, and this accounts for a 65% decrease compared to the same period in 2015.
A total of eight incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in May 2016. Compared to the same period in 2015 there has been a 65% decrease in the total number of incidents. Of the eight incidents reported in May 2016, seven were armed robbery against ships and one was a piracy incident occurred in the South China Sea. Chart 1 below shows the number of incidents reported between May 2015 and May 2016
Of the eight incidents reported in May 2016, four incidents occurred on board ships while anchored in Indonesia (Jakarta Tanker Anchorage, Balikpapan Inner Anchorage and Samarinda Anchorage), one in Vietnam (Vung Tau Anchorage), and one in India (Kandla Port). The other two incidents occurred on board ships while underway in the South China Sea approaches towards Pulau Subi Besar and Java Sea, Indonesia. Please refer to Map 1 for location of incidents and Appendix for the description of the incidents.
Conclusions
The number of incidents has decreased from 13 incidents reported in April 2016 to eight incidents in May 2016. The severity of incidents occurred in May 2016 has also reduced. However, there is no room for complacency as evidenced from the hijacking of Hai Soon 12 on 7 May 16, after a lapse of nine months from the last oil cargo theft which occurred in August 2015. The failed attempt on Hai Soon 12 demonstrates the importance of timely reporting by the ship master, effectiveness of the information sharing mechanism and quick responses by the enforcement agencies. Notably, six out of eight incidents reported in May 2016 occurred at ports and anchorages involving perpetrators who boarded ships to steal stores and escaped immediately once they are detected. On this note, the ReCAAP ISC urges ship master and crew to exercise extra vigilance while at berth/ anchorage; and relevant port authorities to enforce the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code.
Further detail may be found by reading the report below
Source:ReCAAP
