In January 2021, seven incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia, according to ReCAAP ISC’s monthly piracy report. The number of incidents in January 2021 has increased compared to December 2020 (with two incidents), but decreased compared to January 2020 when 12 incidents were reported.
The situation in the Singapore Strait remains a concern with continued occurrence of incidents in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in January 2021. The incidents occurred in close proximity to each other, and in particular, two incidents occurred within an interval of four hours. This is why the ReCAAP ISC has issued an Incident Alert on 29 Jan, to alert the shipping community of the situation in the region.
Key figures – January 2021
- In January 2021, seven incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia. All incidents were actual incidents. No attempted incident was reported.
- Of the seven incidents reported in January 2021, three incidents occurred onboard ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait, three incidents occurred onboard ships while anchored at anchorages in Indonesia (Belawan Anchorage and Muara Berau Anchorage) and Kandla Anchorage, India, and one incident occurred onboard a ship while berthed at Makar Wharf Berth No. 5 to 7, General Santos City, Philippines.
- Of the seven incidents, four were CAT 3 incidents and three were CAT 4 incidents, where the perpetrators were not armed and crew not harmed).
- In all three incidents in the Singapore Strait, the perpetrators were sighted in the engine room. However, nothing was reported stolen and the crew was safe with no confrontation with the perpetrators. The three incidents occurred in close proximity with each other, and in particular, two incidents occurred within an interval of four hours.
- The number of incidents in January 2021 has increased compared to the preceding month of December 2020 (with two incidents). However, when compared to January 2020, there was a decrease in the number of incidents. A total of 12 incidents were reported in January 2020 compared to seven incidents during the same period in 2021.
Recommendations
As the perpetrators of the incidents are not arrested, there is a possibility of further incidents in the Singapore Strait. Collective efforts and shared responsibility of all the stakeholders are required to curb the continued occurrence of incidents in the Singapore Strait.
-Littoral states
The ReCAAP ISC strongly urges the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in their respective waters and respond promptly to incidents reported by ships; as well as strengthen coordination and promote information sharing on incidents and criminal groups involved among the littoral States in order to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
-Shipping industry
While transiting the Singapore Strait, ship master and crew are strongly advised to heighten vigilance and proactively adopt the following measures:
- Maximise alertness of lookouts for suspicious small boats and increase watch keeping on board ships; particularly daylight time for barges and during night time for bigger ships;
- Maintain communication with 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 on board the ship or barge; and
- Keep abreast of the latest situation (at www.recaap.org) and tune-in to advisories and navigational broadcasts announced by the authorities.
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