A total of six incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in July 2019, according to ReCAAP ISC’s annual report. The total number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships reported during January-July 2019 has decreased by 32% compared to January-July 2018.
In its weekly report for 30 July – 5 August, ReCAAP ISC informed of a total of three armed robberies against ships, comprising two actual incidents in Asia and one attempted outside Asia. The two incidents reported in Asian waters were CAT 4 incidents, which is classified as ‘least significant’ in nature.
In its weekly report for 23-29 July, ReCAAP ISC informed of two CAT 4 incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia. Both incidents occurred to tug boats towing barges while underway in the westbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait, a key area of concern in recent months.
A total of 28 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 25 actual incidents and three attempted incidents) were reported in Asia during January-June 2019 compared to 41 incidents during January-June 2018, which accounts for a 32% decrease, according to ReCAAP ISC’s half yearly report for 2019.
In its weekly report for 9 – 15 July, ReCAAP ISC informed of one CAT 4 incident of armed robbery against ships in Asia, involving the barge ‘Sung Fatt 36’ in the Singapore Strait. Notably, this was the second time in 2019 that this vessel was targeted by perpetrators in this region.
In its weekly report for 2-8 July, the ReCAAP ISC informed of three armed robberies against ships in Asia. The incidents occurred about one month apart (on 19 May and 18 June) and in close proximity to each other, within Malaysian waters.
A total of nine, and not ten, fishermen were eventually kidnapped from two vessels in Malaysian waters, said ReCAAP ISC in an update in its weekly report for 25 June -1 July. This means that all of the crew have been released an no one remains in captivity.
In its weekly report for 18-24 June, the ReCAAP ISC informed of one incident of armed robbery against the tanker ‘M.T. Ponier’, while anchored in Teluk Ramunia waters, off Pengerang, Malaysia. All four perpetrators were arrested. However, two of the four perpetrators escaped by jumping overboard.
ReCAAP ISC issued its monthly piracy report, informing of seven incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia in May 2019, which is an increase compared to the past six preceding months. During January-May 2019, a total of 21 incidents were reported, which are the lowest among a 13-year period.
In its weekly report for 28 May- 3 June, ReCAAP ISC reported two Category 4 incidents of armed robbery and one attempted piracy incident against ships in Asia. Notably, there have been six incidents in close proximity to each other in the western sector of the Singapore Strait since February.
