In its weekly report for 20 – 26 August, ReCAAP ISC informed of an armed robbery against the Singaporean-flagged tug boat ‘Salviceroy’ while anchored at Batam anchorage, Indonesia. This was classified as a CAT 3 incident, which is ‘less significant’.
In collaboration with the Kontinentalist, Stable Seas have released ‘Troubled waters: piracy and maritime security in Southeast Asia’. This is an interactive experience on how piracy and armed robbery affect the safety of waterways.
The number of incidents involving tug boats towing barges has seen a rise in the Singapore Strait, with a total of 14 incidents reported only in 2019 (until 15th August). Of these, nine incidents reported loss of scrap metal from their barges.
During 13 – 19 August 2019, four CAT 41 incidents of armed robbery against ship were reported to the ReCAAP ISC. The four incidents took place on 31 July 19 at Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia; 9 August 19 northeast of Pulau Bintan, Indonesia; 12 August 19 at Phuoc Long Mooring Buoy No 3, Vietnam; and 15 August 19 southeast of Tanjung Piai, Johor, Malaysia.
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.
