Threat level in the Sulu-Celebes Seas downgraded to ‘moderate low’

PCG Action 

As ReCAAP ISC informs, The PCG, coordinated with other stakeholders and counterparts that have vital involvement in the maritime security of the Sulu-Celebes Seas and reviewed the threat situation, downgrading the present threat level, which implies that ‘Incidents are unlikely to occur due to perpetrators’ perceived lack of capability to orchestrate an attack. Nevertheless, minimal damages are expected to the vessel and crew in case of an attack’.

The measures undertaken by the Philippine Government in Zamboanga, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, with the conduct of continuous military operations and dismantling the support base of the ASG in Sulu archipelago, ensures the likelihood of the end of the group through surrender, arrest, and neutralization.

In an exclusive interview with SAFETY4SEA, ReCAAP ISC Executive Director, Krishnaswamy Natarajan, had explained that piracy and armed robbery incidents are invariably transnational maritime crimes, which require collaborative, cooperative, and coordinated efforts of all stakeholders both on land and sea within the nation and neighbouring countries.

ReCAAP ISC advisory 

Moreover, ReCAAP ISC has updated its Advisory to all ships to “exercise vigilance and adopt necessary preventive measures while transiting the area”. The ships are to maintain communication with the authorities and report all incidents to the Operation Centres of the Philippines and ESSCOM as indicated in the following contact details:

Troubled history of the area 

ReCAAP ISC had been extremely concerned with the large-scale increase in incidents of abduction of crew for ransom situation in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah since March 2016.

On 21 Nov 2016, the Centre published an Incident Alert titled Increasing Cases of Abduction of Crew for Ransom from Ships, advising ships to re-route from the area, where possible.

The ship masters and crew are otherwise urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the area and report immediately to the Operation Centre of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia. The threat level of abduction of crew was then deemed to be ‘HIGH’ as the abduction of crew has not waned.

Luckily, with the concerted efforts undertaken by the Philippine and Malaysian authorities, no abduction of crew incidents was reported since January 2020; and no crew is presently held in captivity by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). With the notable improvement in the situation, the ReCAAP ISC in consultation with the PCG downgraded the threat level of the abduction of crew from ‘HIGH’ to ‘POTENTIALLY HIGH’ in May 2022.

In September of the same year, the PCG in consultation with relevant government agencies, and regional partners have come up with a risk-assessment pertaining to the prevailing situation in the Sulu-Celebes seas, which eventually manifested in further downgrading of the threat level of the abduction of crew from ‘POTENTIALLY HIGH’ to ‘MODERATE’ which implies that ‘Incidents are possible to occur, but are relatively less severe in nature.’

On 15 September 2022, the ReCAAP ISC updated its advisory to all ships to consider re-route from the area as an option based on its prerogative.