A total of three incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in February 2019, according to ReCAAP ISC’s monthly report. There was a 65% decrease in the number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia during January-February 2019 compared to January-February 2018. A total of six incidents were reported during January-February 2019 compared to 17 incidents during January-February 2018. Both the total number of incidents and the number of actual incidents reported during January-February 2019 are the lowest among the 13-year period of January-February of 2007-2019.
Highlights- February 2019
- A total of three incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in February 2019,
- There was no report of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah,
- There was no report of hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo,
- However, the abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah remains a serious concern,
- Of the three incidents reported in February 2019, one incident occurred on board ship anchored at Caofeidian anchorage in China, one incident on board ship anchored at Belawan anchorage in Indonesia, and one incident onboard ship while underway in the Singapore Strait,
- All three incidents reported in February 2019 were CAT 4.
January-February 2019
- Compared to February 2018, there was a 50% decrease in the number of incidents reported in February 2019,
- During January-February 2019, a total of six incidents were reported,
- All were incidents of armed robbery against ships; no incident of piracy was reported,
- Compared to January-February 2018, there was a 65% decrease in the total number of incidents reported during January-February 2019
- The improvement was most apparent at ports/anchorages in Bangladesh, India, Philippines and Vietnam with no incident reported in these areas during January- February 2019 compared to the same period in 2018
- Both the total number of incidents and the number of actual incidents reported during January- February 2019 are the lowest among the 13-year period of January-February of 2007-2019
- Of the six actual incidents reported during January-February 2019, one was a CAT 3 incident and five were CAT 4 incidents
- No CAT 1 or CAT 2 incident was reported during January-February of 2019
The abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah continues to present a serious threat in Asia. The ReCAAP ISC urges the shipping industry to exercise extra vigilance when transiting the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah, and report immediately to the reporting centres.
The ReCAAP ISC reiterates that law enforcement agencies continue to enhance surveillance, increase patrols and respond promptly to reports of incident. Ships transiting areas of concern are to exercise enhanced vigilance, maintain all round lookout for suspicious boats, report all incidents to the nearest coastal State and flag State immediately, and implement preventive measures recommended in the Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia.
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