January 28, 2016 - 14:24:42 UTC

ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - 2015 Annual Report

ReCAAP ISC has published its annual report covering incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea against ships in Asian waters. A total of 200 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 187 actual incidents and 13 attempted incidents) were reported to the ReCAAP ISC in 2015. Of these, 11 were acts of piracy and 189 were incidents of armed robbery against ships. Compared to 2014, there has been a 7% increase in total number of incidents in 2015.

Number of Incidents - 22011-2015 via ReCAAP ISC

Incidents reported in 2015 has been less severe comparing to 2014; with relatively lesser number of incidents involving more than 9 perpetrators, lesser cases involving perpetrators who were armed; and lesser incidents with reports that crew was threatened, held hostage and assaulted.

Of the 200 incidents, 60% (120) incidents occurred on board ships while underway, and 40% (80) on board ships while at anchor/berth. More than 50% of the total number of incidents reported in 2015 occurred in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) on board ships while underway. A total of 104 incidents were reported there, of which more than half of them were CAT 4 incidents. However, no actual incident had been reported in the straits since November 2015, probably as a result of an increase in patrolling and surveillance carried out by the li oral States who had also arrested perpetrators responsible for some of the incidents.

Number of Incidents on Ships Underway via ReCAAP ISC

While the situation at most ports and anchorages in Asia has improved in 2015 compared to 2014; Vietnam reported an increase in number of incidents, particularly at the Vung Tau port/anchorage with 60% of the total number of incidents in Vietnam occurred there. Incidents involving hijacking of tankers for the of oil cargo were mostly CAT 1 incidents; and a total of 12 incidents had been reported in 2015, of which two incidents were foiled by the authorities. However, no incidents involving hijacking of tankers had been reported since September 2015. Attributing to this could be the arrests of the masterminds and perpetrators responsible for some of the incidents reported in 2015.

Significance Level via ReCAAP ISC

Continuous zeal among the littoral States and coopera on between the authorities and shipping industry demonstrates the determination and commitment in clamping down this illegal maritime crime. With decline in the number of incidents reported in the last quarter of 2015; and more perpetrators being put to task; more needs to be done to bring about further decrease in the number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia.

TYPE OF ECONOMIC LOSSES

About 57% of the actual incidents in 2015 reported some type of losses. Of these, majority involved the theft of store and engine spares. Of the 187 incidents, 65 reported loss of stores, 18 loss of engine spares, nine loss of cash/property and 12 involving cargo discharged (including 10 incidents of cargo oil being siphoned fromproduct/oil tankers and two incidents of theft of scrap metal from barges). There were two incidents of ships being hijacked and reported missing.

ECONOMIC FACTOR

(Sun Birdie and Orkim Harmony). However, these ships were subsequently found and recovered by the authorities who had also arrested the perpetrators. Compared to 2014, there has been a decrease in the number of incidents in 2015 involving loss of cash/property and cargo discharged. Of the 200 incidents reported in 2015, nine (5%) reported loss of cash/property, and 12 (6%) reported ship cargo being discharged; compared to 2014 when 28 of 171 (16%) incidents reported loss of cash/property and 15 (8%) incidents reported.

ROBBERY ON BOARD TUG BOATS TOWING BARGES

Two main types of incidents occurred on board tug boats towing barges, and they were robberies on board tug boats; and robbery of scrap metal from barges. Of the 10 incidents reported in 2015, eight incidents were robbery of cash/ property from tug boats and two were robbery of scrap metal from barges.

THEFT OF OIL CARGO

These involved perpetrators, mostly armed who boarded and hijacked small tankers for theft of the oil cargo on board. Details of such incidents are elaborated below. A total of 12 incidents involving hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo had been reported in 2015, of which the authorities had foiled two of the incidents (Sun Birdie and Orkim Harmony) and arrested the perpetrators involved in three incidents (Sun Birdie, Orkim Harmony and Joaquim). Of the 12 incidents, six occurred in South China Sea, four in Malacca Strait, one in Indonesia and one in Malaysia. No such incident was reported after 8 Aug 15 when Joaquim was boarded. Chart 8 shows the number of incidents of hijacking of tankers for theft of oil cargo during 2012-2015.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The efforts of regional enforcement agencies including MMEA and the Indonesian authori es in stepping up surveillance and enhancing patrols had resulted in the quick apprehension of masterminds and perpetrators. The continuous zeal by the authorities and shipping industry demonstrates the determination and commitment in clamping down piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia.

Vigilant and early detection of possible boarding is the most executive deterrent and reduces risk to the crew. It provides the crew an opportunity to sound the alarm, alert ships in vicinity, apprise enforcement agencies and undertake countermeasures / response procedures.

CONCLUSION

ReCAAP ISC states that:

Cooperation and collaboration among the ReCAAP Focal Points, shipping industry and regional authorities is key towards combating piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia.

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