ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - Jan-Mar Quarterly 2017 Report
ReCAAP ISC Jan-Mar 2017 Quarterly reports states that a total of 20 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 15 actual incidents and five attempted incidents) were reported during January-March 2017 in Asia.
The number of actual incidents has decreased by 12% compared to the same period in 2016. A total of 17 incidents (all actual incidents) were reported during January- March 2016. The increase in the number of attempted incidents during January-March 2017 was an indication of successful efforts by crew in deterring boarding by perpetrators.
There were improvements at ports and anchorages in Asia, partittularly India. One incident was reported in India during January-March 2017 compared to 10 incidents reported there during the same period in 2016.
However, of serious concern was the continued occurrence of incidents involving the abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters off Eastern Sabah, East Malaysia. During January-March 2017, six incidents comprising three abduction incidents and three attempted incidents were reported to the ReCAAP ISC by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) who is the ReCAAP Focal Point for Philippines. The opera tins carried out by the Philippine military, PCG and other law enforcement agencies of the Philippines during 23-27 Mar 17 resulted in the rescue of the two abducted crew of Super Shuttle Tug 1 and five abducted crew of Serudong 3. As of 31 Mar 17, of the total number of 58 abducted crew since March 2016, 37 were released and 21 are still in captivity.
On 31 Mar 17, the ReCAAP ISC published a Special Report on Abducting of Crew from Ships in the Sulu- Celebes Sea and Waters off Eastern Sabah (Part III)1. The Report provides an analysis of the situation of abduction of crew from ships since March 2016 in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters off Eastern Sabah, the modus operandi of the perpetrators and an advisory to the shipping industry.
The ReCAAP ISC reiterates its advice that all ships to re-route from the area, where possible. Otherwise ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise enhanced vigilance while transiting the area and report immediately to the relevant Centres. The vigilance and timely reporting by ships were effective in preventing the perpetrators from boarding Ocean Kingdom, Donghae Star and Phu An 268. The ReCAAP ISC emphasises the importance of collective and shared responsibility among all stakeholders including the littoral States’ enforcement agencies and the shipping industry to institutionalise their efforts on land and at sea. More needs to be done to strengthen regional cooperation and coordination among the littoral States in conducting coordinated patrols, maintaining stringent enforcement and apprehending the perpetrators.
Number of Incidents
Graph 2 shows the number of reported incidents that occurred each month between March 2016 and March 2017. The number of incidents fluctuates throughout the period between March 2016 and November 2016, after which the number of incidents continued to decrease every month, from December 2016 till February 2017.
Status And Location Of Ships
Of the 20 incidents reported during January-March 2017, eight incidents occurred on board ships while underway, and 12 incidents occurred on board ships while at anchor/berth. Majority of the incidents that occurred on board ships while underway involved the abduction of crew from ships underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea, waters of Philippines and off Eastern Sabah, East Malaysia.
Refer to Map 1 below for the location of all incidents reported during January-March 2017.
Incidents Of Abduction Of Crew from Ships in Sulu-Celebes Sea and Waters off Eastern Sabah
A total of six incidents of abduction of crew (comprising three actual and three attempted incidents) occurred in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters o eastern Sabah during January-March 2017. The incidents were reported to the ReCAAP ISC by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) who is also the ReCAAP Focal Point for Philippines. Map 4 below shows the approximate location of the incidents.
Violence Factors of Actual Incidents
See the full report for further details on violence factors.
Conclusion
The total number of actual incidents reported during January-March 2017 has decreased by 12% compared to the same period in 2016. There has been an increase in the number of attempted incidents during January-March 2017 and this was an indication of increased in vigilance of crew which resulted in successful efforts by the crew in deterring boarding by perpetrators.
The situation at the ports and anchorages in India has improved during January-March 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. This was the result of prompt and stringent enforcement efforts by the port authorities, timely reporting and vigilance exercised by the masters and crew. However, of concern was the current situation of abduction of crew in Sulu-Celebes Sea involving the discharge of rearms at ships and crew which resulted in death and injuries of crew.
Timely reporting and vigilance of crew has prevented the perpetrators from boarding as was demonstrated in the incidents involving Ocean Kingdom on 3 Jan 17, Donghae Star on 22 Feb 17 and Phu An 268 on 5 Mar 17.
The ReCAAP ISC reiterates its advisory to all ships to re-route from the area, where possible. Otherwise, ship master and crew are strongly urged to conduct voyage risk assessment, adopt piracy countermeasures to mi gate the risk, exercise enhanced vigilance, making immediate reports prior to entering the area, continue to maintain communication with the littoral States’ enforcement agencies and report all incidents to the relevant authorities.
Download the full ReCAAP ISC Report HERE
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