ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - April 2018 Report
ReCAAP ISC reported that there were three minor incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia in April 2018, while there was no report of incidents involving the abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off eastern Sabah. There was no incident of hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo during the period.
Of the three incidents reported, one incident of attempted piracy and two incidents involved armed robbery against ships. The two incidents were at Muara Berau anchorage in Samarinda, Kalimantan and while transiting the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) respectively.
ReCAAP ISC states that there has been an increase in incidents in the SOMS during the period January to April 2018, with three compared to just one attempted incident in the same period in 2017.
In the Sulu-Celebes Sea area, ReCAAP ISC warned that the threat of abduction of crew is not totally eradicated and empahsises its advisory to ships to re-route from the area where possible and otherwise exercise extra vigilance and report to the coordinating centres when transiting the area.
The total number of incidents reported during January-April 2018 was the lowest among the 10-year reporting period of January-April of 2009-2018. Compared to January-April 2017, there was a 32% decrease in the total number of incidents reported during January-April 2018. A total of 31 incidents were reported during January-April 2017.
There has been an increase in the number of incidents in the SOMS during January-April 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Three incidents (comprising one actual incident and two attempted incidents) were reported in 2018 compared to only one attempted incident during the same period in 2017. A total of three incidents were reported on board ships while underway in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) during January–April 2018. Of these, one incident occurred in the Malacca Strait (on board Tiberius) and two incidents occurred in the Singapore Strait (Marineco Toomai and Katerina). Map 2 below shows the location of incidents reported in SOMS during January-April 2018.
Situation On Abduction Of Crew From Ships in the Sulu-Celebes Seas & Waters Off Eastern Sabah
There was no report of actual or attempted incident involving the abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off eastern Sabah in April 2018. The last actual incident reported to the ReCAAP ISC occurred on board Super Shuttle Tug 1 on 23 Mar 17; and the last attempted incident occurred on board Kudos 1 on 16 Feb 18. As of 30 Apr 18, nine crew is still held in captivity. The Philippine authorities continue to conduct pursuit operations and intensify its military operations to rescue the abducted crew and neutralise the militant group.
Conclusion
The situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia has improved during January-April 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. A total of 21 incidents were reported during January-April 2018 compared to 31 incidents reported during the same period in 2017; a decrease of 32% in the number of incidents. There was no incident of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and no hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo in April 2018.
However, of concern was the occurrence of an incident in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of Singapore Strait on 21 Apr 18. This was the first actual incident reported in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) during January-April 2018 after two failed attempted boarding carried out in January 2018. A total of three incidents (one actual and two attempted) were reported in SOMS during January-April 2018 compared to one attempted incident reported during January-April of 2017.
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Source: ReCAAP ISC
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