ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - 1st Quarter 2016 Report
ACCORDING to ReCAAP ISC 1st Quarter 2016 report, there has been improvement in the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia during January-March 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. A total of 14 incidents of robbery on board ships were reported during January-March 2016 compared to 44 incidents of piracy and robbery during January-March 2015. No piracy incident was reported during the reporting period.
The total number of incidents reported during January-March 2016 was also the lowest compared to the same in past four years (2012-2015).
Of the 14 incidents, 10 occurred in India, and remaining four in China, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. Twelve of the 14 incidents occurred on board ships while at anchor/berth and two incidents on board ships underway. During the period of January-March 2016, there was no report on hijacking of tankers for theft of oil cargo and no unauthorised boarding of ships while underway in the Singapore Straits.
Reportedly, no such incidents had been reported since September 2015 and December 2015 respectively. Except for the incident which involved the kidnapping of crew for ransom off the Philippines which is a Category 1 incident, the other incidents reported during January-March 2016 were relatively less severe in nature compared to incidents reported during the same period in the past four years.
The incident of kidnapping of crew off the Philippines is of concern and the ReCAAP ISC together with Focal Point (Philippines) and regional authorities are monitoring the situation there closely and advise ship master and crew to exercise enhanced vigilance and lookout when operating in the area.
The intensive enforcement by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in the waters off India’s ports and anchorages, had led to the arrest of several suspects on 22 Feb. No incident was reported there since then till March 2016.
NUMBER OF INCIDENTS
During January-March 2016, 14 incidents of armed robbery against ships1 were reported in Asia. There was no incident of piracy2 and all were actual incidents3. The number of incidents reported during January-March 2016 is the lowest on a quarter-to-quarter comparison among the ve years period of 2012-2016. Chart 1 shows the number of incidents reported during January-March of 2012-2016.
STATUS OF SHIPS
Of the 14 incidents reported during January-March 2016, 12 incidents occurred on board ships while at anchor/berth, and two incidents on board ships while underway. Among the 12 incidents that occurred at ports and anchorages, nine were reported in India (Haldia, Kandla and Visakhapatnam), one in China (Tianjin), one in Indonesia (Pulau Batam) and one in Vietnam (Hon Cam). Two incidents occurred on board ships while underway in the Gulf of Khambat, India and in the vicinity of Tubig Dakula, Languyan Municipality, Tawi-Tawi Province, Philippines.
INCIDENT INVOLVING TUG BOAT BRAHMA 12
On 26 Mar 16, tug boat Brahma 12 towing a barge was en route from Kalimantan, Indonesia to Batangas, Philippines when 17 perpetrators armed with guns boarded the tug boat and casted off the barge. The perpetrators ransacked all the detachable items on board the tug boat including the navigational equipment, took away the 10 Indonesian crew and abandoned the tug boat. On the same day, the tug boat Brahma 12 was found by a passing ship, and towed to Marang Wharf, Languyan Municipality, Tawi-Tawi Province, Philippines. The barge that was casted off was subsequently recovered by the MMEA on 1 Apr 16.
It was believed that the kidnapping of the crew was carried out by a group who handed over the crew to an insurgent group who in turn, demanded for ransom from the shipping company for the release of the crew. It was reported that the crew could have been brought to the Philippines.
This incident that occurred in the waters off east Sabah is of great concern as past kidnapping incidents in this region were known to have had occurred on land where the victims were abducted from resorts, dive spots, sh farms, etc. Ships plying in this tri-border area between Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia are advised to exercise heighten vigilance and look-out. The relevant authorities from the littoral States are exploring measures and developing strategy to dominate, control and secure the area.
Apprehension of the suspects by Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
On 22 Feb at about 0245 hrs, the ICG received information from MV Stena Impression and MT Stolt Focus, both anchored at Kandla anchorage about a small boat with about 6-7 men on board, trying to board them. The authorities immediately intensi ed its search in the area and the ICG patrol vessel found one small unlit shing boat operating suspiciously in the area. On discovering the presence of the ICG patrol vessel, the shing boat ed at high speed. The ICG patrol vessel gave chase and intercepted the boat.
All eight suspects on board the boat were apprehended, along with stolen tools carried on board; all was handed over to the local security for further investigation.
New Executive Director of the ReCAAP ISC
With effect from 1 April 2016, Mr. Masafumi Kuroki (photo on right) will take over the appointment as the Executive Director of ReCAAP ISC for a three year period till 31 March 2019.
CONCLUSION
ReCAAP ISC reiterates that the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia during the 1st quarter of 2016 (January-March 2016) has improved compared to the same period in the past four years (2012-2015). Compared to January-March 2015, it was a 68% decrease in total number of incidents reported in January-March 2016. A total of 14 incidents were reported in 2016 compared to 44 in 2015.
Almost half of the incidents reported during January-March 2016 involved group of 1 to 6 men. Close to three-quarter of the incidents indicated that the perpetrators were either not armed or there was no information available on the weapons carried by the perpetrators. Majority of the incidents (79%) reported that the crew did not suffer any injuries or there was no information about how the crew was treated. Of the incidents where losses were reported, theft of ship stores made up of a higher proportion among the economic losses. There is no evidence to indicate that a particular type of ship was being targeted. More often than not, the perpetrators boarded ships with crew who are less vigilant.
Of concern was the incident involving the kidnapping of crew from tug boat, Brahma 12 off the Philippines while she was en route from Kalimantan, Indonesia to Batangas, Philippines. Ship master/crew were advised to exercise enhanced vigilance when operating in the area; while the relevant littoral States had stepped up surveillance and explored measures and developed strategy to prevent such incidents from recurring.
No hijacking of tankers for theft of oil cargo and no unauthorized boarding of ships while underway in the Singapore Straits were reported during January-March 2016.
With intensive enforcement by the ICG and apprehension of several suspects, no incident of robbery on board ships anchored at India's ports and anchorages was reported in March 2016.
However, there is no room for complacency; and more needs to be done. The ReCAAP ISC continues to encourage closer cooperation and coordination among littoral States, shipping industry and relevant stakeholders towards further improvement of the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Asian region.
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Source & All Images; ReCAAP ISC
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