ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - May 2016 Report
IN its latest report, ReCAAP ISC states that a total of eight incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in May 2016, and this accounts for a 65% decrease compared to the same period in 2015.
For the period of January to May 2016, a total of 38 incidents were reported, the lowest in number compared to the same period in the past four years (2012-2015). There was no incident reported in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore in May 2016. However, there was one incident involving the hijacking of a product tanker, Hai Soon 12, for theft of oil cargo on board; after a lapse of nine months from the last oil cargo theft incident which occurred last year on 8 Aug 15 involving Joaquim. Notably, the Indonesian authorities had successfully foiled the theft on board Hai Soon 12 by intercepting/ boarding the tanker, rescued the crew, arrested the perpetrators and recovered the full cargo.
A total of eight incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in May 2016. Compared to the same period in 2015 there has been a 65% decrease in the total number of incidents. Of the eight incidents reported in May 2016, seven were armed robbery against ships and one was a piracy incident occurred in the South China Sea. Chart 1 below shows the number of incidents reported between May 2015 and May 2016.
NUMBER OF INCIDENTS (JANUARY-MAY OF 2012-2016)
Between January and May 2016, a total of 38 incidents were reported in Asia, and this accounts for a 56% decrease in overall number of incidents compared to January-May 2015 when 87 incidents were reported. The number of incidents reported during January-May 2016 is the lowest among the five-year reporting period of January-May of 2012-2016.
SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL OF INCIDENTS (MAY OF 2012-2016)
Of the eight incidents reported in May 2016, one was Category 1 incident involving the hijacking of product tanker Hai Soon 12 off Pulau Belitung, Indonesia on 7 May 16. However, the incident was foiled by the Indonesian authorities who intercepted and boarded the tanker, rescued the crew, apprehended the perpetrators and recovered the full cargo. There was a Category 2 incident occurred at Samarinda Anchorage, Indonesia involving four perpetrators armed with knives who boarded a bulk carrier, tied up the crew and ed with ship stores. The other six incidents were Category 4 incidents of petty theft in nature, mostly occurred at ports and anchorages.
LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENTS
Of the eight incidents reported in May 2016, four incidents occurred on board ships while anchored in Indonesia (Jakarta Tanker Anchorage, Balikpapan Inner Anchorage and Samarinda Anchorage), one in Vietnam (Vung Tau Anchorage), and one in India (Kandla Port). The other two incidents occurred on board ships while underway in the South China Sea approaches towards Pulau Subi Besar and Java Sea, Indonesia.
CASE STUDY: INCIDENT INVOLVING HAI SOON 12
On 8 May 16, the ReCAAP ISC received information from the shipping company about the loss of communications with product tanker, Hai Soon 12. Hai Soon 12 , carrying 4,000 metric tons of Marine Gas Oil (MGO), departed Singapore for the Southern Ocean to conduct high seas bunkering/selling MGO to fishing vessels. However, the ship was observed to have deviated from her planned route and moved in an easterly direction towards Sulawesi. Upon receipt of the information, the ReCAAP ISC immediately informed BAKAMLA, who shared the information with the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL). The incident was also reported to the Information Fusion Centre (IFC), who worked closely with the shipping company to monitor the position of Hai Soon 12. Two TNI-AL ships were despatched to locate Hai Soon 12 , who maintained her course towards Bawean Island until on 8 May 16 at about 2211 hrs, she altered course tracking eastwards. On 9 May 16 at about 1430 hrs, the TNI-AL ships intercepted, boarded Hai Soon 12 and arrested the nine perpetrators found on board. All 21 crew was safe and not injured, and the cargo was found to be intact. The ship was reportedly renamed to “AI SO”.
Initial investigations revealed that on 7 May 16 at about 2045 hrs, nine perpetrators climbed up the poopdeck of Hai Soon 12 from a small boat in waters off Pulau Belitung, Indonesia. The crew was tied up in the mess room and they overheard about the intent to sell the MGO in the night. Hai Soon 12 has since been detained in Surabaya for further investigation.
This is the rst incident of hijacking of tanker for oil cargo theft in 2016; and was foiled by the authorities.
CONCLUSION
The number of incidents has decreased from 13 incidents reported in April 2016 to eight incidents in May 2016. The severity of incidents occurred in May 2016 has also reduced. However, there is no room for complacency as evidenced from the hijacking of Hai Soon 12 on 7 May 16, after a lapse of nine months from the last oil cargo theft which occurred in August 2015. The failed attempt on Hai Soon 12 demonstrates the importance of timely reporting by the ship master, effectiveness of the information sharing mechanism and quick responses by the enforcement agencies. Notably, six out of eight incidents reported in May 2016 occurred at ports and anchorages involving perpetrators who boarded ships to steal stores and escaped immediately once they are detected.
Download the Full Report.
Source: ReCAAP ISC
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