ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - Jan-Mar Quarterly 2017 Report
ReCAAP ISC half yearly report for 2017 states that a total of 36 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 30 actual incidents and six attempted incidents) were reported during January-June 2017 in Asia.
The total number of incidents reported during January-June 2017 has decreased by 22% compared to the same period in 2016. A total of 46 incidents were reported during January-June 2016. There were improvements at ports and anchorages in India, Indonesia and Vietnam. However, of concern was the occurrence of the incident involving the hijacking of ship for the of oil cargo carried on board. Incident of similar modus operandi was last reported in October 2016.
Of serious concern was the occurrence of incidents involving the abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters o Eastern Sabah.
A total of seven incidents (comprising three actual incidents and four attempted incidents) were reported during January-April 2017. Though no incident was reported in May 2017 and June 2017, there is no room for complacency. As of 30 Jun 17, 18 crew are still being held in captivity out of the 59 crew being abducted since March 2016.
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. Vigilance and timely reporting by ships were effective in preventing the perpetrators from boarding, as occurred in the incidents involving Ocean Kingdom (3 Jan 17), Donghae Star (22 Feb 17), Phu An 268 (5 Mar 17) and Don~a Annabel (18 Apr 17). On 19 Jun 17, the three littoral States (Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines) launched a trilateral maritime patrol agreement to address the increasing incidence of piracy, armed robbery against ships, kidnapping of crew at sea and other transnational crimes along the shared borders of the three countries. In dealing with the increasing threats to ships transiting the Sulu-Celebes Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has also implemented several regulations and guidelines with strict enforcement in security and safety measures to prevent potential abductors from boarding ships.
STATUS AND LOCATION OF SHIPS
Of the 36 incidents reported during January-June 2017, 23 incidents occurred on board ships while at anchor/berth, and 13 incidents on board ships while underway.
INCIDENTS ON BOARD SHIPS AT ANCHOR/BERTH
Of the 23 incidents, 12 incidents occurred on board ships anchored/berthed at ports and anchorages in Indonesia. The incidents occurred at Dumai (four incidents), o Pulau Bintan (two), Samarinda (two), Cilacap (one), Belawan (one), Taboneo (one) and Tanjung Priok (one). Of the remaining 11 incidents, five occurred at port and anchorages in Philippines (Batangas), four in Bangladesh (Chittagong and off Kutubdia Island), one in China (Tangshan Jingtang) and one in India (Mumbai).
INCIDENTS ON BOARD SHIPS WHILE UNDERWAY
Majority of the incidents that occurred on board ships while underway involved the abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea, Philippines and waters o Eastern Sabah, Malaysia. Of the 13 incidents that occurred on board ships while underway, seven were incidents of abduction of crew (three actual and four attempted). The remaining six incidents occurred on board ships while underway: one in Bangladesh (Cox’s Bazar), one in Philippines (Sarangani Strait), two in South China Sea (o Kuantan and Pulau Mangkai) and two in Straits of Malacca and Singapore (off Nongsa Pointand off Pulau Kukup).
VIOLENCE FACTORS OF ACTUAL INCIDENTS
NUMBER OF PERPETRATORS - Of the 30 incidents, 22 (73%) incidents reported during January-June 2017 involved perpetrators opera ng in groups of 1 to 6 men. One incident involved 22 men who boarded M/Tug 308 and stole fuel, paint and rice on 5 Jun 17 when the ship was underway in the vicinity of Sarangani Strait, Philippines. Two of the men were later arrested by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). There were two incidents involving perpetrators in groups of 7 to 9 men. Of the two incidents, one incident involved nine men who boarded a fishing banca off Tawi-tawi, Philippines and abducted three crew on 18 Jan 17; and the other involved eight men who boarded Harvester o Belawan, Indonesia on 3 Jun 17. The Indonesian Navy Western Fleet Quick Response (WFQR) managed to locate and arrest two of the men who boarded Harvester; and recovered the stolen items.
TYPE OF WEAPONS CARRIED BY PERPETRATORS - Of the 30 incidents, six incidents involved perpetrators armed with guns. Of these, three were incidents of abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters o Eastern Sabah (Fishing Banca, Giang Hai and Super Shuttle Tug 1); and one was an incident involving the hijacking of ship for the of oil cargo (C.P.41) in the South China Sea. The other two incidents occurred on board Alice when she was underway in the South China Sea and M/Tug 308 while underway in the vicinity of Sarangani Strait, Philippines. There were 10 incidents involving perpetrators armed with knives/machetes or other type of weapons such as rods, pipes, bats etc.. Of these, five incidents were reported at port and anchorages in Indonesia, two in Bangladesh, two in Philippines and one in SOMS. There were 14 incidents with no information on the type of weapons carried by perpetrators or that the perpetrators were not armed.
TREATMENT OF CREW - One incident reported the death of crew (Giang Hai on 19 Feb 17) and two incidents involved the abduction of crew for ransom (Fishing Banca and Super Shuttle Tug 1), two incidents reported that the perpetrators ed the crew to restrain their movement (Alice and C.P.41), one incident reported that the perpetrators assaulted the crew using a slingshot (Uni Challenge) and one incident reported that the perpetrators threatened the crew who sighted them (Silver Express). There was no information on the condition of the crew, or the crew was not injured in 23 incidents.
INCIDENTS OF ABDUCTION OF CREW FROM SHIPS IN THE SULU-CELEBES SEA AND WATERS OFF EASTERN SABAH
From January to April 2017, three actual incidents and four attempted incidents of abduction of crew from ships in the Sulu-Celebes Sea were reported. No incident was reported to the ReCAAP ISC in May and June 2017. As of 30 Jun 17, of the 23 incidents (comprising 13 actual incidents and 10 attempted incidents) that were reported to the ReCAAP ISC during March 2016 – June 2017, a total of 59 crew had been abducted. Of these, two crew were killed, 39 released/rescued; and 18 still held in captivity.
ACTIONS BY THE PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES
Rescue of Crew. The Philippine authorities continued to conduct pursuit opera ons and intensify its military opera ons to rescue the abducted crew and neutralize the militant group. Between January and June 2017, the Philippines authorities successfully rescued nine crew (five crew of Serudong 3 in March 2017, two crew of Super Shuttle in March 2017, one crew of Ramona 2 in June 2017 and one crew of Royal 16 in June 2017). Promulgation of Regulations and Guidelines. In dealing with the increasing threats to ships transiting the Sulu-Celebes Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has implemented several regulations and guidelines with strict enforcement in security and safety measures to prevent potential abductors from boarding ships. With effective from 2 Jun 17, the following regulations were implemented:
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Establishment of Recommended Transit Corridor (RTC) between Moro Gulf and Basilan Strait The PCG provides a RTC for all ships transiting between the Moro Gulf and Basilan Strait. The RTC is a route designated for transiting of ships to reduce risk of collision, providing a measure of traffic separation and minimizing threats of piracy/armed robbery against ships. The RTC is monitored by law enforcement units deployed nearby to respond to incidents of piracy/armed robbery against ships. Under the rules of passage, vessels navigating the RTC shall notify the PCG in Zamboanga and Davao through radio communica on at least 6 hours before entering the RTC.
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Implementation of Safety, Security and Environmental Numbering (SSEN) Systems for all Philippine-registered vessels and/or watercrafts This regulation enables the authorities to track all vessels/watercrafts by numbering them in order to prevent them from being used by perpetrators to abduct crew for ransom, or carry out acts of piracy, sea robbery or terrorism. The regulation applies to all Philippine-registered vessels/watercrafts operating within Philippine waters regardless of size, utitiization and propulsion except vessels belonging to Philippine law enforcement agencies and other vessels that may be exempted by the authorities.
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Regulation on guidelines pertaining to radio communication equipment These guidelines include prescribed radio communication equipment onboard Philippine- registered vessels; designation of VHF marine band channel/frequency; and accreditation of manufacturers and/or suppliers of radio communications equipment for maritime security communication. Proposed Recommended Transit Corridor (RTC) in the Sibutu Passage (Pending). With increasing number of incidents occurred in the vicinity of the Sibutu Passage in the Sulu Sea, the PCG recommended a RTC in the Sibutu Passage for international commercial ships entering Philippine waters. The PCG is currently consulting with stakeholders, pending the resolution of legal and liability issues.
CONCLUSION
The overall situa on of piracy and armed robbery against ships during January-June 2017 in Asia has improved compared to the same period in 2016, and this was due to the decrease in incidents at ports and anchorages in India, Indonesia and Vietnam; and abduc on of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Sea. Of concern was the recurrence of an incident involving the hijacking of ship for the of oil cargo carried on board in the South China Sea. The last known incident of similar nature occurred in October 2016. The ReCAAP ISC urges ships carrying oil cargo to exercise vigilance and adopt precau onary measures taking reference from the ‘Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia’ Although no incident of abduc on of crew in Sulu-Celebes Sea was reported in May and June 2017, there is no room for complacency.
The report includes a case study of the hijack of C.P.41 for oil cargo theft.
Download the full report HERE
Source: ReCAAP ISC
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