ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - Jan-Sep 3rd Quarterly 2017 Report
IN AN extensive third quarter report, ReCAAP ISC states that a total of 50 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 43 actual incidents and seven attempted incidents) were reported during January-September 2017 in Asia.
Of the 50 incidents, seven were incidents of piracy and 43 were incidents of armed robbery against ships. The total number of incidents reported during January-September 2017 has decreased by 15% compared to the same period in 2016. A total of 59 incidents were reported during January-September 2016.
During January-September 2017, there were improvements at ports and anchorages in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. However, there has been an increase in the number of incidents reported at certain ports and anchorages in Philippines. A total of 11 incidents were reported in Philippines (of Batangas and Manila) during January-September 2017 compared to three incidents reported there during the same period in 2016.
Of concern was the occurrence of two incidents involving the hijacking of ship for theft of oil cargo during January-September 2017. Both incidents occurred in the South China Sea; on board C.P. 41 on 23 Jun 17 and MGT 1 on 6 Sep 17. In the incident involving MGT 1, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) had successfully boarded the ship, arrested the 10 perpetrators on board, and detained the phantom ship which was used to hold the stolen diesel oil transferred from MGT 1. On 20 Sep 17, the Malaysian court convicted and charged the perpetrators with armed robbery. Each of them was sentenced to 16 years of imprisonment; and seven of them in addition to the imprisonment were given five strokes of cane each.
No incident of abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters of Eastern Sabah was reported since the last attempted incident reported in April 2017.As of 30 Sep 2017, 14 crew are still being held in captivity out of the 59 crew abducted since March 2016. There is no room for complacency. 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 all incidents immediately to the authorities.
The ReCAAP ISC is concerned about the occurrence of incidents involving the hijacking of ship for theft of oil cargo, and advises all ships to enhance vigilance, exercise ant-piracy measures taking reference from the “Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia”, and report all incidents to the nearest coastalState immediately.
NUMBER OF INCIDENTS
During January-September 2017, a total of 50 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia (comprising 43 actual incidents and seven attempted incidents). Of the50 incidents, seven were piracy incidents and 43 were incidents of armed robbery against ships.
PIRACY VS ARMED ROBBERY AGAINST SHIPS
Chart 1 shows the number of piracy vs armed robbery incidents reported during January-September of 2007-2017. About 14% (7 of 50) of the total number of incidents reported during January-September 2017 were piracy incidents while 86% (43 of 50) were armed robbery incidents. Of the seven piracy incidents, four incidents occurred in the South China Sea [SCS] (of which two incidents were hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo and two incidents were boarding of ship for theft); and the other three incidents occurred in the Sulu-Celebes Sea (involving the abduction of crew for ransom). The percentage of piracy incidents fluctuated throughout the period of January-September of 2007-2017. During January-September 2016, 5% of the total incidents were piracy compared to 7% during January-September 2015, 26% during January-September 2014 and 15% during January-September 2013. The highest percentage of piracy incidents occurred during January-September 2014 when 33 out of 129 were piracy incidents.
INCIDENTS ON BOARD SHIPS WHILE UNDERWAY
Of the 16 incidents that occurred on board ships while underway, seven incidents (three actual and four attempted) involved the abduction of crew from ships in the Philippines, Sulu-Celebes Sea and Malaysia, four incidents in the SCS (of Johor Bahru, Kuala Dungun, Kuantan and Pulau Mangkai), three incidents (two actual and one attempted incident) in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore [SOMS](of Helen Mar Reef, Nongsa Point and Pulau Kukup), and one incident each in Bangladesh (Cox’s Bazar) and Philippines (Sarangani Strait). Chart 3 shows the location of the 16 incidents on board ships while underway.
ACTION BY THE LITTORAL STATES
On 19 Jun 17, the Philippine Department of National Defence (DND) announced that Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines had 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 crime along the shared areas of the three countries. Given the vast areas to be patrolled, DND explained that it is necessary for the three countries to join force to ensure that the waters remain safe and secure.
ISSUE OF NOTICE TO MARINERS (NTM)
Following the announcement of the trilateral maritime patrol agreement, Philippines and Malaysia had separately issued their Notice to Mariners. On 2 Aug 17, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) issued a NTM Nr 148-2017 dated 2 Aug 17 which can be accessed via Philippines Coastguard. On 14 Aug 17, the Marine Department of Malaysia also issued a Notice to Mariner NTM 14 of 2017 dated 14 Aug 17 naming the coordinates of the transit corridor for commercial shipping covering the maritime areas of common concern. Also indicated in the NTM was the ship reporting system. For further details, refer to document.
In a section of the report under the title Modus Operandi of incidents, ReCAAP details the incidents at anchorages and ports in the region and further details the MO in the hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo.
Whilst incidents in ports and at anchorages were not targeted at any particular type of ship, whereas the hijackings involved product tankers. No particular flag of ship was targeted, however, the hijacked vessels were Thailand-flagged. Whilst small boats were used in each incident, a mother ship was used during the hijacks of the product tankers but also were boarded at the same time - 2100 LT. Port/anchorage incidents occurred during the hours of darkness. See the linked full report for further details.
CASE STUDIES
Hijacking of MGT 1 for Oil Cargo Theft
While underway at approximately 54 nm east of Kuala Dungun, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia from Rayong port, Thailand to Andaman Sea,13 perpetrators armed with guns and knives boarded MGT 1 from two small fast boats. The perpetrators forced the crew to transfer 1 million litres of diesel oil (out of 2.2 million litres contained in the tanker) to a mother ship, Neptune 09.
The crew managed to activate the SSAS alarm.At about 1500 hrs, the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) also received information from some fishermen that a group of people were boarding a product tanker. Acting on these inputs, the MMEA conducted continuous monitoring of the ship using AIS and dispatched two ships and a helicopter to the location of the incident.
The MMEA’s Special Task and Rescue Team (STAR) boarded the ship and apprehended10 perpetrators who were on board the ship.Three other perpetrators managed to escape.The ship and the mother ship that were alongside each other, were escorted by the authorities towards Kuala Terengganu for further investigation. Initial investigation revealed that the mastermind was at a hotel in Johor Bahru, Malaysia and he was arrested in the afternoon of 7 Sep 17.
On 20 Sep 17, the mastermind and the 10 perpetrators were charged in Malaysia court in Kuala Terengganu; and convicted of armed robbery under Section 395 of the Penal Code. They were sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment each; and seven of them, in addition to the imprisonment, were given five strokes of cane each.One of the three perpetrators who escaped during the initial operation was arrested by Malaysia Immigration Department and handed over to MMEA.
The other two perpetrators are still at large
This is the second incident of hijacking of ship for theft of oil cargo reported in Asia in 2017. The last incident of oil cargo theft occurred on 23 Jun 17 on board ship C.P. 41 while underway at approximately 25 nm of Kuantan, Malaysia. An estimated 1.5 million litres of diesel was siphoned from C.P. 41.
The MGT1 incident can be found in the full report.
CONCLUSION
The overall situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia continues to improve with the lowest number of incidents reported during January-September 2017 compared to the same period of 2007-2016. A total of 50 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 43 actual incidents and seven attempted incidents) were reported during January-September 2017.
The total number of incidents reported during January-September 2017 has decreased by 15% compared to the same period in 2016. There were improvements at ports and anchorages in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. However, there has been an increase in the number of incidents at the ports and anchorages in Philippines. Also of concern was the occurrence of two incidents involving the hijacking of ship for theft of oil cargo.
The ReCAAP ISC encourages ships carrying oil cargo to enhance vigilance and take precautionary measures taking reference from the “Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia”. No incident of abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters of Eastern Sabah was reported since the last attempted incident reported in April 2017.
Download the Full Report HERE
Original Source: ReCAAP ISC
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