ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - November 2017 Report
ReCAAP ISC latest report states that a total of nine incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in November 2017.
Of these, seven were actual incidents and two were attempted incidents. Of the nine incidents, four were piracy incidents and five were armed robberies against ships. There was no actual or attempted incident involving the abduction of crew from ships reported in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters o Eastern Sabah in November 2017. However, of concern was the occurrence of an incident of the of oil cargo on 22 Nov 17, and there was an increase in the number of incidents occurred on board ships while anchored in the South China Sea (SCS).
January-November 2017
During January-November 2017, a total of 71 incidents were reported, of which 60 were actual incidents and 11 were attempted incidents. The number of incidents reported during January- November 2017 was the lowest among the 10-year reporting period. Compared to January- November 2016, there was a 9% decrease in the total number of incidents during January- November 2017; and 63% decrease compared to January-November 2015. Graph 2 shows the number of incidents reported during January-November of 2008-2017.
The improvement of the situation during January-November 2017 was at ports and anchorages in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam compared to the same period in 2016. However, there was an increase in the number of incidents reported at ports and anchorages in Bangladesh (Chittagong), Philippines (Manila and Batangas) and on ships while underway in the South China Sea (SCS) and Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) compared to the same period in 2016.
Significance Level of Incidents November 2017
Of the seven actual incidents reported in November 2017, one was a CAT 1 incident, three were CAT 3 incidents and three were CAT 4 incidents. The CAT 1 incident involved the hijacking of barge, Ever Omega, which was towed by tug boat, Ever Prosper on 22 Nov 17 off Singkawang, Indonesia. The barge was eventually recovered but her cargo of Crude Palm Kernel Oil (CPKO) was missing. No incident of abduction of crew was reported in November 2017 since the last attempted incident that was reported in April 2017. The three CAT 3 incidents occurred on board ships anchored at Bangladesh (1), Indonesia (1) and in the SCS (1); and the three CAT 4 incidents occurred on board ships anchored in India (1) and in the SCS (2).
Of the nine incidents reported during January-November 2017, two were CAT 1 incidents which involved the hijacking of ships for the of oil cargo (C.P. 41 and MGT 1), two were CAT 2 incidents of robbery on board ships while underway, four were robbery on board ships while at anchor (2 x CAT 3 and 2 x CAT 4) and one was an attempted incident.
The ReCAAP ISC is concerned about the increase in the number of incidents in the SCS and advises all ships to avoid anchor outside port limit area; and to exercise enhanced vigilance, maintain strict look-out, particularly during hours of darkness, and report all incidents to the relevant authorities immediately.
Location & Description of Incidents in November 2017
Map 1 shows the location of the seven actual incidents and two attempted incidents reported in November 2017
Hijacking of Ever Prosper & Ever Omega for Theft of Oil Cargo
On 18 Nov 17 at about 0700 hrs, tug boat Ever Prosper towing Ever Omega carrying 3,700 tons of Crude Palm Kernel Oil (CPKO) departed Bintulu, Sarawak, East Malaysia for Butterworth, Peninsular Malaysia. While underway on 22 Nov 17 at about 0400 hrs, a group of perpetrators armed with parangs boarded the ships and ed up the crew on board Ever Prosper and Ever Omega. The perpetrators took o with Ever Omega and six crew on board, and le behind tug boat Ever Prosper with four crew who later managed to free themselves and sailed the tug boat to waters off southern Johor, Malaysia. The owner reported the incident to the ReCAAP ISC which immediately informed the MMEA and the Indonesian authorities.
The MMEA despatched a boat from Sedili Maritime District in Johor to escort Ever Prosper to Tanjung Pengelih. The perpetrators had reportedly siphoned some fuel from the tug boat. The MMEA also contacted the Indonesian authorities to locate the barge Ever Omega.
On 23 Nov 17 at about 1800 hrs, the Indonesian authorities found Ever Omega and towed her to Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia. All 10 crew were safe. However, the oil cargo (3,700 tons of CPKO) on board the barge was missing. Investigation is ongoing. The ReCAAP ISC commends the MMEA for its quick operational response and follow up with sharing of information with the ReCAAP ISC and the Indonesian authorities which led to the recovery of the tug boat, barge and the rescue of the crew.
This is the second time that the same tug boat (Ever Prosper) became the target of theft of oil cargo. The first incident occurred on 3 Jun 16 in the waters off Sarawak, East Malaysia.
Situation of Abduction of Crew from Ships While Underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea & Waters off Easter Sabah (Jan-Nov 2017)
The ReCAAP Focal Point (Philippines) reported to the ReCAAP ISC that on 10 Nov 17, the Philippine troops during a military opera on in Kang Tipayan Island, Languyan, Tawi-tawi rescued four crew of Giang Hai. However, one of the crew was found dead. Giang Hai, a Vietnam-registered bulk carrier was boarded on 19 Feb 17 at about 35 nm west of Doc Can Island in Sulu, Philippines by an unknown number of armed men who abducted six of its crew (all Vietnamese). One crew was killed while underway, and on 7 Jul 17, the Philippine troops recovered the cadaver of another crew.
There was no report of incident involving the abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu- Celebes Sea in November 2017. 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 Don~a Annabel on 18 Apr 17.
As of 30 Nov 17, 10 crew is still being held in captivity.
Conclusion
The situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia continues to improve in November 2017. The total number of incidents during January-November 2017 is the lowest among the 10-year reporting period of January-November 2008-2017.
There was no report on the abduction of crew from ships in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters o Eastern Sabah. However, of concern was the occurrence of the hijacking of tug boat, Ever Prosper towing barge, Ever Omega for the the of the oil cargo on board. There was also an increase in the number of incidents reported on board ships anchored in the South China Sea (SCS). During January-November 2017, nine incidents were reported in SCS compared to five incidents reported there during the same period in 2016.
Download the Full Report HERE.
Source: ReCAAP ISC
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