ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - October 2018 Report
ReCAAP ISC October 2018 report states that total of six incidents of armed robbery against ships1 were reported in Asia in October 2018. No piracy2 incident was reported. There was also no report of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and no hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo reported in October 2018. However, the abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah remains a serious concern.
The ReCAAP ISC has issued a Warning on 30 Oct 18 alerting the shipping industry about a group of about 10 ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) members planning to conduct kidnapping activities at any opportune time in undisclosed areas in Sabah targeting businessmen or ship’s crew of foreign vessels passing through the area.
NUMBER OF INCIDENTS
In October 2018, a total of six incidents (all actual incidents3) of armed robbery against ships were reported. All incidents have been verified and reported to ReCAAP ISC by ReCAAP Focal Points, Contact Point and regional authorities. No piracy incident was reported during October 2018.
Compared to the preceding month of September 2018, the number of incidents reported in October 2018 has increased slightly. A total of five incidents were reported in September 2018 compared to six incidents in October 2018.
STATUS OF SHIPS
Of the six incidents reported in October 2018, five incidents occurred on board ships at anchor/berth and one incident on board ship while underway.
JANUARY-OCTOBER 2018
NUMBER OF INCIDENTS
A total of 70 incidents comprising of 56 actual incidents and 14 attempted incidents4 have been verified and reported to ReCAAP ISC during January-October 2018. Of these, 67 were incidents of armed robbery against ships and three were piracy incidents. Compared to January-October 2017, there was a 5% decrease in the total number of incidents reported during January-October 2018. A total of 74 incidents comprising 64 actual and 10 attempted incidents were reported during January-October 2017. Graph 2 shows the number of incidents reported during the 10-year reporting period of January-October of 2009-2018.
SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL OF INCIDENTS
Of the 56 actual incidents reported during January-October 2018, one was a CAT 1 incident, six were CAT 2 incidents, 12 were CAT 3 incidents and 37 were CAT 4 incidents. The CAT 1 incident involved the abduction of two fishermen from fishing boat Sri Dewi 1 on 11 Sep 18 in waters off Eastern Sabah. The number of CAT 1 incident reported during January-October 2018 was the lowest among the 10-year period of January-October of 2009-2018.
UPDATE ON SITUATION OF ABDUCTION OF CREW IN THE SULU-CELEBES SEAS AND WATERS OFF EASTERN SABAH
There was no report of actual or attempted incident involving the abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off eastern Sabah in October 2018. The last actual incident reported to ReCAAP ISC occurred on board fishing boat, Sri Dewi 1 while sailing off Gaya Island, Semporna, Sabah, East Malaysia on 11 Sep 18; and the last attempted incident occurred to container ships, Kudos 1 while sailing off Sibago islands, Basilan, Philippines on 16 Feb 18.
On 30 Oct 18, ReCAAP ISC issued a Warning after receiving information from the Philippine Focal Point (Philippine Coast Guard) that a group of about 10 ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) members is planning to conduct kidnapping activities at any opportune time in undisclosed areas in Sabah. The group, armed with pistol, rifles and grenade launcher; is reportedly targeting businessmen or ship’s crew of foreign vessels passing through the area. They are using unmarked coloured blue and white motorbanca locally known as jungkong.
As serious threat of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah still remains, the ReCAAP ISC maintains its advisory issued via the ReCAAP ISC Incident Alert dated 21 Nov 16 to all ships to reroute from the area, where possible. Otherwise, ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance when transiting the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah, and report immediately to the Centres.
CONCLUSION
The total number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia during January-October 2018 has decreased by 5% compared to the same period in 2017. The bulk of the decrease was due to lower number of actual incidents reported during January-October 2018 compared to January- October 2017.
The number of actual incidents reported during January-October 2018 was the lowest among the 10-year reporting period of January-October of 2009-2018. A total of 70 incidents comprising 56 actual and 14 attempted incidents were reported during January-October 2018 compared to 74 incidents comprising 64 actual and 10 attempted incidents reported during the same period in 2017.
The abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu- Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah remains a serious concern.
The recent Warning issued by ReCAAP ISC indicates that serious threat of abduction of crew still exists in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah. The ReCAAP ISC reiterates its Incident Alert dated 21 Nov 16 to all ships to reroute from the area, where possible; otherwise to exercise extra vigilance when transiting the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah, and report immediately to the reporting centres.
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Source: ReCAAP ISC
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