ReCAAP ISC Piracy, Robbery At Sea in Asia July 2021 Report

ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Robbery At Sea in Asia July Report 2021

RECAAP ISC latest report states that in July 2021, five incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia. No piracy incident was reported. All five incidents were actual incidents. No attempted incident was reported.

The ReCAAP ISC is concerned with the persistent occurrence of incidents on board ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. In July 2021, two incidents were reported in the Singapore Strait. Concerned with the continued occurrence of incidents in the Singapore Strait, particularly off Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island (Indonesia), the ReCAAP ISC issued an Incident Alert (IA 05/2021) on 19 Jul.

There was no report of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah in July 2021. However, the threat of the abduction of crew remains high as the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leaders responsible for the abduction of crew in the Sulu area are still at large.

JULY 2021

NUMBER OF INCIDENTS

In July 2021, five incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia. All were actual incidents. No attempted incident was reported. All incidents have been verified and reported to the ReCAAP ISC by ReCAAP Focal Points.

STATUS OF SHIPS

Of the five incidents reported in July 2021, two incidents occurred on board ships while underway in the Singapore Strait, two incidents occurred on board ships while anchored at South Harbour Anchorage area, Manila, the Philippines and one incident on board a ship while anchored at Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia.

NUMBER OF INCIDENTS

During January-July 2021, 43 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia. No piracy incident was reported during this period. Of the 43 incidents, 41 were actual incidents and two were attempted incidents. Compared to January-July 2020, the total number of incidents during January-July 2021 decreased by 32%. A total of 63 incidents (comprising 61 actual incidents and two attempted incidents) were reported during January-July 2020. The total number of incidents reported during January-July 2021 is the second lowest among January-July of 2007-2021.

SITUATION OF ARMED ROBBERY AGAINST SHIPS IN THE SINGAPORE STRAIT JULY 2021

In July 2021, two incidents (all actual incidents) occurred to bulk carriers while underway off Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island (Indonesia) in the Singapore Strait on 17 Jul within an interval of 30 mins and in close proximity to each other. In both incidents, the perpetrators were armed with knives. They were sighted in the engine room in one incident, and in the steering gear room in the other incident. The perpetrators escaped upon being sighted, the crew was safe and nothing was stolen in both incidents.

The description of the two incidents in July 2021 are as follows:

At about 0016 hrs when the bulk carrier was underway, five unauthorised persons were sighted in the steering gear room. One of the perpetrators was armed with knives. The perpetrators escaped upon being sighted. A search on board the ship was conducted but with no further sighting of the perpetrators. The master declared that nothing was stolen. All crew are safe and no further assistance required.

A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were notified. Information of the incident was shared with the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities.

At about 0040 hrs, when the bulk carrier was underway, five unauthorised persons armed with knives were sighted in the engine room. The perpetrators escaped upon being sighted. A search on board the ship was conducted but with no further sighting of the perpetrators.

All crew are safe and no assistance required. The ship continued her voyage for Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore Police Coast Guard were notified. Information of the incident was shared with the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities.

CONCLUSION

ReCAAP ISC states that the total number of incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia reported during January-July 2021 has decreased compared to the same period in 2020. This was due to the decrease of incidents in several locations in Asia. However, of concern is the persistent occurrence of incidents in the Singapore Strait and the continued threat of the ASG in the abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah. Unless the perpetrators responsible for these incidents are arrested, the incidents will continue to occur. This requires collective efforts of all the stakeholders in enforcement, timely reporting, immediate responses and heightened vigilance.

Source: ReCAAP ISC

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