ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Robbery At Sea in Asia August 2021 Report
SEVEN incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during August 2021, reports ReCAAP ISC. No piracy incident was reported. All seven incidents were categorised as actual incidents with no attempted incident recorded.
The ReCAAP ISC is concerned with the continued occurrence of incidents on board ships while underway in the Singapore Strait with two incidents reported (one incident in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme [TSS] and the other incident in the westbound lane).
An increase of incidents on board ships while anchored at South Harbour Anchorage Area of Manila, the Philippines, three incidents were reported. During these incidents, the perpetrators demonstrated violence against the crew. Concerned with the increase of incidents and level of violence at South Harbour Anchorage Area of Manila, the ReCAAP ISC issued an Incident Alert (IA 06/2021) on 23 Aug.
August saw no report of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah, however, the threat of the abduction of crew remains high as the Abu Sayyaf Group leaders responsible for the abduction of crew in the Sulu area are still at large.
STATUS OF SHIPS
Of the seven incidents reported in August, three incidents occurred on board ships while anchored at South Harbour Anchorage Area of Manila, the Philippines; two incidents occurred on board ships while underway in the Singapore Strait; and two incidents occurred on board ships while berthed/anchored at Indonesian port and anchorage (Belawan Port and Tanjung Priok Anchorage, Jakarta).
JANUARY-AUGUST 2021
NUMBER OF INCIDENTS
During Jan-Aug 2021, 51 incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia were reported. No piracy incident was reported during this period. Of the 51 incidents, 49 were actual incidents and two were attempted incidents. Compared to Jan-Aug 2020, the total number of incidents during Jan-Aug 2021 decreased by 27%. A total of 70 incidents (comprising 68 actual incidents and two attempted incidents) were reported during the same period 2020. The total number of incidents reported during Jan-Aug 2021 is the second lowest among Jan-Aug statistics between 2007-2021.
With the two incidents reported in August 2021, a total of 24 incidents (comprising 23 actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported in the Singapore Strait during Jan-Aug 2021. Of the 24 incidents, 22 incidents occurred in the eastbound lane of the TSS, and two incidents in the westbound lane.
The ReCAAP ISC is concerned with the persistent occurrence of incidents in the Singapore Strait, particularly a cluster of incidents off Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island (Indonesia). Of the 24 incidents, 18 incidents occurred off Tanjung Pergam. Since Jan 2021, the ReCAAP ISC has issued five Incident Alerts to warn the shipping community of the incidents in the Singapore Strait, particularly off Tanjung Pergam.
Map 2 shows the location of the 24 incidents reported in the Singapore Strait during Jan-Aug 2021.
The decrease of incidents during Jan-Aug 2021 occurred in the following locations:
- - In Bangladesh, no incident was reported during January-August 2021 compared to three incidents during Jan-Aug 2020.
- - In India, four incidents were reported during Jan-Aug 2021 compared to eight incidents during the same period in 2020.
- - In Indonesia, nine incidents were reported during Jan-Aug 2021 compared to 19 incidents during Jan-Aug 2020.
- - In Malaysia, one incident was reported during Jan-Aug 2021 compared to two incidents during the same period in 2020.
- - In Vietnam, two incidents were reported during Jan-Aug 2021 compared to three incidents during Jan-Aug 2020.
- - In the South China Sea, no incident was reported during Jan-Aug 2021 compared to three incidents during the same period in 2020.
- - In the Sulu-Celebes Seas, no incident was reported during January-August 2021 compared to one incident during Jan-Aug 2020.
However, there was an increase of incidents in the Philippines and the Singapore Strait. In the Philippines, 11 incidents were reported during Jan-Aug 2021 compared to 10 incidents during January-August 2020. In the Singapore Strait, 24 incidents were reported during Jan-Aug 2021 compared to 21 incidents reported during the same period in 2020.
CONCLUSION
The total number of incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia reported during Jan-Aug 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 are the continued occurrence of incidents in the Singapore Strait, increase of incidents and its level of violence at South Harbour Anchorage Areas of Manila, and the persisting threats of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah.
Unless the perpetrators in these incidents are arrested, the incidents are likely to continue to occur. This requires collective efforts of all the stakeholders in timely reporting, immediate responses, enforcement, and heightened vigilance.
Read the Full Report HERE.
Source: ReCAAP ISC
Information, Security, Safety; Shared
Submitted by Team@oceanuslive.org