The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) today released its Half-Year Report (January – June 2024) on Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships (ARAS) in Asia, sources Recaap.
Overall Situation
▪ No incident of abduction of crew for ransom in Sulu-Celebes Seas for the fourth consecutive year since 2020.
▪ A total of 51 incidents, consisting of one piracy incident on the high seas and 50 incidents of Armed Robbery Against Ships (in internal, waters, territorial seas, and archipelagic waters under coastal State’s jurisdiction) in Asia were reported to ReCAAP ISC in the first half of 2024. This represents a 16% decrease compared to 61 incidents in the first half of 2023. The piracy incident occurred onboard a barge towing a tug boat loaded with steel scrap in the South China Sea.
▪ The majority of incidents are generally opportunistic theft committed by perpetrators who are non-confrontational and who adopt a ‘hit-and-run’ approach. In most incidents, the criminals board ships that are ill-prepared, have low freeboard, and maneuver at slow speed in restricted areas of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS). The most commonly stolen items are engine spares.
▪ Of the 51 incidents reported, 44 were actual 1 incidents while seven were attempted incidents. In light of the incidents (CAT 2), the perpetrators were armed with knives, and the crew was threatened or tied up. In 16 of the incidents (CAT 3), the crew was not injured, and perpetrators stole unsecured items.
Area of Concern
▪ A total of 21 incidents were reported in the SOMS from January to June 2024, a 49% decrease compared to 41 incidents reported in January to June 2023.
▪ Of the 21 incidents reported in the SOMS,
Twelve incidents occurred on the eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait, six incidents occurred in the precautionary area, and three incidents took place in the westbound lane of the Singapore Strait.
The crew was not injured in the majority of the cases (81%)
The majority of incidents (81%) occurred onboard bulk carriers while underway or sailing
▪ In 38% of the incidents in the SOMS, the perpetrators escaped empty-handed. Items like engine spares were taken in 48% of the incidents, while ship store and unsecured items were taken in the remaining 14% of incidents.
▪ 86% of incidents occurred during hours of darkness between 1800 to 0559 hrs.
ReCAAP ISC Executive Director, Mr Krishnaswamy Natarajan, said “Overall, the piracy and sea robbery situation in Asia has improved in the first half of 2024, compared to the same period last year. I would like to commend the littoral States’ of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore for stepping up enforcement and making arrests, as these efforts have contributed to a 50% reduction in the number of incidents in the first half of 2024.”
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Source: Recaap
