Information Fusion Centre (IFC) Annual Report: 2,972 Maritime Incidents Recorded In 2023

• The Information Fusion Centre (IFC) has released its annual report highlighting a total of 2,972 recorded incidents across various categories in 2023.
• The report covers theft, robbery, piracy at sea (TRAPS), maritime incidents (MI), contraband smuggling (CS), etc..,
• The report provides insights into the causes, trends, and expectations for each category, addressing factors such as economic conditions, enforcement efforts, and geopolitical situations.

The Information Fusion Centre (IFC) has released its annual report, detailing a total of 2,972 maritime incidents recorded in 2023. The report covers diverse categories, including theft, robbery, and piracy at sea (TRAPS), maritime incidents (MI), contraband smuggling (CS), illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing (IUUF), irregular human migration (IHM), environmental security (ENVSEC), cyber security (CYBSEC), and maritime terrorism (MT).

Theft, Robbery, and Piracy at Sea (TRAPS)

The report notes 117 TRAPS incidents in the IFC’s Area of Interest (AOI) in 2023, attributing the rise to global economic factors and challenging weather conditions affecting fishing yields. The Singapore Strait remains a major concern, with notable enforcement efforts leading to a 47% decrease in incidents in the second half of 2023. The IFC expects incident numbers in 2024 to remain similar or decline.

Maritime Incidents

A total of 1,023 MI incidents were reported in 2023, with a slight increase compared to the previous year. The IFC streamlined its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), excluding incidents involving medical evacuation, work accidents, and man overboard incidents. Bad weather and equipment failure in waters off Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam contributed to the increase. The IFC expects incident numbers in 2024 to be similar or higher, given the high maritime activities and unpredictable weather patterns.

Contraband Smuggling

The report records 834 CS incidents in 2023, comparable to the previous year. Rising costs of living and effective enforcement efforts contribute to reported incidents. While smuggling of domestic products and drugs decreased, tobacco and fuel smuggling increased. The IFC anticipates high CS incident numbers in 2024 due to challenging global economic and regional political situations.

Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported Fishing (IUUF)

There were 708 reported IUUF incidents in 2023, marked by an increase in waters off Australia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. Regional enforcement efforts and better outreach contributed to the rise. The IFC expects an increase in IUUF incidents in 2024 due to continued strong enforcement efforts.

Irregular Human Migration (IHM)

A total of 218 IHM incidents were reported in 2023, witnessing a decrease due to improving political and economic situations in certain countries. Malaysia remains a destination for IHM incidents originating from Myanmar, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Factors like displacement, conflict, and economic insecurity are expected to drive mass migration in 2024.

Environmental Security (ENVSEC)

52 ENVSEC incidents were reported in 2023, primarily related to MARPOL violations, oil leakages, and illicit sand mining. The IFC expects an increase in ENVSEC incidents in 2024 as the industry improves reporting and collating of information.

Cyber Security (CYBSEC)

20 CYBSEC incidents were reported in 2023, a significant increase from the previous year. Malware attacks accounted for more than half of cybersecurity incidents. The IFC anticipates an increase in cybersecurity incidents in 2024 due to greater digital system connectivity and evolving cyberattack sophistication.

Maritime Terrorism 

No Maritime Terrorism incidents were recorded in 2023. Initiatives such as the Trilateral Cooperation Arrangement between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines are expected to have a positive deterrent effect against terrorist activities through regular joint patrols.

The comprehensive annual report provides valuable insights into the maritime security landscape, outlining trends, contributing factors, and expectations for the coming year.

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Source: safety4sea

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