The Information Sharing Center of the “Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery” against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) is a formally recognised International organisation to facilitate communications and information exchange among participating governments to improve incident response by member countries; analyse and provide accurate statistics of the piracy and armed robbery incidents to foster better understanding of the situation in Asia.
ReCAAP published a comprehensive report for the Month of July 2015 with regard to the incidents in South East Asian Waters. This is a comparative study of the same period in the past four years (2011-2014).
Number of incidents:
Graph 1 – Number of incidents (July of 2011-2015):
| Total number of incidents of armed robbery against ships reported in Asia in July 2015 | : | 10 |
| Total number of actual incidents | : | 8 |
| Total number of attempted incidents | : | 2 |
| Status | : | Notable Decrease |
| % decrease from 2013 | : | 41% |
| % decrease from 2014 | : | 38% |
Categorisation of Significance level of incident:
Chart 1 – Significance level of incidents (July of 2011-2015):
| Category 1 (Very Significant) | : Nil |
| Category 2 (Moderately Significant) | : 1 |
| Category 3 (Less Significant) | : 1 |
| Petty Theft (Minimum Significant) | : 6 |
| Observation | : This is the first time since January 2015 when no siphoning of ship fuel/oil was known to have had occurred. |
| Possible reason | : The recent arrest of eight perpetrators involved in the hijacking and siphoning of fuel from Orkim Harmony in the South China Sea on 11 Jun 15. |
LOCATION OF INCIDENTS
| Straits Of Malacca and Singapore(SOMS) | : 5 |
| Vietnam ports/anchorages | : 2 |
| Kandla anchorage, India | : 1 |
| Tanjung Kelasa, Malaysia | : 1 |
| Pulau Batam | : 1 |
IMPROVING SITUATION IN THE STRAITS OF MALACCA AND SINGAPORE (SOMS)
Incidents in SOMS (Jan-Jul 2015)
| Total incidents from Jan-Jul 2015 | : 64 |
| Observation | : Increasing trend from Jan-Jun; a sharp decline in July. |
| Possible reason | : Persistent and intensive efforts by the littoral States to step up its surveillance efforts and precautionary measures undertaken by ship masters and crew. |
Incidents at Vung Tau anchorage, Vietnam Jan-Jul 2015
| Total incidents from Jan-Jul 2015 | : 9 |
| Latest incident onboard | : Adara product tanker 11 JUL 2015 |
| Observation | : Minimum one incident per month reported. |
| Action required | : Authorities should enforce the implementation of the ISPS code and encourage shipmaster and crew to exercise vigilance and maintain stringent watch keeping while at anchor. |
Conclusion
- ReCAAP ISC will continue to work hard with the regional enforcement agencies, shipping industry and INTERPOL towards eradicating such maritime crime.
- The situation at Vung Tau Anchorage, Vietnam warrants collective and cooperative efforts to prevent boarding by perpetrators interested in stealing ship stores.
- Inspite of the improvement in the situation in SOMS, the ship masters and crew transiting the area are advised to exercise enhanced vigilance and deploy extra watch keepers and look-outs.
- Additional caution to be taken to avoid escalation of incidents in terms of numbers or severity.
Source: ReCAAP
