ReCAAP ISC published its 3rd quarter piracy report, informing that during July-September of 2023, a total of 84 incidents of ARAS were reported in Asia. No piracy incident was reported during this period. Of the 84 incidents, 83 were actual incidents and one was an attempted incident, reports Safety4sea.
Number of incidents
According to the report, there was a 33% increase in the number of incidents reported during January-September 2023 compared to 63 incidents comprising 60 actual incidents and three attempted incidents) during the same period in 2022. Refer to the Appendix on ‘Description of incidents’ for details of the incidents. Comparing Qtr 2 with Qtr 3 of 2023, there has been a decrease in incidents [34 incidents vs 23 incidents]. On a quarter-to-quarter comparison between 2023 and 2022, the number of incidents reported during Qtr 3 of 2023 has increased compared to the same period in 2022 [21 incidents].
The total number of incidents reported during January-September 2023 has increased compared to January-September 2022, in the following locations:
- In India, four incidents were reported compared to three incidents.
- In Indonesia, 12 incidents were reported compared to nine incidents.
- In the Philippines, eight incidents were reported compared to four incidents.
- In the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), 56 incidents were reported compared to 41 incidents.
- In Thailand, one incident was reported compared to no incident.
- In Vietnam, two incidents were reported compared to no incident.
Areas of Concern
- Increase of incidents in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS): A total of 56 incidents were reported in SOMS during January-September 2023 compared with 41 incidents during the same period in 2022. Of the 56 incidents – 52 incidents occurred in the Singapore Strait (SS) and four incidents in the Malacca Strait (MS). During January-September 2022, all 41 incidents occurred in the SS, and no incident was reported in the MS.
- Threat of abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas: No incident of abduction of crew by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was reported in the Sulu-Celebes Seas during January-September 2023. However, due to the presence of the remnants of the ASG in the Sulu and Tawi Tawi area, the threat of abduction of crew for ransom remains.
Piracy vs armed robbery against ships
All 84 incidents reported during January-September 2023 were ARAS. No piracy incident was reported. Piracy takes place on the high seas while ARAS takes place in internal waters, archipelagic waters and territorial seas which are under the jurisdiction of the coastal States.
The majority of the incidents reported in Asia were ARAS. Over the 17-year period of January September of 2007-2023, the number of piracy incidents fluctuated each year, with an average of 10% for piracy incidents and 90% for ARAS. However, from 2018 till 2023, the number of piracy incidents has decreased to 3% and ARAS accounts for 97%.
Significance level of incidents
To provide a qualitative perspective of the incidents, the ReCAAP ISC classifies each actual incident into one of the four categories to determine its significance level (CAT 1 being most severe incident, CAT 2 moderately severe, CAT 3 less severe and CAT 4 least severe). Refer to the Appendix on pages 43-44 of this report on the ‘Methodology in classifying incidents’.
The categorisation of 83 actual incidents reported are: six CAT 2, 24 CAT 3 and 53 CAT 4 incidents, with no CAT 1 incident reported during January-September 2023. On a quarter-to-quarter comparison of 2023, the severity of incidents during Qtr 3 has increased compared with the previous two quarters. In Qtr 3, 45% of incidents were CAT 2 and CAT 3 incidents, and 55% were CAT 4 incidents. This was an increase in severity of incidents compared to Qtr 2 [35% were CAT 2 and CAT 3 incidents and 65% were CAT 4 incidents].
Status of Ships
Of the 84 incidents reported during January-September 2023, 28 incidents (33%) occurred to ships while at anchor/berth and 56 incidents (67%) occurred to ships while underway.
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Source: Safety4sea
