Piracy Monitor Reports Incidents Up by 25%

Singapore-based anti-piracy agency, ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) has recorded a total of 161 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia during January-September 2015.
The total incidents for January-September 2015 reports marked a 25% increase year-on-year as compared to 150 incidents recorded in the same period last year.

Singapore-based anti-piracy agency, ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) has recorded a total of 161 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia during January-September 2015.
The total incidents for January-September 2015 reports marked a 25% increase year-on-year as compared to 150 incidents recorded in the same period last year.
Out of the 161 incidents, 11 cases were classified as piracy where the incidents occurred on high seas, while the remaining 150 incidents belong to armed robberies against ships where the incidents took place within state's internal waters, archipelagic waters and territorial sea.
Meanwhile, ReCAAP ISC has further broken down the 161 incidents into: 11 CAT 1 cases; 21 CAT 2 incidents; 26 CAT 3 incidents; 92 CAT 4 incidents or petty theft; and 11 attempted incidents.
According to the report, 110 of the total 161 incidents occurred on board ship while under way and 51 occurred at ports and anchorages. Out of the 110 incidents, 96 cases (87%) occurred under way in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS).
Most of the incidents happened in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait (SS) where ships are relatively more vulnerable to boarding due to their slow speed while transiting the strait, particularly negotiating the turn at the Philip Channel.
Then of the 51 incidents that occurred at ports and anchorages, 19 cases were reported in Vietnam, 16 incidents occurred in Indonesia, while the remaining cases were reported in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, The Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and the South China Sea.
"There is need for continuous efforts to tackle these incidents by the authorities and shipping industry collectively and the importance of timely reporting by shipowners, operators, masters, and prompt responses by maritime enforcement agencies," concluded ReCAAP ISC in its quarterly report.