ACCORDING to the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre, there were five incidents of armed robbery against ships reported in Asia in July 2021. No piracy incident was reported.
This brings the total incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia from January-July 2021 to 43. Of the 43 incidents, 41 were actual incidents and two were attempted incidents.
Compared to January-July 2020, the total number of incidents during January-July 2021 decreased by 32%. A total of 63 incidents (comprising 61 actual incidents and two attempted incidents) were reported during January-July 2020.
The total number of incidents reported during January-July 2021 is the second lowest among January-July of 2007-2021.
The ReCAAP ISC remains concerned with the persistent occurrence of incidents onboard ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. In July 2021, two incidents were reported in the Singapore Strait.
There was no report of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah in July 2021. However, the threat of the abduction of crew remains high as the Abu Sayyaf Group leaders responsible for the abduction of crew in the Sulu area are still at large.
Of the five actual incidents reported in July 2021, one was a CAT 2 incident, three were CAT 3 incidents and one was a CAT 4 incident (where the perpetrators were not armed and crew not harmed).
The CAT 2 incident occurred onboard a container ship while anchored at South Harbour Anchorage area, Manila, the Philippines. A perpetrator pointed an improvised gun at the duty crew, took away his two-way radio and tied him to the railing of the ship.
Seven other perpetrators then appeared onboard the ship, stole one roll of new spare rope mooring line and escaped.
Two of the three CAT 3 incidents occurred onboard bulk carriers while underway off Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island (Indonesia) in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait. In both incidents, the perpetrators were armed with knives. The crew was not injured and nothing was stolen in the two incidents.
The other CAT 3 incident occurred onboard a tanker while anchored at Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia. Two perpetrators were sighted, each carrying a knife and a rod. They escaped immediately when the alarm was raised. The crew was not injured and some fire hose couplings were stolen.
The CAT 4 incident occurred onboard a container ship while anchored at South Harbour Anchorage area, Manila, the Philippines. Two perpetrators were seen at the forecastle deck lowering some materials into their motor banca using a rope. They escaped immediately when they saw the roving crew. The crew was not injured and ship stores were stolen.
