Recaap Information Sharing Centre News

ReCAAP ISC has issued the August 2019 Report on the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia which notes that a total of eight incidents was reported in Asia in August and that of these eight incidents, two were piracy incidents and six were incidents of armed robbery. There wer no reports of the abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah; and there were no hijackings of ships for the theft of oil cargo but the abduction of crew for ransom in theSulu-Celebes Seas and the waters off Eastern Sabah remains a serious concern.

ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) and Indian Coast Guard (ISG) are co-hosting an international workshop in New Delhi, India to deepen knowledge on issues related to piracy and armed robbery.Having 20 countries as its members, ReCAAP is the first regional Government-to-Government agreement that deals with the issues of piracy and armed robbery at sea in Asia.Designating ICG as the point of focus for ReCAAP within India, the nation has played an active role in establishment and functioning of ReCAAPISC along with Japan and Singapore.This year’s Capacity Building Workshop emphasises on knowledge of the role and functions of ReCAAP Focal Points in combating piracy and armed robbery against ships…

ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) and Philippine Coast Guard this week co-organised a meeting between government agencies and the shipping industry to enhance maritime safety and security in the Sulu-Celebes seas and waters off eastern Sabah.The meeting brought together key littoral stakeholders including relevant government agencies in the Philippines, the Philippine shipping industry, the Indonesia Coast Guard (BAKAMLA), as well as members of the diplomatic community in Manila to review the current situation in the Sulu-Celebes Seas, take stock of past and current efforts to improve maritime safety and security, and explore ways…

A total of 40 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 29 actual incidents and 11 attempted incidents) were reported in Asia during January-June 2018 compared to 47 incidents (comprising 40 actual incidents and seven attempted incidents) during January-June 2017.ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) in its Half-Yearly (January to June 2018) Report said that it was the lowest number of incidents reported among the 10-year reporting period of January-June of 2009-2018.This accounts for a 15% decrease in the number of incidents reported during January-June 2018 compared to January-June 2017. Of the 40 incidents reported during January-June 2018…

The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre and the Indian Coast Guard have commenced the 2017 Capacity Building Workshop in New Delhi, India. Themed “Striding Over Domestic Challenges,” this year’s workshop draws ReCAAP Focal Points from maritime enforcement and government agencies across Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United States. Participants will pool case studies drawn from recent incidents from their respective countries, discuss challenges, and share best practices to effectively deal with the evolving patterns of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA Japan) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), in cooperation with the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC), jointly launched the inaugural Capacity Building Executive Programme on combating piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia in Singapore. The Capacity Building Executive Programme—targeted at senior-level personnel with 10 to 15 years of experience and above in maritime enforcement—will see ReCAAP Contracting Parties from ASEAN (Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), together with representatives from Indonesia and Malaysia as dialogue partners, participate in a 10-day training held both in Singapore and Japan from September 27 to October 6, 2017.

The safety of navigation is vital to the safety, security and economic activities of all stakeholders traversing sea routes in Asia—the region with some of the busiest seas in the world. Recognising this shared interest, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre and Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 24, 2017 in London to boost the fight against piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. The MOU will see the Information Sharing Centre of ReCAAP, the first regional government-to-government agreement to promote and enhance cooperation against piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia…

Singapore endorsed the roadmap and strategies to strengthen Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery (ReCAAP)  Information Sharing Centre (ISC) as a Centre of Excellence for Information Sharing on piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia by 2020. Singapore, as a Contracting Party to the ReCAAP and host to the ReCAAP ISC, has participated in the 11th Governing Council meeting held from 14-16th March 2017. The Roadmap was the result of several rounds of consultations and discussions amongst Governors, representatives from the Contracting Parties and the Shipping Industry. The Roadmap comprises among other things: a) Use of Data Analytics for ‘Insight of incidents’.

A meeting in Singapore (11-12 January) has seen African and Asian countries join efforts to promote greater networking and communications across anti-piracy contact points in the two continents. Speaking at the meeting, International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Head of Maritime Security, Javier Yasnikouski, commended the initiative, saying that the efforts contribute directly to IMO’s work to raise awareness of maritime security issues that have an impact on international trade and the welfare of seafarers; and encourage a co-operative approach amongst IMO Member States and other partner organizations. The event was organized by the…

The inaugural Meeting of Anti-Piracy Contact Points and Workshop on Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships involving participants from Africa and Asia was held in Singapore today. Organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre (ISC), the two-day meeting gathered about 20 participants to foster closer linkages amongst anti-piracy contact points to enable more effective information sharing and communication. Timely sharing and dissemination of information can often play a decisive role in deterring incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships.

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAPP) May 2016 report  says that only eight incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia for the month, down 65 percent from May last year. Between January and May 2016, a total of 38 incidents were reported in Asia, and this accounts for a 56% decrease in overall number of incidents compared to January-May 2015 when 87 incidents were reported. The number of incidents reported during January-May 2016 is the lowest among the five-year reporting period of January-May of 2012-2016. Of the eight incidents reported in May 2016, one was Category 1 incident involving the hijacking of product tanker Hai Soon 12 off Pulau Belitung, Indonesia on 7 May 16.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Thursday reaffirmed its support for Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery (ReCAAP), highlighting the "instrumental role" the organisation has played in addressing piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. The MPA, host to the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC), notes that ReCAAP's membership has risen from 14 contracting parties in 2006 to 20 this year, a development that the MPA says is a testament to the organisation's persisting relevance and importance in the region's efforts in anti-piracy. Andrew added: "Singapore will continue to invest in efforts to enhance the safety and security of waterways in the region.

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. This represents a 25 percent increase in the total incidents compared to 2014. Of the 161 reported incidents, ReCAAP classifies 150 as armed robbery and the remaining 11 as piracy. Crewmembers were unharmed in 83 percent of incidents. The majority of the incidents on board ships while underway occurred in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS). Of the 110 incidents, 96 (87%) were reported in SOMS, mostly in the eastbound lane of the traffic separation scheme in the Singapore Strait.

Three commercial ships were boarded by pirates within just three hours of each other in Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) has reported. The vessels have been identified as the Brazilian-flagged bulk carrier MV Densa Shark, the Norwegian-flagged LNG tanker Clipper Posh and the Panama-flagged tanker Pro Triumph. Within an interval of three hours on 17 Jun 15, three vessels while underway in the eastbound lane of the SOMS were reportedly boarded in close proximity with each other within 4 to 10 nautical miles of each other, leading authorities to believe that the perpetrators were part of the same group. “In all three incidents, the perpetrators were sighted in the engine room, an indication that the vessel’s engine spare items were targeted.

Singapore-headquartered anti-piracy watchdog ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) posted a 19% increase in the number of reported incidents to 20 cases in May 2015 as compared with April 2015. Among 20 incidents were reported in Asia, of which two were acts of piracy and 18 were incidents of robbery onboard ship. Graph shows the number of incidents reported in May 2015 compared to the same period in the past four years (2011-2014). Of the 20 incidents reported in May 2015, 14 incidents occurred onboard ships while underway and six onboard ships at anchor/berth. A total of 11 incidents occurred in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS); of which 10 were actual incidents and one was an attempted incident. Of these, seven were petty theft incidents.

A chemical tanker captured by pirates nearly a month ago was found grounded in the Philippines today, the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre announced in an incident update. The MT Rehobot, an Indonesian flagged tanker carrying 1,100 tons of diesel when it was hijacked by eight masked individuals  near Lembeh Island, Indonesia, was identified today by Philippine authorities investigating reports of a ship run aground near Mati City in the southern Philippines. All 14 members of the crew were found floating in life rafts by Indonesian authorities three days after the ship was boarded by Indonesian authorities. The vessel itself had been missing since January 28.

Does piracy off the coast of South-East Asia pose a threat? The answer is yes. Shipping lanes in Southeast Asia, one of the world’s busiest trade routes, have been hit by a “worrying new rise” in piracy. How is maritime piracy threatening South-East Asia and to what extent? Piracy is mushrooming in the area of the Strait of Malacca, Singapore Strait, Bangladesh, South China Sea and Vietnam, a shipping bottleneck that sees one-third of the world's annual commercial maritime traffic, making it the busiest waterway on earth. They no longer fly the skull and crossbones flag, instead clambering aboard ships wielding guns and knives under the cover of darkness.

ReCAAP issue 'Tug Boats & Barge' guide to help owners, operators and crew stay safe from hijacking and piracy. The guide contains inputs and experience of tug boat owners, operators and masters whose vessels had been robbed or hijacked; and modus operandi of the robbers and hijackers. In planning a passage, the guide highlights the responsibilities of the ship owner, ship master and crew at the various phases: the pre-sailing, sailing and post incident reporting/follow-up phases. In past four years (2008-2011), it was observed that more tug boats and barges had been targets of robbery and hijacking in certain locations of Asia. The inherent characteristics and activities of tug boats towing barges had made these vessels relatively more vulnerable…

The Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden (Djibouti Code of Conduct) has been signed on behalf of Mozambique by His Excellency Carlos dos Santos, High Commissioner of the Republic of Mozambique in the United Kingdom. • the conduct of shared operations – both among signatory States and with navies from countries outside the region – such as nominating law enforcement or other authorized officials to embark on patrol ships or aircraft of another signatory. In addition, the Code encourages the sharing of related information, and a regional network has been established by IMO’s Djibouti Code of Conduct Implementation Unit…

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued a special report addressing piracy in the South China Sea. Between January and June 2010, there have been eleven reported attacks by pirates against ships underway in water near the islands of Anambas, Natuna, and Mangkai. Masters transiting these waters should take enhanced anti-boarding measures, especially at the quarters. (6/18/10). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an Incident Update stating that the crew of the tug boat Atlantic 3 have been found alive. Contact was lost with the tug and its barge on April 27 while they were transiting near Pulau Bintan, Indonesia. On May 3, the Vietnamese Navy rescued the nine crewmembers of the tug from a life raft near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It has been assessed that the pirates who hijacked the tug and its tow are headed toward the Philippine Islands. (5/7/10). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

According to an April 21 report from ChannelNewsAsia.com, Pan United tugboat, P-U 2007, went missing in waters off Kuantan in Malaysia the night of April 19. Nine crew members were on board the tugboat, which belongs to Pan United's wholly-owned subsidiary, P.U. Vision. The tugboat which was towing a barge, also owned by P.U. Vision, was en route to Thailand. According to the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre Incident Alert and Bryant’s Maritime News, the tug has possibly been hijacked. The vessel’s SSAS has been activated and radiotelephone contact has been lost. The tug appears to be heading easterly in the general direction of the Philippines. The barge has been sighted by an airplane, but there have been no visual contacts of the tug.

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an incident alert stating that a chemical tanker anchored at night off southeast Malaysia was boarded by an unknown number of robbers, who stole some engine spare parts. Masters are reminded to maintain vigilance and to adopt precautionary measures when anchored in the area. (3/11/10). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)