Celebes Sea News

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 number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia in August 2017 had increased slightly compared to the same period in 2016, said ReCAAP ISC. Four incidents were reported in August 2017 compared to three incidents reported in August 2016. However, the total number of incidents during January-August 2017 was the lowest among the 10-year reporting period of January-August 2008-2017. There was no report of incident involving the abduction of crew from ships in the Sulu-Celebes Sea since the last actual incident that occurred in March 2017. Nevertheless, the ReCAAP ISC together with ReCAAP Focal Points, particularly the Focal Point for Philippines (Philippine Coast Guard)…

A total of 36 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 30 actual incidents and six attempted incidents) were reported during January-June 2017 in Asia, said a report by Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC). The total number of incidents reported during January-June 2017 has decreased by 22% compared to the same period in 2016. A total of 46 incidents were reported during January-June 2016. Of serious concern was the occurrence of incidents involving the abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and waters o Eastern Sabah.

A pilot safely ejected and was quickly recovered by a helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 4 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) while conducting routine flight operations during a transit in the Celebes Sea.   The incident occurred as the F/A-18E assigned to Carrier Air Wing 2 was on final approach to Carl Vinson.    The incident is currently under investigation. The pilot is being assessed by the medical team aboard Carl Vinson and there are no apparent injuries at this time.

Japan has offered to send patrol ships to deal with a growing piracy threat in the southern Philippine waters bordering Indonesia and Malaysia, a senior Philippine defence official said on Tuesday. A surge in piracy off parts of the southern Philippines is forcing ship-owners to divert vessels through other waters, pushing up costs and shipping times. Dozens of sailors have been taken captive by Abu Sayyaf. Japanese vice minister Ro Manabe offered the assistance at a meeting in Tokyo on Friday and expressed readiness to contribute to efforts by the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia "in addressing piracy and terrorism", said Raymund Quilop, assistant defence minister for assessments and international affairs.

For the period of 3 – 9 Jan 17, three attempted incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported to the ReCAAP ISC. One of the incidents occurred on 23 November 2016, and was further verified by ReCAAP Focal Points. The location of the three incidents are shown in the map below; and the detailed description of the incidents are tabulated in attachment. The ReCAAP ISC urges ship master and crew to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal State and flag State, exercise vigilance and adopt relevant preventive measures taking reference from the Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia, particularly when operating in areas of concern.

ReCAAP ISC has published its monthly report on piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. In November 2016, a total of 10 incidents were reported, of which six were actual incidents while four were attempted incidents. Of the six actual incidents, five were incidents of armed robbery against ships and one was a piracy incident. Of great concern was the continued occurrence of incidents involving the abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and off eastern Sabah. In November 2016, one actual incident and four attempted incidents of abduction of crew were reported. A total of 77 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported from January - November 2016 in Asia.

1801 - Commodore Richard Dale's squadron arrives at Gibraltar for the protection of American interests and to strike at the Barbary Pirates in the Mediterranean. Squadron ships were USS President, USS Philadelphia, USS Essex, and USS Enterprise. 1850 - The Naval School at Annapolis, Md., is renamed the U.S. Naval Academy and adopts a four-year course of study. Also on this date, Commander Cornelius K. Stribling becomes the first Superintendent of the Naval Academy and serves until the fall of 1853.

Three Castaways Rescued Safely off Indonesia. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) has announced that on October 6, 2014, the MOL-operated/managed LNG carrier Senshu Maru founded drifting castaways in the Celebes Sea off Indonesia, and was able to safely rescue three Indonesian fishermen. At 14:15 (all times were in Japan time) on October 6, 2014, the Senshu Maru, sailing from the port of Bontang, Indonesia, to the port of Sakai-Senboku in Osaka, Japan, found drifting fishermen – their fishing boat was hit by the wave and sunk, and immediately began the rescue operations.