'ReCAAPing' April's Asian Piracy, Sea Robbery SITREP

May 10, 2019

File Image: a thwarted pirate attack (CREDIT: IMB)

Appended are highlights of the piracy and sea robbery situation in Asia in April 2019. The full report can be downloaded on the ReCAAP ISC website.

Piracy and Sea Robbery Situation in Asia in April 2019

A total of three incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in April 2019
There was no report of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah; and no hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo reported in April 2019
However, the abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah remains a serious concern

Comparative Data

Compared to April 2018, there was a 70% decrease in the number of incidents reported in April 2019
A total of 10 incidents were reported in April 2018 compared to three incidents in April 2019
The total number of incidents has remained fairly constant between three to four incidents for the past six months (November 2018 to April 2019)

Status of Ships

Of the three incidents reported in April 2019, two incidents occurred on board tug boats while on towing operations in the Singapore Strait, and one incident on board a tanker anchored at Visakhapatnam SPM anchorage, India
Significance Level of Incidents
All three incidents reported in April 2019 were CAT 4 incidents

Incidents in the Singapore Strait

During January-April 2019, four incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in close proximity to each other in the western sector of the Singapore Strait
The incidents occurred when the ships while underway in the westbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS)
Of the four incidents, two incidents reported loss of scrap metal and nothing was reported stolen in the other two incidents

Situation in Sulu-Celebes Seas and Waters off Eastern Sabah

As the threat of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off eastern Sabah remains, ReCAAP ISC maintains its advisory issued via the ReCAAP ISC Incident Alert dated 21 Nov 16 to all ships to reroute from the area, where possible
Otherwise, ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the area, and report immediately to the Operation Centres of Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia