The number of armed robberies has declined by 27% in Asia during the January-September period this year compared to the same period of 2020.
According to ReCAAP, the regional initiative that promote and enhance cooperation against piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia, a total of 55 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported during January-September 2021.
On the other hand, 75 incidents were reported during the same period in 2020.
All the incidents reported during the first nine months of the year were armed robbery against ships, while no piracy incident was reported.
The decrease of incidents occurred in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, South China Sea and the Sulu Celebes Seas during this period.
On the other hand, the areas of concern were Singapore Strait, Manila Anchorage Areas in the Philippines and Sulu-Celebes Seas.
In the Singapore Strait, armed robbery against ships continued to occur, the ReCAAP said and added that a total of 26 incidents were reported during the period under review compared to 22 incidents during the same period in the previous year.
In Manila Anchorage Areas, a total of nine incidents were reported at South Harbour Anchorage Area during January-August 2021, including violence against crew.
On 27 and 29 Sep, the Philippine law enforcement agencies arrested the leader and one member of a criminal group responsible for the incidents at Manila Anchorage Areas and following that no incident was reported in September 2021.
The threat of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah continues to remain high although there is no abduction of crew since January 2020.
Ships transiting the area are advised to follow the ReCAAP ISC’s ‘Guidance on Abduction of Crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and Waters off Eastern Sabah’, and maintain communications with the Operation Centres of the Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM).
A major decline in robbery incidents was reported in Bangladesh where no incident was reported during January-September 2021 compared to three incidents during the same period last year.
In India, four incidents were reported till September this year compared to eight during the same period in 2020, while in Indonesia the number of incidents halved to 10 this year so far, compared to 19 incidents till September 2020.
In Malaysia number of incidents also halved this year compared to two till September 2020 while in the Philippines, 11 incidents were reported in the period under review compared to 13 last year.
Of the 55 incidents reported during the period, 29 occurred to ships while underway and 26 incidents to ships while at anchor/berth.
Sharar Nayel
Bangladesh Correspondent
