Web Alert: Asian piracy drops to 10-year low

The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Shipping Centre (ReCAAP ISC) has issued its Half-Yearly Report for 2018, highlighting a 15% decrease in incidents compared to last year.

From January to June 2018, a total of 40 incidents were reported of which 29 were actual incidents and 11 were attempted cases. This marks a 15% decrease compared to the same period in 2017, as well as the lowest number during the first half of the year over the last ten years.

This reduction in reported incidents reflects the fact that there were no actual incidents of abduction of crew, or theft of oil cargo over the last six months. Furthermore, there was a decrease in the number of incidents at ports and anchorages in the Philippines.

Although a reduction has been noted, ReCAAP ISC still lists several areas of concern. Incidents in the Singapore Strait increased from two to four year-on-year, while incidents increased from none to two year-on-year at ports and anchorages in Vietnam. Although there were no successful cases of crew abduction in the Sulu-Celebes seas, there was one reported attempted incident of abduction of crew.

While ReCAAP ISC welcomes the decline in incidents in Asia, Executive Director Masafumi Kuroki states that 'continued vigilance by all stakeholders is an effective deterrence to maritime crime, and we urge heightened measures to be taken in the areas of concern'.