Monthly Report（April 2020）--Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia

OVERVIEW

A total of nine incidents of piracy1 and armed robbery against ships2 were reported in Asia in April 2020. Of the nine incidents, one was a piracy incident and eight were incidents of armed robbery against ships. There was no report of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters of Eastern Sabah in April 2020. However, the abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters of Eastern Sabah remains a serious concern.

The ReCAAP ISC is also concerned about the continued occurrence of incidents on board ships while underway in the Singapore Strait. With three incidents reported in April 2020, a total of 12 incidents have been reported in the Singapore Strait since January 2020. Of the 12 incidents, 11 incidents occurred in the eastbound lane of the Trafc Separation Scheme (TSS) and one incident in the precautionary area in the Singapore Strait. The ReCAAP ISC has issued an Incident Alert (IA/04/2020) on 30 Apr 20 on the three incidents which occurred during 16-30 Apr to ships while underway in the Singapore Strait.

APRIL 2020

NUMBER OF INCIDENTS

In April 2020, nine incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported.

All were actual incidents3. No attempted incident? was reported. All incidents have been verifed and reported to the ReCAAP ISC by ReCAAP Focal Points. Refer to the Appendix on pages 24-28 for description of the incidents.

Graph 1 shows the number of incidents reported each month from April 2019 to April 2020.

On a month-to-month comparison, the number of total incidents reported in April 2020 is lower than the monthly number of incidents in 2020, except for the preceding month of March 2020.

 

STATUS OF SHIPS

Of the nine incidents reported in April 2020, fve incidents occurred on board ships when at anchor and four incidents on board ships while underway.

SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL OF INCIDENTS

Of the nine actual incidents reported in April 2020, two were CAT 3 incidents and seven were CAT 4 incidents. No CAT 1 or CAT 2 incident was reported in April 2020.

Of the two CAT 3 incidents, one incident occurred on board a container ship anchored at Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) Breakwater, Philippines, and one incident on board a bulk carrier while underway in the Singapore Strait. In both incidents, the perpetrators were armed with knives, and the crew was not injured.

Four of the seven CAT 4 incidents occurred on board ships while at anchor (of Alang Anchorage, India, at Taboneo Anchorage, Indonesia, of Tanjung Kelesa, Johor, Malaysia

and at Vung Tau Anchorage, Vietnam). The other three CAT 4 incidents occurred on board ships while underway (two incidents in the Singapore Strait and one incident in the South China Sea).

Chart 1 shows the signifcance level of incidents reported in April of 2007-2020.

LOCATION OF INCIDENTS

The location of the nine incidents reported in April 2020 is shown in Map 1.

 

JANUARY-APRIL 2020

NUMBER OF INCIDENTS

During January-April 2020, a total of 38 incidents (comprising 37 actual incidents and one attempted incident) of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia.

Compared to January-April 2019, the total number of incidents reported during January-

April 2020 has increased by more than 2.5 folds. A total of 14 incidents (comprising 13 actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported during January-April 2019.

Graph 2 shows the total number of incidents reported during January-April of 2007-2020.

 

The increase of incidents during January-April 2020 occurred mostly in Bangladesh, India, the Philippines and Singapore Strait.

Three incidents were reported in Bangladesh during January-April 2020 compared to no incident during January-April 2019. Seven incidents were reported in India during January-

April 2020 compared to one incident during the same period in 2019; and fve incidents in the Philippines during January-April 2020 compared to two incidents during the same period in 2019.

Of concern was the increase in the number of incidents on board ships while underway in the Singapore Strait during January-April 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Twelve incidents were reported in the Singapore Strait during January-April 2020 compared to four incidents during the same period in 2019.

SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL OF INCIDENTS

Of the 37 actual incidents reported during January-April 2020, one was a CAT 1 incident, seven were CAT 3 incidents and 29 were CAT 4 incidents. Chart 2 shows the signifcance level of incidents reported during January-April of 2007-2020.

The CAT 1 incident was the abduction of eight crew from a fshing trawler on 17 Jan 20 of Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia. On 18 Jan 20, the Malaysian authorities recovered three of the eight crew in the vicinity of Lahad Datu, Sabah. The remaining fve crew are still held in captivity.

There was an increase in the number of CAT 3 and CAT 4 incidents during January-April 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. The majority of the actual incidents reported during January-April 2020 were CAT 4 incidents (78%), which is consistent with the past trends observed in Asia.

UPDATE ON SITUATION IN THE SINGAPORE STRAIT

PRIL 2020

In April 2020, three incidents (all actual incidents) were reported on board ships while they were underway in the eastbound lane of the Trafc Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. The ReCAAP ISC has issued an Incident Alert (IA/04/2020) on 30 Apr on the three incident which occurred within an interval of 14 days (16-30 Apr). The description of the three incidents are as follows:

(1)INCIDENT ON 16 APR 20

At about 0100 hrs, Palais was en route from Singapore to China and underway at approximately 3.2 nm north of Nongsa Point, Pulau Batam, Indonesia in the eastbound lane of the TSS when the ship master reported to Singapore Vessel Trafc Information System (VTIS) East on the sighting of three perpetrators at the stern of the ship. The master raised the alarm and a search on board the ship was conducted to locate the perpetrators, but with no sighting of them. There was no confrontation between the perpetrators and the crew. The master reported that the crew was safe and some engine spare parts were stolen.

The Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) were informed; and the Indonesian authorities were notifed. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated to alert mariners.

(2)INCIDENT ON 22 APR 20

At about 2309 hrs, Horizon II was en route from Singapore to Vietnam and underway at approximately 2.9 nm north of Pulau Nongsa, Indonesia in the eastbound lane of the TSS when two perpetrators were sighted at the stern deck of the ship. One of the perpetrators was armed with a knife. The general alarm was raised and the crew mustered at the bridge. The master reported the incident to Singapore VTIS. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The RSN’s Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF), Singapore PCG and the Indonesian authorities were notifed.

The master deviated the ship back to the port of Singapore and requested assistance from the authorities to conduct search on board for the perpetrators. The MSTF’s RSS Justice escorted the bulk carrier back to the port of Singapore. Upon arrival at the port, the Singapore PCG ofcers boarded the ship and conducted a search. There was no sighting of the perpetrators on board. The crew was not injured and nothing was stolen.

(3)INCIDENT ON 30 APR 20

At about 0515 hrs, Chem Ranger was en route from Singapore to Ulsan, Republic of Korea and underway at about 6.2 nm northwest of Tanjung Tondong, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia in the eastbound lane of the TSS when three perpetrators were sighted in the engine room?. The general alarm was raised and crew mustered. The master reported the incident to Singapore VTIS. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The RSN’s MSTF, Singapore PCG and the Indonesian authorities were notifed.

The master deviated Chem Ranger back to the port of Singapore and requested assistance from the authorities to conduct search on board for the perpetrators. Upon arrival in Singapore, the Singapore PCG ofcers boarded the tanker and conducted a search. There was no sighting of the perpetrators on board. The crew was not injured and nothing was stolen.

JANUARY-APRIL 2020

During January-April 2020, a total of 12 incidents (all actual incidents) were reported on board ships while they were underway in the Singapore Strait. Of the 12 incidents, 11 incidents occurred in the eastbound lane of the TSS and one incident occurred in the precautionary area in the Singapore Strait. Map 2 shows the location of the 12 incidents reported during January-April 2020.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The ReCAAP ISC is concerned with the continued occurrence of incidents in the Singapore Strait. The Centre urges the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in their respective waters, strengthen coordination among them and promote information sharing on incidents and criminal groups involved in order to make more arrests.

While transiting the Singapore Strait, ship master and crew are strongly advised to take proactively the following measures:

①Maximise alertness of lookouts for suspicious small boats and increase watch keeping; particularly daylight time for barges and during night time for bigger ships;

②Maintain communication with company by providing periodic updates and establish daily communication checks;

③Report all incidents, suspicious activities and presence of suspicious small boats in the vicinity to the nearest coastal State and fag State;

④Sound alarm when suspicious boats are sighted loitering in the vicinity of the ship or  barge or suspicious individuals on board the ship or barge; and

⑤Keep abreast of the latest situation (www.recaap.org) and tune-in to advisories and navigational broadcast announced by the authorities.

UPDATE ON SITUATION IN INDIA

APRIL 2020

In April 2020, one actual incident was reported of Alang Anchorage in India. There was also a report of the arrest of the perpetrators who boarded jack-up barge, Naashi on 25 Mar 20. The description of the incident on 18 Apr; and the arrest of the perpetrators of Naashi on 30 Apr are as follows:

INCIDENT ON 18 APR 20

At about 2354 hrs, tanker, Seafrost towed by tug boat, Atlantis was waiting for demolition of Alang Anchorage when some perpetrators boarded the unmanned Seafrost from a dinghy boat. Some ship property was stolen. The master of the tug boat reported the incident to VTS Khambhat, who relayed the message to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The ICG Station Pipavav requested Marine Police Alang and Customs Bhavnagar to investigate the matter. Investigation is ongoing.

ARREST OF PERPETRATORS OF NAASHI ON 30 APR 20

On 25 Mar 20 at about 2020 hrs, tug boat, Bateleur towing Naashi was bound for demolition at Alang when fve perpetrators boarded the unmanned Naashi from a dinghy boat. The master of the tug boat noticed the perpetrators with torches on board Naashi and raised the alarm. He also reported the incident to VTS Khambhat who informed the ICG. The ICG Station Pipavav directed the Marine Police, Alang to despatch their boats to the location of the incident for investigation. The boats from the Marine Police arrived at the location at 2200 hrs and found no suspicious activity.

On 26 Mar 20, the ICG boat arrived at the location of the incident and investigated the incident with tug boat, Bateleur. The local agent of the ship was contacted and directed to provide a detailed report about the incident and the stolen items. Subsequently a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged with the Alang Police station. The police together with the local administration followed up with the investigation of the incident. On 30 Apr 20, the fve perpetrators who boarded Naashi were arrested and the stolen items (ship stores) were recovered.

JANUARY-APRIL 2020

With one incident reported in April 2020, a total of seven incidents have been reported in India during January-April 2020 compared to fve incidents reported in the whole year of 2019. Of the seven incidents during January-April 2020, four incidents occurred on board ships at Alang Anchorage and of Gujarat (blue square); and three incidents occurred on board ships at Kakinada Anchorage (orange square). Map 3 shows the location of the seven incidents occurred during January-April 2020.

ADVISORY BY ALANG PORT AUTHORITIES

Ships operating and transiting the Alang Anchorage are advised to exercise enhanced vigilance and maintain vigil at all times, especiallyduring hours of darkness. For entry, anchor or transiting the area, ship master and crew are required to contact the port authorities via VHF and refer to NAVTEX for update on the prevailing situation, broadcast on warning issued and the precautionary measuresto adopt.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The ReCAAP ISC commends the coastal State and the law enforcement agencies for their follow up with the investigation of the incident that occurred on board Naashi. The arrest of the perpetrators and recovery of the stolen items were a result of collective efort among the stakeholders.

With no further incident reported at Kakinada Anchorage in March and April 2020, the ReCAAP ISC encourages the ICG and port authorities to continue with its surveillance eforts and patrols at the anchorage.

The ReCAAP ISC advises ship master and crew to exercise enhanced vigilance, maintain constant look-out for suspicious small boats in the vicinity, adopt extra precautionary measures and report all incidents to the coastal State immediately.

UPDATE ON SITUATION OF ABDUCTION OF CREW IN THE SULU-CELEBES SEAS AND WATERS OFF EASTERN SABAH

SITUATION UPDATE

In April 2020, there was no report of abduction of crew from ships in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters of Eastern Sabah. The last actual incident occurred on 17 Jan 20 of Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia where eight crew were abducted from a fshing trawler. On 18 Jan 20, the Malaysian authorities recovered three of the eight crew in the vicinity of Lahad Datu, Sabah. The remaining fve crew are still held in captivity.

STATUS OF ABDUCTED CREW

As of 30 Apr 20, fve crew are still being held in captivity. The Philippine and Malaysia authorities continue to step up patrol eforts, conduct pursuit operations and intensify military operation to rescue the crew in captivity and neutralise the militant group.

ReCAAP ISC ADVISORY

As the risk of the abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters of Eastern Sabah is high as demonstrated by the incident on 17 Jan 20, the ReCAAP ISC reiterates 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. The contact details of the Operation Centres of the Philippines and ESSCOM of Malaysia are as follows:

 

GUIDANCE ON ABDUCTION OF CREW IN THE SULU-CELEBES SEAS AND WATERS OFF EASTERN SABAH

In July 2019, the ReCAAP ISC has produced the ‘Guidance on Abduction of Crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and Waters of Eastern Sabah’ to assist the shipping industry and ships to enhance their situation awareness and avoid such incidents. The Guidance consists of advisory on the measures to be taken by the ships transiting the area, including contact details and the Notice to Mariners (NOTAM) issued by the Philippines and Malaysia. It also shares the analysis of incidents based on the information collected from past incidents. The Guidance can be found at www.recaap.org.

The Guidance is produced in collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard (ReCAAP Focal Point of the Philippines) and supported by the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA) and Singapore Shipping Association (SSA).

The Guidance complements the general guidance contained in the ‘Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia’ produced by the ReCAAP ISC.

CONCLUSION

The total number of incidents reported during January-April 2020 has increased compared to January-April 2019. This was due to the increase of incidents in Bangladesh, India, the Philippines and Singapore Strait during January-April 2020.

The situation in the Singapore Strait continues to be a concern with the occurrence of 12 incidents in the Trafc Separation Scheme (TSS) during January-April 2020. The ReCAAP ISC recommends all ships to enhance preventive measures, including maximum alertness of lookouts when transiting the Singapore Strait and report all incidents and presence of suspicious small boats in the vicinity to the nearest coastal State immediately.

The Centre also urges the littoral States to increase patrol and enforcement in their respective waters, strengthen coordination among them and promote information sharing on the latest situation and the criminal groups involved in order to arrest and prosecute them.

Although there was no report of abduction of crew from ships transiting in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters of Eastern Sabah in April 2020, the threat of abduction remains. The ReCAAP ISC advises the shipping industry to exercise extra vigilance when transiting the area, report all incidents immediately to the reporting centres and adopt the measures ecommended in the ReCAAP ISC’s ‘Guidance on Abduction of Crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and Waters of Eastern Sabah’.

The ReCAAP ISC urges law enforcement agencies to continue to enhance surveillance, increase patrol and respond promptly to reports of incidents. Ships transiting the areas of concern are to exercise enhanced vigilance, maintain all round lookout for suspicious boats, report all incidents to the nearest coastal State and fag State immediately, and implement preventive measures recommended in the ‘Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia’.

APPENDICES

DEFINITIONS & METHODOLOGY IN CLASSIFYING INCIDENTS

Defnitions

Piracy, in accordance with Article 101 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is defned as:

1.“Piracy” means any of the following acts:

(a)any illegal act of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed:

(i)on the high seas, against another ship, or against persons or property on board such ship;

(ii)against a ship, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State;

(b)any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge

of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;

(c)any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in subparagraph (a) or (b).

Armed Robbery Against Ships, in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Investigation of

Crimes of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships of the International Maritime Organisation

(IMO) Assembly Resolution A.1025(26), is defned as:

2.“Armed robbery against ships” means any of the following acts:

(a)any illegal act of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, or threat thereof, other

than an act of “piracy”, committed for private ends and directed against a ship, or against persons or property on board such ship, within a State’s internal waters, archipelagic waters

and territorial sea;

(b)any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described above.

Methodology in classifying incidents

To provide some perspective on incidents of piracy and armed robbery, the ReCAAP ISC evaluates

the signifcance of each incident in terms of two factors – the level of violence and the economic

loss incurred. The indicators for these two factors are as follows:

A.Violence Factor. This factor refers to the intensity of violence in an incident, and the three

indicators used to determine this are:

(1) Type of weapons used. Incidents of pirates/robbers who board a ship with no visible weapons

are generally deemed as less violent compared to those equipped with pistols, knives,

machetes, or other dangerous weapons. In cases where more sophisticated weapons are

used, such incidents would be considered more violent.

(2)Treatment of the crew. Incidents where pirates/robbers kill or kidnap crew are deemed to be

more violent compared to petty thieves who fee upon being noticed. Other cases could

include threatening crew members, assault, or serious injury.

(3)Number of pirates/robbers engaged in an attack. As a rule, an incident where a larger

number of pirates/robbers were involved would be considered more signifcant as having a

large capacity (as well as probability) for use of force. A larger number of pirates/robbers

may also indicate the involvement of gangs or organised syndicates rather than petty and

opportunistic pirates who generally operate in small groups.

B.Economic Factor. This factor takes into consideration the type of the property taken from

the ship. Cases of theft of cash or personal efects are generally less signifcant incidents

compared to cases where the entire ship is hijacked either for the cargo onboard or theft of

the vessel.

Using these indicators, the ReCAAP ISC classifes all incidents into one of the four categories

based on a matrix of the indicators of the Violence Factor and Economic Factor. Below is the broad narration of the four Categories.

 

This classifcation of incidents allows the ReCAAP ISC to provide some perspective of the piracy

and armed robbery situation in Asia and to facilitate the maritime community to carry out risk assessment.

DETAILS OF ReCAAP FOCAL POINTS / CONTACT POINT

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENTS

ACTUAL INCIDENTS OF PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY AGAINST SHIPS IN ASIA