Piracy Incidents in Asia Up 9%

25 Incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia, while only 1 in India and none in Bangladesh during Jan-Mar ‘23

Padmesh Prabhune

The ReCAAP (Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia) Information Sharing Centre has recently published its report on Piracy and Armed Robbery at the Piracy and Sea Robbery conference held recently.

According to the report a total of 25 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during January-March 2023. This accounts for a 9% increase in the total number of incidents during the same period in 2022. A total of 23 incidents were reported during January-March 2022.

All the incidents reported during January-March 2023 were armed robbery against ships. No piracy incident was reported. While Piracy takes place on the high seas, armed robbery/petty theft takes place in internal waters, archipelagic waters and territorial seas which are under the jurisdiction of coastal States.

The increase of incidents during January-March 2023 occurred in Indonesia, the Philippines and the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS). However, there was a decrease of incidents in Bangladesh and India. No incident was reported in Bangladesh during January-March 2023 compared to one incident during the same period in 2022.

One incident was reported in India during January-March 2023 compared to two incidents during January-March 2022. There was no report of abduction of crew for ransom by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah during January-March 2023.

The report in its observation mentioned that majority of the 18 incidents occurred to bigger ships, namely bulk carriers and tankers (13 incidents). The other five incidents occurred on board tug boats towing barges and mostly during daylight hours. Ten of the 18 incidents reported groups of 4-6 perpetrators while another four incidents involved groups of 1-3 perpetrators. There was one incident that involved 9 perpetrators, two incidents involved 10 perpetrators, and one incident had no information on the number of perpetrators involved.

ReCAAP’s data is important because it is closely tracked by commercial shipping companies, security officials, maritime analysts and ship and cargo insurance providers because it has a bearing on the overall risk assessment and insurance premium.

There is a need to increase patrols and enforcements, respond promptly to incidents, strengthen coordination among various countries and arrest and prosecute perpetrators, Krishnaswamy Natarajan, ReCAAP’s executive director said at the Piracy and Sea Robbery conference held recently.

-Marex Media