ReCAAP: Pirate Attacks in November Less Severe

There has been an improvement in terms of the severity level of incidents reported in November 2014 compared to the past two years, according to piracy watchdog ReCAAP ICS.

There were no “very significant” incidents reported in November 2014, and the number of Category 2 (moderately significant) incidents had remained fairly consistent throughout the past three years, ReCAAP’s November report shows.

However, there has been an increase in the number of Category 3 (less significant) incidents.

A total of 20 incidents were reported in November 2014, consistent with October 2014. However, of the 20 incidents, three were attempted cases where boarding was not successfully carried out.

The number of incidents has fluctuated throughout the past 12 months with the peak recorded in June 2014 (23) and the bottom recorded in January 2014 (8), the report reads.

ReCAAP said that of the 20 incidents reported in November 2014, 11 occurred onboard ships while underway in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore and in the South China Sea.

The other incidents occurred onboard ships while anchored/berthed in the South China Sea (4), Cochin and Sandheads anchorages in India (2), Chittagong port, Bangladesh (1), Samarinda anchorage, East Kalimantan, Indonesia (1) and Vung Tau, Vietnam (1).

The ReCAAP ISC voiced its concern about the spate of incidents reported in the straits of Malacca and Singapore and in the South China Sea, although most of them were petty theft and less significance in nature.

“More needs to be done by the crew to stay vigilant as demonstrated in the incident involving Oriental Glory where the perpetrators aborted the attempt to board when the crew sighted the suspicious boat and undertook the necessary piracy countermeasures.

On the part of the enforcement agencies, the littoral States are encouraged to step up surveillance, intensify patrols and respond immediately to reports made by victim ship as evidenced in the incident involving Tip Top 1 towing Tip Top 8 where the robbers fled when the Singapore PCG patrol craft in the vicinity responded to the master’s call for help,” ReCAAP ISC said.