ReCAAP: Siphoning Incidents Still Major Concern

There has been significant trend change in terms of the number of incidents reported within the nine-month period from January to September 2014, according to third quarterly report issued by ReCAAP’s Information Sharing Center (ICS).

Based on the report, a total of 129 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during January-September 2014, of which the bulk of the incidents were petty theft incidents.

ReCAAP ISC recorded  a significant increase in the number of incidents in the first six months compared to the same period of last year.

The number of incidents surged from 61 reported during January-June 2013 to 90 during the same period in 2014.

However, after July 2014, there has been a reduction in the number of incidents within the three-month period from July to September in 2014.

Majority of the incidents reported during the period involved pirates/robbers operating in groups of 1 to 6 men, consistent with past trends.

About half of the incidents did not have reports of the type of weapons carried or no weapons were carried by the pirates/robbers.

In 74% of the incidents,the crew was not injured, although there were reports of crew being threatened, tied and locked up, assaulted, etc; but no serious injuries were reported except for one incident where the crew was reported to suffer head injuries who was later treated and discharged from hospital.

“Of concern were incidents involving siphoning of fuel/oil which are significant in nature.

Although the number of such incidents is on a decline during the quarter of July-September 2014 compared to the previous quarter of April-June 2014, there is no room for complacency,” ReCAAP said.

According to ReCAAP, there is need for continuous efforts to tackle these incidents by the authorities and shipping industry collectively; and the importance of timely reporting by ship owners/operators/masters, and prompt responses by maritime enforcement agencies.

“While there has been marked improvement in the situation of armed robbery onboard ships anchored/ berthed at some ports and anchorages in Indonesia; incidents onboard ships anchored in the South China Sea were on a rise.

There has also been an increase in activities involving theft of engine spares/stores and scrap metal onboard ships and barges while underway in the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore,” the report shows.

In terms of location, there has been a decrease in incidents reported at some ports and anchorages in Indonesia; ships anchored off north-east of Pulau Bintan in the South China Sea had been boarded more frequently.

Of less significance and petty theft in nature, opportunistic robbers also boarded ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.

ReCAAP ICS Urged the littoral States to step up surveillance, maintain continuous presence and conduct more regular joint coordinated patrols in the strait.

Ship masters and crews have been advised to exercise extra vigilance while operating in locations of concern, carry out risk assessments and make prompt reporting of all incidents to the nearest coastal state; and authorities were encouraged to increase patrols and response immediately to incidents reported to them.

As there is a strong possibility of conspiracy between masters and pirates/robbers in some incidents, shipping companies play a big role in the security of their vessels and cargoes carried onboard.

Hence, the ReCAAP ISC also encouraged ship owners to conduct comprehensive background checks of their crew.

“Vigilance and readiness of the crew are still the key factors to avoid boarding by the pirates/robbers.

Should boarding takes place, timely reporting and information sharing are strongly encouraged to enhance better understanding and situation awareness of the pirates/robbers’ modus operandi so as to adopt the necessary anti-piracy follow-up actions,” ReCAAP said.

Press Release