Maritime Piracy and Armed Robbery in Asia Rises 18%

ReCAAP has called for littoral states to enhance their maritime patrols and presence

Incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery in Asia during the first six months of 2015 have risen 18 percent compared to the period last year, according to the latest analysis from the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).

Between January and June 2015 there were a total of 106 incidents - comprised of 100 actual and six attempts - up from 90 in H1 2014 - comprised of 81 actual and nine attempted.

The report highlighted that a ship's fuel and oil were key targets for attackers, with 11 such attacks in total occurring so far this year and at least one taking place in every month of H1 2015.

Discussing the vessel type targeted for fuel, ReCAAP said they involved seven product tankers, two chemical tankers, one tanker, and one supply vessel.

ReCAAP also noted that incidents that took place in the Singapore Straits were higher in number, but overall less severe when compared to those taking place in the Malacca Straits.

Drawing conclusions form the data, ReCAAP called for heightened vigilance and surveillance, and for littoral states to enhance their maritime patrols and presence.

"Already 106 incidents were reported at the half-way mark of 2015; this signals the urgency and importance of more need to be done by authorities, shipping industry and the ReCAAP ISC towards improvements in the coming 2nd half of 2015," said ReCAAP.

"Collective and concerted efforts are essential to address the increasing incidents of siphoning/ hijacking of ships through collaboration and cooperation with our stakeholders; including INTERPOL leveraging on its expertise on transnational and syndicate crimes."

Last month the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) highlighted that most SE Asia hijacking incidents are armed robbery, not piracy.