Asia/Pacific News
IMB Warns on "Worrying Rise" in Southeast Asian Tanker Piracy
Southeast Asian waters have seen a worrying rise of pirate attacks on small oil tankers carrying gasoil or diesel fuel, Businessweek reports.
The International Maritime Bureau and International Chamber of Commerce said that although global piracy incidents was down to 178 so far this year compared to the 352 which occurred in 2011, five of the six vessels hijacked this quarter were in Southeast Asia.
"It's encouraging to see the huge decrease in maritime piracy and armed robbery over the last few years," said Pottengal Mukundan, director of the IMB in Kuala Lumpur.
"However, there has been a worrying new rise in attacks against small coastal tankers in Southeast Asia.
"We advise small tankers in particular to remain vigilant in these waters."
The region includes the Malacca Strait, which runs though the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea through to the Pacific.
So far this year, pirates have killed three crew, kidnapped five, and have taken 369 people hostage around the world.
Some hostages which were taken previously have been held captive for four years, said Mukundan, with a waning chance of ever being released.
The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia also released a report earlier this month showing that Piracy in Asia was hitting new highs.
