Asia/Pacific News
ReCAAP: No Asia Tanker Hijackings for the Purpose of Oil Cargo Theft Since September 2015
The latest information form the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAPP) indicates there have been no incidents of tanker hijackings for the purpose of oil cargo theft in Asian waters since September 2015.
The organisation says that piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asian waters continued its decline in February 2016, noting that the month had the lowest number of incidents reported during February 2015 to February 2016 period.
"Coupled with the decrease in the number of incidents was also a reduction in the severity level of incidents," said ReCAPP in the report.
Further, ReCAPP noted that has been "no report of unauthorised boarding in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) since November 2015."
Despite the decrease in incidents, ReCAPP says that more action needs to be undertaken at certain Indian ports and anchorages, where it says the port authorities and state marine police, as well as relevant enforcement agencies, need to improve surveillance, and ship masters and crew need to keep stringent watch when anchoring or berthing there.
"Ship masters and crew are advised to enhance vigilance, increase security watch shifts and sound the alarm when suspicious boats are sighted in the vicinity or unauthorised boardings took place," said ReCAPP.
A total of six incidents are said to have been reported in India during the month of January 2016.
ReCAPP says the apprehension of a suspicious boat and its eight crew on February 16 is a demonstration of the the determination and commitment to clamping down on illegal maritime activities within the region.
Overall, ReCAPP warns that, although there have been improvements in incidents of piracy and armed robbery, the "key towards clamping down this maritime crime" is consolidated effort by the stakeholders at sea and on land are still required "do their part" for the apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrators.
Last month, Ship & Bunker reported that about 39 metric tonnes (mt) of low sulfur MGO was said to have been stolen from the 176,346 DWT Nord Power while in the Tianjin outer anchorage on January 1.
