ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) today released its Half-Yearly Report 2020 (January-June). Highlights of the Report, whose information is verified by the respective government agencies, also known as ReCAAP Focal Points, and regional authorities, are summarized below:

Overall Situation

• 51 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 50 actual and 1 attempted incident) were reported in Asia during January-June 2020;
• Almost a two-fold increase in the total number of incidents and a two-fold increase in the number of actual incidents reported in Asia, compared to 28 incidents (comprising 25 actual and 3 attempted incidents) in January-June 2019;
• Of the 51 incidents, 49 were incidents of armed robbery against ships, and 2 were piracy incidents;
• But severity level of incidents has not worsened in January-June 2020, compared to January-June 2019:
• 1 incident of Category 1 (same as in 2019);
• Decrease of Category 2 (from 2 to 1, the lowest in the past 14-year period of 2007-2020);
• 74% of incidents were Category 4 (perpetrators not armed, crew not harmed).

Area of Improvement

• There was improvement at the ports/anchorages in China with no incident during January-June 2020, compared to 3 incidents during the same period in 2019;
• There were also arrests of perpetrators at Chittagong Anchorage, Bangladesh; off Gujarat and Alang, India; off Pulau Batam, Indonesia; and along Singapore Strait.

Increase of incidents

• The increase of incidents during January-June 2020 occurred in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, South China Sea and Singapore Strait;
• Of concern was the continued increase of incidents on board ships while underway in the Singapore Strait during January-June 2020 with 16 incidents, compared to 8 incidents during the same period in 2019.

Situation in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and Waters off Eastern Sabah

• The situation of abduction of crew in Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah remains a serious concern as demonstrated by the abduction incident on a fishing trawler on 17-January-2020 off Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia; and information of planned kidnapping by members of Abu Sayyaf Group in Sabah and Semporna, Malaysia targeting foreigners and crew of ships passing by the Tawi-Tawi and Sabah waters;
• 5 of the crew abducted from the fishing trawler on 17-January-2020 are still held in captivity;
• Shipping firms are advised to follow ReCAAP ISC’s Guidance; and maintain communication with Operation Centres of the Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia.

“We are deeply concerned with the nearly two-fold increase in the number of incidents reported in Asia in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period last year, even though most of them are at low severity level. ‘Small’ crimes, if not addressed, can embolden criminals to commit more serious acts,” said Mr. Masafumi Kuroki, Executive Director of ReCAAP ISC.

“This spike has come during a time of enormous challenges for the whole world affected by COVID-19. Despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic, we encourage the shipping community and maritime enforcement agencies to uphold vigilance, make timely reporting and conduct quick response to incidents, to protect the lives of seafarers and maritime transport.” continued Mr. Masafumi Kuroki.

Situation of Abduction of Crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and Waters Off Eastern Sabah

As the risk of the abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah is high as demonstrated by the abduction incident on 17-January-2020 and information of planned kidnapping in Sabah and Semporna, Malaysia, the ReCAAP ISC reiterates its advisory issued via ReCAAP ISC Incident Alert dated 21-Nov-2016 to all ships to reroute from the area, where possible. Otherwise, ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the area, and report immediately to the Operation Centres of Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia.

By 25-August-2020, ReCAAP ISC issued a notice of two violent armed robberies against ships in Batangas in 7 days. ReCAAP ISC issued an Incident Alert on Incidents at Batangas Anchorage, Philippines. Within an interval of seven days, two incidents of armed robbery against ships occurred while they were berthed/anchored in the region.

In both incidents, the perpetrators demonstrated violence toward the crew with a knife.

In the first incident on 14-August-2020 at 1000 hrs, the perpetrator entered the cabin of the general steward, threatened him by pointing a long knife at him and stole his personal belongings. The perpetrator left the ship immediately via the mooring lines in a small, unmarked blue motor banca stationed at the astern of the ship.
The second incident occurred on 20-August-2020 at 2021 hrs at 3 nm southeast of the first incident. A perpetrator attacked the duty crew with a knife when he was performing roving watch at the main deck. He suffered a cut on his right palm when trying to stop the attack but accidentally grabbed the blade of the knife. The injured crew was evacuated and sent to a hospital for treatment.

Shipmasters and crew are strongly advised to exercise vigilance, maintain constant look-out for suspicious boats in the vicinity and report all incidents immediately to the authorities. It is also very important for the crew not to engage in a confrontation with perpetrators. The ReCAAP ISC urges the authorities to enhance surveillance, increase patrols and respond promptly to incidents reported by ships in order to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.

The incidents

On 14-Aug-2020 at about 1000 hrs, chemical/oil product tanker, Pacific Sapphire, was berthed at Bauan, International Port Inc., Batangas when one perpetrator armed with a long knife boarded the tanker by climbing the mooring lines located at the starboard astern of the ship. The perpetrator entered the cabin of the general steward, pointed a knife at him and took his personal belongings. The alarm was raised immediately, and the perpetrator escaped via the mooring lines in an unmarked blue small motor banca stationed at the astern of the ship. The Port State Control (PSC) personnel boarded the ship to verify the report and advised the master to file report with the Coast Guard Station Batangas.

On 20-Aug-2020 at about 2021 hrs, bulk carrier, Vienna Wood, was anchored at Batangas Bay Anchorage Area.

While the duty roving crew was performing his duty, the perpetrator attacked him with a bolo (knife). The duty crew tried to stop the perpetrator but accidentally grabbed the bolo, which resulted in a cut on his right palm. The perpetrator escaped empty-handed. The general alarm was raised immediately and first aid was administered to the injured crew. The incident was reported to the Port State Control (PSC) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The PSC Batangas and Coast Guard Station (CGS) Batangas responded to the incident but did not find any watercrafts or person within the ship’s surroundings. The injured crew was evacuated and brought to a hospital for treatment. The master assessed that the perpetrator may have boarded the ship by throwing a line with hook.