ReCAAP Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, Annual report 2022

(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) is the first regional government-to-government agreement to promote and enhance cooperation against piracy and armed robbery in Asia. In its Annual Report for 2022, the following data regarding piracy and armed robbery against ships are discussed.

Statistics for the year 2022:

A total of 84 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (80 actual and four attempted incidents) were reported in Asia in the year 2022. This accounts for a 2% increase in the total number of incidents compared to the year 2021. In 2021, 82 incidents (77 actual and five attempted incidents) were reported. Of the 84 incidents reported in 2022, 83 incidents were armed robbery/petty theft of opportunistic nature and one incident of piracy involving a fishing vessel in South China Sea.

The increase of incidents in 2022 occurred in the Singapore Strait, Bangladesh, Malaysia and South China Sea; and the number of incidents remain the same in India and Vietnam. However, there was a decrease of incidents in other locations in Asia; namely, Indonesia, the Philippines and the Sulu-Celebes Seas.

The two areas of concern in 2022 were:

1. 1. Increase of incidents in the Singapore Strait. A total of 55 incidents occurred on board
      ships while underway in the Singapore Strait in 2022 compared to 49 incidents in 2021. Most of the incidents were petty theft and involved perpetrators who escaped immediately upon sighted by the crew. The perpetrators were not armed and crew not injured. However, as the perpetrators are not arrested, incidents can continue to occur.
   2. Threat of abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas. There continues to be no abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah in 2022. The last known incident occurred on 17 Jan 20. However, due to the presence of the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the area, the threat of abduction of crew for ransom in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi still remains

Recommendations:

The ReCAAP ISC recommends that in view of the increase in incidents, particularly in the
locations mentioned in this report, the law enforcement agencies in Asia is required to enhance surveillance, increase patrols and respond promptly to the incidents reported by ships, in order to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.

Ship masters and crew are advised to exercise vigilance, maintain constant lookout for
suspicious boats in the vicinity and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State (referring to the poster on ‘Piracy & Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Reporting of Incidents - Contact Details’), and implement preventive measures recommended in the ‘Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia’.