Armed robberies on ships in Asia increased significantly in 2023, particularly in areas around the Singapore Strait and Malacca Strait. However, while ReCAAP (Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery), during its 2023 annual review, noted some promising recent developments, organized crime operating in the region around Singapore He said further efforts were needed, including efforts to eradicate the group.
The data highlights a nearly 20% increase in armed robberies in 2023, with an increase in robbers carrying knives and seven incidents in which the crew was detained. It happened. In 2022, he had a total of 99 cases and one attempt, while in 2022 he had 84 cases. In 2023, Singapore and the area around the Straits of Malacca accounted for two-thirds of his reports, or a total of 63 cases, while in 2022 he reported 55 cases. Increases included Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, while reports decreased in Bangladesh and Malaysia.
“While the total number of armed robberies against ships reported in Asia in 2023 increased by 19 percent compared to 2022, several perpetrators were arrested by relevant coastal states across Asia. “It acts as a deterrent and sends a strong signal to organized crime groups that any acts of armed robbery against vessels in Asia will be dealt with,” ReCAAP wrote in its annual report.
Most incidents were reported in Singapore and areas around the Straits of Malacca (ReCAAP)
ReCAAP notes that in more than half of all reports, most of this activity was classified as the least serious incident, and all were armed robberies. They point out that all reports took place in coastal waters and define piracy as only taking place on the high seas. It also highlights that there have been no reports of crew abductions for ransom in the region since January 2020.
While the overall increase was alarming, it highlights that incident reports peaked in the second quarter due to intervention and enforcement by local authorities. In the second quarter, he had 34 incidents, but in the fourth quarter, that rate dropped to 16, the lowest level for the quarter in five years. In 2021 he had 17 incidents in each of his two quarters and in his one quarter in 2020 he had 18 incidents. The only lower level in the past five years was in the first quarter of 2019 with 10 reports.
Most cases are burglaries, and the most frequently stolen engine spares. However, in his third of the incidents, the perpetrator walks away empty-handed and threatened. Only one serious injury was reported in Singapore and areas around the Straits of Malacca, and 53 of the 63 reports resulted in no injuries. The perpetrator usually attacks in groups of four to six people during hours of darkness, and if armed, he is most likely to carry a knife. Most of the ships were underway when we boarded.
Most of the incidents occurred in the eastbound lanes of traffic separation around Singapore, according to the report. Incidents are categorized into areas near the entrance to the strait and areas where they occurred as the vessel approached the eastern end of the strait. The largest number of reports (44) were aboard bulk carriers.
ReCAAP concluded that increased operational cooperation and intelligence sharing between coastal states led to the arrest of several perpetrators. They point out that coastal countries have stepped up enforcement efforts both on land and at sea, contributing to reversing the trend of increasing robbery by the first half of 2023.