ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Sea Robbery Conference 04 Situation on Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia 8 April 04 Regional Cooperation Regional Cooperation Agreement Agreement on Combating on Combating Piracy Piracy and and Armed Robbery against Against Ships Ships in Asia in Asia
Scope Situation on Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia 03 st Quarter of 04 Case Studies Observations Conclusion
Situation (009-03) 03) 03: x piracy incident 39 x robberies Overall improvement in severity level Number of incidents has increased Bulk were petty theft CAT 3 + Petty theft (77%) CAT and CAT lowest Possible reasons for increase in numbers True reflection Under-reporting in the past Greater awareness of need to report Better situation awareness
Location of Incidents (03) Approx 80% at ports and anchorages Indonesia (78), India (), Vietnam (8), Bangladesh (6), Philippines (5) Mainly CAT 3 and petty thefts (84%) 0% incidents onboard vessels while underway SCS (0), SOMS () More severe in SCS ( x CAT, 6 x CAT ) Less severe in SOMS ( x CAT 3, 9 x PT)
Situation (Jan-Mar of 00-04) 04) Number Number 60 50 40 30 0 0 0 6 4 0 8 6 4 0 6 5 00 Number of Incidents ( of 00-04) 48 38 0 0 40 37 3 0 9 8 03 Period Total Actual Attempted Significance Level of Incidents ( of 00-04) 0 8 00 3 9 0 5 5 4 8 0 Period 5 0 3 03 8 7 04 9 9 9 04 04: 3 x piracy incidents 5 x robberies Overall fairly consistent compared to 03 General decrease for 3 rd consecutive year Bulk of incidents CAT 3 + petty thefts No CAT incidents reported for last three years But, CAT incidents increase (33%) compared to last year (8%) Decrease in PT Category (Very Significant) Category 3 (Less Significant) Category (Moderately Significant) Petty Theft (Minimum Significant)
Situation in SOMS Number of Incidents reported in SOMS (Jan-Mar of 00-04) Number Number 0 8 6 4 0 7 6 5 4 3 0 0 00 0 9 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 Period 03 Total Actual Attempted Significance level of incidents reported in SOMS (Jan-Mar of 00-04) 00 4 4 4 0 0 Period 03 8 8 04 6 04 Number of incidents reported has increased Downward trend for two consecutive years (0 and 03) Increase in 04 Mostly CAT 3 incidents Incidents reported has been less severe for the last two years (03 and 04) Category (Moderately Significant) Petty Theft (Minimum Significant) Category 3 (Less Significant)
Situation in SOMS Type of vessel involved (Jan-Mar of 00-03) Bulk Carrier, Tug Boat, Type of vessel involved (Jan-Mar 04) General Cargo Ship, Supply Vessel, Tanker, Type of vessel Tug boats and barges have been frequently targeted (00-03) More incidents involved tankers, bulk carriers and general cargo during Jan-Mar 04 Tug Boat, Bulk Carrier, Tanker, Oil Tanker, General Cargo Ship,
Location of Incidents (Jan-Mar 04) 60% at ports and anchorages Indonesia (), Bangladesh (3), India () Incidents more severe at certain ports/anchorages Seven out of 7 incidents are CAT 40% incidents onboard vessels while underway Mainly occurred in SOMS (8) Mostly less severe incidents Six out of nine incidents are CAT 3 or PT
Situation in SOMS Legend Category (Moderately Significant) Category 3 (Less Significant) Global Frontier Bulk carrier Feb 4 05 hrs Sea Voyager Oil tanker 6 Mar 4 055 hrs Orpheas Tanker 6 Mar 4 0540 hrs ; 4-5 robbers ; Armed with knives / machetes ; Usually avoid confrontation with crew and escapes when alarm is raised ; Engine spares commonly targeted Kota Intan General cargo ship 6 Feb 4 0700 hrs Juara Tug boat 3 Feb 4 350 hrs Nordic Anne Tanker 9 Mar 4 045 hrs Cape Veni Bulk carrier 0 Mar 4 050 hrs Littoral States to increase presence Modus Operandi (ALL vessels less tug boat towed barge) Kota Berkat General cargo ship 6 Feb 4 060 hrs Modus Operandi (Barge) Ship masters and crew to exercise extra vigilance ; Larger group of robbers (0) ; Board barge ; Steal cargo or items from barge before escaping
Incidents in 03 Theft while ships conducting STS operations Incidents involving tug boats and barges
Case Studies
Theft while Conducting STS Operations Modus Operandi Robbers: 4-6 During hours of darkness during STS operations Boarded from the disengaged side of ship Armed with knives, sometimes aggressive Targeted engine spares & stores Location: Pulau Nipa anchorages 0 (00) (0) 0 (0) 6 (03) 0 (Jan-Mar 4)
Theft while Conducting STS Operations Sharing by ReCAAP ISC throughout 03 Increase patrols by crew during STS Maintain comms with VTMS/port authorities Raise alarm upon sighting of suspicious person Enhance vigilance
Incidents involving Tug Boats & Barges Number of incidents involving tug boats & barges Significance level of incidents involving tug boats & barges Number 40 35 30 5 0 5 0 5 0 0 7 3 38 37 7 6 0 4 3 00 0 0 03 04 Period Total Actual Attempted Number 0 8 6 4 0 8 6 4 0 3 0 5 8 3 4 00 0 0 03 04 Period Category (Very Significant) Category 3 (Less Significant) 9 9 3 0 Category (Moderately Significant) Petty Theft (Minimum Significant) Decreasing trend since 0: 38 (0) 7 (0) (03) Continuing trend in 04 (4) Incidents less severe Category 3 & Petty thefts 4% (00) 38% (0) 38% (0) 64% (03) 66% (Jan-Mar 4) No CAT incident since 03
Incidents involving Tug Boats & Barges Juara On 3 Feb 4 at or about 350 hrs, Malaysia-registered tug boat, Juara towing barge, Smooth was underway in the Singapore Straits Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) 0 robbers in four boats approached and boarded the barge The Singapore Police Coast Guard and MSTF were informed immediately Robbers escaped 0 min later Stole approximately one quarter of the scrap metal cargo Juara Tug boat 3 Feb 4 350 hrs Legend Location of Incident
Incidents involving Tug Boats & Barges Modus operandi involving tug boats & barges has evolved Before 03 Pirates/robbers board tug boat Steal cash and personal belongings of crew Hijack tug boat; abandon barge Since 03 Pirates/robbers board barge Large groups of robbers in multiple boats Steal stores or cargo onboard barge Recommendations Exercise extra vigilance Maintain communication Inform ships in the vicinity Refer to Tug Boats and Barges (TaB ) Guide Download TaB Guide at www.recaap.org
Incident onboard SG Victory SG Victory Tug boat Feb 4 0650 hrs SG Victory Tug boat 0 Feb 4 30 hrs Legend Location of incident Chittagong Kutubdia Cox s Bazar Tug boat, SG Victory was towing scrap vessel, MV Chan departed Singapore for Chittagong Outer Anchorage On 0 Feb 4 at or about 30 hrs, robbers in five boats boarded MV Chan and stole scrap metal, and escaped On Feb 4 at or about 0650 hrs, master reported to Bangladesh Coast Guard about theft near Kutubdia/outer anchorage area Bangladesh Coast Guard sent patrol boat immediately and apprehended nine robbers and two mechanized boats Stolen scrap items were also recovered Robbers and recovered items were handed over to local police
Observations Shift in modus operandi off SW Johor/P. Nipa/P. Karimun ; From ships conducting STS anchored off P. Nipa Legend Category (Moderately Significant) Category 3 (Less Significant) Petty theft (Minimum Significant) Ships underway (Jan-Mar 04) ; To ships underway in SOMS Bigger Vessels underway targeted Pulau Nipa Ships on STS while anchored (03) ; Traditionally tug boats and barges ; Now bulk carrier, general cargo ship, tankers
Observations Legend Location of Incident Juara Tug boat 3 Feb 4 350 hrs 0 robbers 4 boats Kim Hock Tug Tug boat 6 Nov 3 45 hrs 0 robbers 6 boats Robbers transferring scrap metal from barge to boats (Photograph courtesy of shipping company) Barges carrying cargo (such as scrap metal) targeted Involved large number of small boats and robbers Occurred during daylight hours Kim Hock Tug (6 Nov 3), Juara (3 Feb 4)
Conclusion Shift in modus operandi Need to monitor if trend persists More enforcement onboard Barges Crew to enhance vigilance, activate alarm, immediate reporting to nearest coastal State Authorities to response immediate No room for complacency Incidents at certain ports and anchorages more severe Littoral States to increase presence in SOMS; ship masters and crew to exercise extra vigilance
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