MANILA – The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) on Tuesday reported that there was not a single incident of piracy in Asia waters in 2024.
In a press conference in Manila, ReCAAP ISC executive director Krishnaswamy Natarajan said it is “a proud moment for ReCAAP as well as all the contracting parties and member states in Asia.”
“We’re ensuring an incident-free region through the help of local governments,” Natarajan said.
He praised the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for “doing a commendable job in the region.”
“There are no incidents of abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes area,” he said.
According to data from the ReCAAP ISC, there is a “moderate low” threat of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah.
The current classification means that abductions are unlikely to occur due to the perceived lack of capability of perpetrators to orchestrate an attack.
However, minimal damage are expected to occur on vessels and crew in case of an attack.
Under the “Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia 2024,” the ReCAAP ISC reported 107 ship robberies, a six percent increase from 2023.
Of the reported incidents, 62 occurred in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), 22 in Indonesia, 13 in Bangladesh, three in the Philippines, two in India, two in the South China Sea (SCS), two in Vietnam, and one in Malaysia.
Of the total, there were 11 incidents in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and SOMS where the perpetrators failed to board ships through the vigilance of the crew and the presence of patrol vessels.
No crew was affected in 86 percent of the incidents.
However, eight percent of cases had the crew tied up by the perpetrators, three percent where the crew were threatened, and three percent where the crew suffered injuries.
Of these, 76 percent occurred in bulk carriers, 13 percent in tankers, 10 percent in tug boats towing barges or drill ships, and one percent in general cargo ships. (PNA)