ReCAAP: Asian Armed Robbery Incidents Surge in July
A total of seven incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in July 2018, Asian piracy watchdog ReCAAP ISC informed.
During the month, seven actual incidents were reported. All have been verified and reported to the ReCAAP ISC by ReCAAP Focal Points and Contact Point.
There has been an increase in the number of incidents in July 2018 as only one incident was reported in June 2018.
Of the seven incidents, two occurred on board ships while underway and five on board ships at anchor/berth. One was a CAT 2 incident and six were CAT 4 incidents.
There were no reports of piracy incidents in the area during July 2018. The agency added that there were also no reports of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and no hijacking of ships for theft of oil cargo.
The last actual incident reported to the ReCAAP ISC occurred on board Super Shuttle Tug 1 in March 2017; and the last attempted incident occurred on board Kudos 1 in February 2018. As of July 31, 2018, nine crew are still held in captivity.
ReCAAP ISC informed that a total of 47 incidents, comprising 36 actual incidents and 11 attempted incidents, had been verified and reported from January to July 2018. Compared to the same period a year earlier, when a total of 49 incidents comprising 42 actual and seven attempted incidents were reported, there was a 4% decrease in the number of incidents.