Monday, October 26, 2015

Southeast Asia pirate activity increases



Dryad Maritime, the UK’s leading maritime intelligence company, today released their third quarter trends and analysis of global maritime crime showing. 
 
For the first nine months of this year, there has been a 38% rise in piracy incidents across Southeast Asia, compared to the first nine months of 2014, a new report said.

Dryad Maritime said that the apparent impunity of maritime gangs operating in the region has led the company to call upon the three nations surrounding the Singapore Strait, in particular, to provide a permanent security presence to deter criminals and protect maritime trade.

The number of reported incidents had jumped from 140 on the same nine-month period in 2014 to 194 during the same period this year. The main focus for criminal gangs in the region was the petty theft of ships stores as gangs sought to steal engine parts and high value machinery for resale on the black market.

In total 14 vessels were hijacked in Southeast Asia in 2015 to date, with only one product tanker, the ‘Joaquim’ targeted for the purpose of cargo theft in the third quarter of 2015, when 3,000 tonnes of fuel oil were stolen from the vessel.

Dryad Maritime analysts identified the Singapore Strait as a key area for increased vigilance. Between January and September, they recorded 90 instances of theft or attempted theft with more than 80% of these crimes occurring in the traffic separation scheme (TSS) between Pulau Karimun Kecil and Pulau Besar during the hours of darkness.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and Indonesian authorities have made repeated announcements pledging to enhance patrol co-operation and co-ordination in the region, yet according to Dryad, there remains little by way of a regular presence in this particular area.

Dryad warned that despite the slowdown in fuel siphoning incidents during the last three months, the final quarter of 2015 is likely to see a further increase in hijackings and petty theft. 

Ian Millen, Dryad Maritime’s CEO, said;“In Southeast Asia, the final quarter of the last three years has seen the highest numbers of incidents per quarter and we see no reason why this will not remain the same this year; a year in which we’ve already seen the highest number of incidents in the first nine months. 

“There is a pressing need for a joined-up security effort in the Singapore Strait and other areas. Without a high visual presence from security agencies, criminal gangs will continue to operate freely with little fear of capture or prosecution.”

Dryad contrasted its report of the worrying increase in Southeast Asia maritime crime with good news, following BIMCO’s recent announcement on a planned reduction of the BMP 4 High Risk Area (HRA).

Mike Edey, Dryad Maritime’s head of operations, explained; “By complete contrast, the worrying figures in Southeast Asia come at a time when the combined efforts of the shipping industry, naval forces, armed guards and others have resulted in the first geographical reduction of the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA).

“This is a testament to those who have taken a multi-faceted approach to containing the threat of Somali piracy and the first sign of a long-awaited period of de-escalation in the region. This will bring significant relief to the shipping industry who can, in some cases, transition to more cost-effective and dynamic methods of risk mitigation,”he said.

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