Singapore-headquartered anti-piracy organisation ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) has recorded 106 piracy incidents in Southeast Asia in the first half of 2015 (1H15), an increase of 18% year on year.
Out of the 106 incidents, six cases were classified as attempted incidents, while the remaining 100 cases were actual incidents. The bulk in this period was petty thefts, although there were 10 severe, or Category 1 incidents, involving fuel/oil siphoning and hijacking.
“At least one incident was reported each month in January-June 2015,” said ReCAAP ISC in its 2015 half-yearly report.
ReCAAP ISC noted that the perpetrators usually targeted smaller tankers carrying fuel and then fled the vessel after siphoning was completed.
Related news:Asia piracy incidents hit five-year low
Seventeen hijackers have been arrested and prosecuted for maritime crimes from January-June.
ReCAAP ISC stated that the arrest and prosecution of the hijackers would serve as a deterrent to maritime criminals.
It urged seafarers to exercise all round vigilance, and called for enhanced maritime patrol by coastal states.
This post was sourced from IHS Maritime 360: View the original article here.
