THERE were eight pirate incidents in South China Sea in the first half, a year-on-year increase of three, according to the Singapore-based regional anti-piracy information hub (RECAAP).
However, ReCaap said that total incidents of piracy declined in southeast Asia and the eastern Indian Ocean, with a total of 18 incidents of piracy and 55 of armed robbery, a figure lower than in any year since 2010, reports Lloyd's List.
Robberies in Indonesian ports and along that nation's coastline also dropped, a decline that ReCaap attributes to the Indonesian government's policy of more active policing in the ports since January.
However, the eight incidents reported when ships were underway in the South China Sea have raised concerns not only with ReCaap, but also with governments and security experts.
"Incidents involving ships underway in the South China Sea were more severe. Being far away from shore, the pirates were relatively bolder and armed with guns, but the were not discharged," the agency said.
There have been six tanker hijackings since April in the border waters of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Most recently the Moresby 9, a Honduras-flagged tanker carrying 2,200 tonnes of marine gasoil and cargo stolen.
These hijackings typically target smaller tankers and have led to theft of marine gas oil cargoes through ship-to-ship transfers.
PIRACY
27 July 2014 - 22:30
Bolder and more numerous pirate attacks haunt South China Seas
THERE were eight pirate incidents in South China Sea in the first half, a year-on-year increase of three, according to the Singapore-based regional anti-piracy information hub (RECAAP).
PIRACY
27 July 2014 - 22:30
Bolder and more numerous pirate attacks haunt South China Seas
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