THERE have been 70 per cent fewer incidents of piracy and sea robbery in April year on year, according to Singapore-based Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia (ReCP).
A total of 10 incidents were reported in April 2018 compared to three incidents in April 2019, ReCP said. 'The total number of incidents has remained constant between three to four incidents for the past six months,' said its press release.
'Of the three incidents reported in April 2019, two occurred on board tug boats while on towing operations in the Singapore Strait, and one incident took place aboard a tanker anchored at Visakhapatnam SPM anchorage, India,' it said.
'During January-April 2019, four incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in close proximity to each other in the western sector of the Singapore Strait,' said ReCP.
The incidents occurred when the ships while underway in the westbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS).
Two incidents reported loss of scrap metal and nothing was reported stolen in the other two incidents, it said.
'As the threat of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off eastern Sabah remains, ReCP maintains its advisory to reroute from the area, where possible
'Otherwise, ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the area, and report immediately to the Operation Centres of Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia,' said the ReCP statement,
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A total of 10 incidents were reported in April 2018 compared to three incidents in April 2019, ReCP said. 'The total number of incidents has remained constant between three to four incidents for the past six months,' said its press release.
'Of the three incidents reported in April 2019, two occurred on board tug boats while on towing operations in the Singapore Strait, and one incident took place aboard a tanker anchored at Visakhapatnam SPM anchorage, India,' it said.
'During January-April 2019, four incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in close proximity to each other in the western sector of the Singapore Strait,' said ReCP.
The incidents occurred when the ships while underway in the westbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS).
Two incidents reported loss of scrap metal and nothing was reported stolen in the other two incidents, it said.
'As the threat of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off eastern Sabah remains, ReCP maintains its advisory to reroute from the area, where possible
'Otherwise, ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the area, and report immediately to the Operation Centres of Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia,' said the ReCP statement,
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