The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre has reported a notable surge in incidents of piracy and armed robbery within Asian waters, totaling 100 in the current year. This represents a significant increase from 84 reported in the previous year and 82 in 2021. Of particular concern is the escalation of incidents in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), with 63 reported since January 2023. Indonesia recorded 16 incidents, while the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Thailand reported 10, 5, 3, 1, 1, and 1 incidents, respectively.
Categorizing incidents based on indicators of violence and economic factors, Category-2 incidents involve armed perpetrators, typically numbering four to nine men armed with knives or machetes, occasionally with guns. Crew members are temporarily held or threatened to facilitate the theft of cash and ship property. Injuries or violence, when present, are generally less severe compared to Category-1 incidents.
Category-3 incidents, characterized by groups of one to six men armed with various weapons, saw an increase from 21 in the previous year to 30 in the current year. While crew members are typically not physically harmed in Category-3 incidents, reports indicate instances of duress during these events.
The ReCAAP ISC conducted a senior officers' meeting with the Indian Coast Guard in December, addressing these concerns and fostering discussions on strategies to strengthen cooperation in deterring piracy and sea robbery incidents in the Asian maritime domain. Additionally, the organization engaged with the shipping industry in November to collectively address security concerns in the SOMS, which experienced a significant upswing in incidents until October of the current year.