In attendance at the Piracy and Sea Robbery Conference in Singapore yesterday (5 April) the secretary general of the International Maritime Organization, Kitack Lim, expressed concern at the growing number of piracy incidents in the Singapore Strait.
Despite shipping’s ongoing efforts to overcome the effects posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Lim assured the gathering, “We do not lose sight of the serious challenges posed by piracy and armed robbery.”
Incidents in the Strait of Malacca have increased to 69 in 2021 from 48 in 2020. While there have been some positive developments including a 25% fall in the number of global incidents of attempted piracy and armed robbery in 2021, he urged against complacency.
Ms Lee Yin Mui, assistant director (research) ReCAAP ISC, noted an increase in the total number of incidents in Asia for the first three months of 2022 at 29%. Of the 22 incidents reported in Asia during the first quarter of 2022, 17 incidents occurred in the Singapore Strait.
A further area of concern raised at the conference is the threat of abduction of crew for ransom from ships transiting the Sulu-Celebes Seas and the waters off Eastern Sabah. The threat is still considered critical as the terrorist group in the Southern Philippines responsible for the abduction incidents remains at large.
Source: Hong Kong Maritime Hub
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