Jane Chan and Joshua Ho* 31 January 2008 In 2007, a total of 73 cases of piracy and armed lowest number of piracy and armed robbery attacks robbery incidences were reported in Southeast in Southeast Asia in the last five years. Both the Asia. It was one of the lowest annual figures in first and fourth quarters of 2007 recorded 10 the last five years. Of these, 55 were actual attacks cases of actual attacks, the lowest in the last five while 18 were attempted incidences. The highest years. The year 2007 also recorded the lowest number of piracy and armed robbery incidences fourth quarterly figures in the last five years. in 2007 was recorded in the second quarter, where Although regional figures seem to be trending 21 actual and seven attempted attacks were downwards (see Figure 1), the occasional surge reported. These figures reflected the general trend during the year seems to suggest that these waters of high second quarterly figures in the last five are still prone to attacks should such an years. The first quarter of 2007 recorded the opportunity arise. Regional Trends by Quarters, 2002-2007 70 Actual Attempted 60 Total 50 40 Attacks 30 20 10 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Theft and robbery still make up the main types of piratical attacks that they do not only involve of attacks in 2007 (see Figure 2), contributing the loss of valuables onboard. Noticeably, some to about 60 per cent of actual attacks. A further vessels had been fired upon in the waters of the 30 per cent of actual attacks saw perpetrators region, often with no known purpose. Although already onboard the vessels. Apart from common there was only one such reported incident in the theft and robbery, it should also be noted that third quarter of 2007—and no injuries were hijacking and kidnap-for-ransom cases have been sustained in the attack—it highlights the potential consistently reported over the last five years in damage and severe consequences such attacks considerable numbers, averaging over 10 per can cause. Although the annual figure recorded cent of the total number of reported actual attacks in 2007 was the lowest in Southeast Asia in the each year, and 2007 reflects that trend. Although last five years, it has consistently reflected similar the authorities had some successes in tracking trends on the type of attacks year after year, down and apprehending the perpetrators, such which may be of some cause for concern. incidences serve as a reminder of the severity Types of Actual Attacks, 2002-2007 90 80 70 60 50 40 Attacks 30 20 10 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Year Boarding Kidnap-for-ransom Detained Robbery Fired-upon Violent Boarding Hijack Although the use of firearms has been greatly during attacks is an important gauge of the trend reduced since the fourth quarter of 2006, about and potential violence that may take place in one in five of actual attacks in 2007 still saw regional waters. Although many have argued that perpetrators armed with guns (see Figure 3). judging from the common weapons being used, Fortunately, no firearms-related injuries were for example, knives and rods, piracy and armed sustained during those attacks. On average, robbery are still very much crimes of opportunity. knives were used in more than one-third of the However, the consistent use of firearms, coupled reported incidences, which was also reflected in with sophisticated modus operandi, seems to 2007. Information on the types of weapons used suggest some form of premeditated operation. Actual Attacks by Types of Weapons, 2002–2007 70 60 50 40 Attacks 30 20 10 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Year Guns Knives & Others Guns & Knives N/A Guns & Others Others Knives Ports and anchorages were the most commonly much restricted to within the vicinity of ports and targeted areas of attacks in Southeast Asia (see anchorages. Be that as it may, the more serious Figure 4) in 2007. More than two-thirds of the attacks almost always took place further offshore, attacks took place while vessels were at anchor targeting steaming vessels on local voyages. or at berth. Despite the fact that assistance was Contrary to previous trends, the waters of nearer for vessels in distress within the port Indonesia and the Straits of Malacca contributed vicinity, it has not acted as a deterrent. It should to only about half of all reported piracy and armed also be noted that Southeast Asia experienced robbery cases in the fourth quarter 2007, and considerably harsh weather in the second quarter there was no reported case in the Sunda Strait in of 2007 (compared to the same period in previous the same period. More significantly, the other half years). However, such harsh weather conditions of the reported cases were recorded in the vicinity and rough seas seemingly did not deter of the South China Sea. perpetrators, though such activities were very Location of Actual Attacks in Southeast Asia 2007 Contrary to the consolidated annual trend over Figure 6 shows the location of the actual attacks the last five years, which shows that bulk carriers at or within the vicinity of the South China Sea. were the most common targets in the Southeast Of the seven reported incidences, five were actual Asian region, tankers have been the primary attacks. There has been no reported actual piracy targets in Southeast Asia since the first quarter and armed robbery attack in the South China of 2007. Fifty-six per cent of actual attacks were Sea in the fourth quarter since 2002. As most targeted at tankers of sorts (see Figure 5). Such of the cases that took place in 2007 were in fact cases largely involved small tankers plying perpetrated within the vicinity of ports or through local waters, vital to the movement of anchorages, it shall be highlighted that there commodities within the region, which reflect the were two attempted attacks that took place at nature of business of the ports and anchorages the southern tip of the South China Sea, in the where most of these attacks took place. Most of vicinity of the Anambas Islands, one of which the attempted attacks were unsuccessful, largely targeted a yacht while a fishing vessel was fired due to the alertness of the potential target in upon in the same vicinity. spotting the potential threat. Actual Attacks by Types of Vessels 2007 Location of Actual Attacks in the South China Sea 2007 Other Bulk Carrier 7% 9% Laos Philippines Qtr 1 Thailand Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Container Cambodia Qtr 4 20% Vietnam Fishing Vessal Malaysia Brunei Tanker 4% 56% Bintulu General Singapore Indonesia Cargo 4% Although the fourth quarter of 2007 recorded one of the lowest numbers of piracy and armed Annual Trend in the Malacca and robbery attacks in Southeast Asia, the Malacca Singapore Straits, 2002-2007 and Singapore Straits remain a high-risk area of 60 water in this region. In fact, it has on record one of the highest annual figures since 2004 (see 50 Figure 7). The second quarter of 2007 recorded 40 the highest number of actual attacks since the 30 fourth quarter of 2004. Although most of these Attacks 20 reports were not furnished with information about the types of weapons being used, attention 10 was drawn to cases where the attacks involved 0 actual confrontation with crew members. 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Year There were a total of 26 reported cases of piracy Actual Attempted and armed robbery attacks in the Malacca and Total Singapore Straits in 2007, 21 of which were actual attacks (see Figure 8 for the locations). About half of these attacks were targeted at Location of Actual Attacks in the tankers of sorts. Arguably, this has to do with Malacca and Singapore Straits 2007 the location where the attacks took place. The ports and anchorages at both Belawan and Dumai contributed to the bulk of tankers being targeted. Thailand Most of these attacks where theft or armed robbery incidences. Indonesia has been reminded Malaysia of the need to improve security at all its ports Belawan and anchorages. A kidnap-for-ransom incident Qtr 1 in August also reminded many of the vulnerability Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Dumai of vessels in these waters. Indonesia Singapore Qtr 4 The annual trend in the last five years seems to suggest that a large majority of the total number Annual Trend in the Sunda Strait, 2002-2007 of actual attacks in the Southeast Asian region 25 took place within Indonesian waters. This is only true to a certain extent, as there is a closing gap 20 between reported attacks within Indonesian 15 jurisdiction and other regional waters. In fact, both the second and fourth quarters of 2007 saw Attacks 10 slightly less than half of the total number of actual attacks being committed within Indonesia’s 5 jurisdiction. 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Year Actual Attempted Total No incidents of piracy and armed robbery attacks were reported in the vicinity of the Sunda Strait Location of Actual Attacks in Sunda Strait 2007 in the fourth quarter of 2007, and the annual figures seem to be trending downwards since Qtr 1 2004 (Figure 9). Figure 10 shows the location Qtr 2 of the actual attacks. As previously mentioned, Qtr 3 Qtr 4 where a large majority of the vessels targeted in Merak Jakarta Semarang Bahagan the region were tankers of sorts, three-quarters SUNDA Indonesia of reported cases in the Sunda Strait reflect that STRAIT trend.