Pirate Attacks Drop In Asia During Q1 2021- ReCAAP

There was significant drop in armed robbery and piracy incidents in the continent of Asia during the first quarter of 2021, the Regional Co-operation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) has said.

ReCAAP is the first regional government-to-government agreement to promote and enhance co-operation against piracy and armed robbery in Asia.

According to figures released by ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre, there was 17 piracy and armed robbery incidents against ships reported in Asia.

It said a total of 16 actual and one attempted between January and March this year. The number of incidents was a 39% decrease over the same period in 2020.

Although the number incidents in the Singapore Strait fell to seven in Q1 2021 compared to nine in the same period a year earlier ReCAAP said the continued occurrence of incidents in the busy waterway remains a concern.

There was a decrease in incidents in Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, and Sulu-Celebes Seas.

“Despite a decrease of incidents in several locations, the ReCAAP ISC urges the law enforcement agencies to continue to enhance surveillance, increase patrols and respond promptly to incidents reported by ships and to make more arrests,” ReCAAP said.