Armed robbery incidents in Asia during 2021 fell to their second lowest level in 15 years, according to data gathered by the Singapore-based Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).

In total, there were 82 reported incidents, a 15% drop from the 97 incidents reported in 2020. Significantly, there were no Category 1 incidents involving violent attacks against, or abducting of, seafarers since ReCAAP first began compiling statistics in 2006.

The organisation attributed the decline in incidents to the efforts by law enforcement in Asian coastal states to address robberies against ships in their territorial waters.

However, organisation executive director Masafumi Kuroki warned at a media briefing on Tuesday that the number of incidents in the Singapore Strait, which accounted for 49 of the 97 incidents during 2021, were on the rise.

Kuroki revealed that the number of incidents in the Singapore Strait have been rising since in 2019, and that there have been four reported incidents during the first two weeks of 2022.

The overwhelming majority of the incidents took place in the eastbound traffic lane, off the Indonesian island of Bintan, with bulk carriers being forming half the number of vessels targeted.

Kuroki said the severity level was not very high. Robbers almost always attempted to make off with engine spares and, if discovered, preferred to flee rather than attack the crews.

Nevertheless, Kuroki warned that the situation in the Singapore Strait needed to be quickly addressed before it escalated.

"I hope this increasing situation will be stopped as early as possible," he said.

Kuroki added that arresting the perpetrators has severed as one of the best deterrents, as was seen prior to 2019, when the number of incidents dropped significantly for several years after pirate gangs and their leaders were arrested.

Gunfire in Manila

Another area of concern highlighted by ReCAAP was a series of three incidents during 2021 that took place in the anchorage off Manila's South Harbour, in which crews were tied up and held at gunpoint.

Concerned about this escalation in the violent treatment of seafarers, Kuroki said ReCAAP worked close with Philippine authorities to prevent any further escalation.

"The Philippine authorities were very proactive and arrested the leader and two gang members," he said. "Stolen items were recovered and some weapons were seized.

"There have been no further incidents since the arrests took place in September."

Further south, in the Sulu Celebes Sea, there were no kidnappings of seafarers by the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, and no crews are currently being held.

However, Kuroki stressed that the threat of seafarer abductions in the area remained high.

New guide available

ReCAAP executive director Masafumi Kuroki tenure at the piracy watchdog organisation will end in March. Photo: Jonathan Boonzaier

To reflect the changing piracy and armed robbery trends in Asia, ReCAAP has revised its guide for the area.

It will soon be available on ReCAAP's website, and hard copies will be available on request.

Kuroki also revealed that his term as executive director of ReCAAP will end in March.

He did not name his successor.