Latest news with #ReCAAPISC
Borneo Post
06-08-2025
- Borneo Post
Sarawak waters remain free from piracy, says deputy transport minister
Henry (centre) receives a memento from Kwon, as others look on. SIBU (Aug 6): Sarawak's coastal and riverine waters remain free from piracy and sea robberies, assured State Deputy Minister of Transport (Riverine and Marine) Dato Henry Harry Jinep. Speaking to reporters after launching the Anti-Piracy Forum, jointly organised by the Sarawak and Sabah Shipowners Association (SSSA) and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy (ReCAAP) here today, he said no incidents of piracy have been reported in Sarawak waters, including along major shipping routes to local ports. Henry explained that sea robberies generally occur in international waters, where no single enforcement agency has jurisdiction. 'As far as Sarawak is concerned, it is safe. In our rivers, there are no pirates, no robberies,' he said. Henry noted that piracy and robbery incidents usually happen in open waters beyond national boundaries, such as the route between Kuching and Singapore, where slow-moving barges are more vulnerable. 'After leaving Malaysian waters near Kuching, ships enter other territories before reaching Singapore. 'In between, there is a stretch with no enforcement agency, and that is where robberies sometimes happen,' he said, adding that such incidents rarely escalate to hostage-taking. Citing statistics from ReCAAP, he said more than 100 sea robbery cases were reported in Asian international waters last year – most of them outside Malaysian jurisdiction. Henry emphasised that the forum aimed to raise awareness among local shipping operators about safety measures and to strengthen cross-border cooperation in monitoring high-risk zones. 'The safety of our local shipowners is important. We work closely with federal maritime and naval authorities to ensure Sarawak waters remain secure,' he added. Also present at the forum were SSSA chairman Yong Ing Huong, ReCAAP ISC assistant director Kwon Soon Tee, and Malaysia Shipowners' Association (MASA) chairman Haji Mohamed Safwan Othman. Henry Harry Jinep piracy Sarawak waters
The Star
06-08-2025
- The Star
Anti-piracy watchdog logs 94 robberies on ships in Straits of Malacca and Singapore as of July 2025
SIBU: A total of 94 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore in the first seven months of this year. "According to the latest data from ReCAAP ISC (Information Sharing Centre), there were 111 incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia between January and July 2025. 'Of these, 94 incidents occurred in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS area), making up 85% of the total number of incidents in Asia," said ReCAAP ISC assistant director Kwon Soon Tae at the Anti-Piracy Forum 2025 here on Wednesday (August 6). The forum was jointly organised by the Sarawak and Sabah Shipowners Association (SSSA) and ReCAAP (Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia). Kwon highlighted that most of these incidents involved large vessels. 'We are seeing more cases of unauthorised boarding of barges towed by tugboats, mainly to steal scrap metal." "From January to July this year, seven incidents involving tugs and barges were reported in the SOMS area, compared to four cases during the same period in 2024," he said. Explaining the ReCAAP, Kwon said that it is the first and only regional government-to-government agreement focused on combating piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. "The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre's mandate is to combat piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. We conduct our activities through three main pillars: information sharing, capacity building, and cooperative arrangements. "We regularly engage partners like SSSA, other shipping associations, and governmental agencies. By working together, we aim to reach out to shipowners, masters and crew, and law enforcement agencies to find ways to prevent sea robbery and related crimes," he said. Meanwhile, state Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Henry Harry Jinep told reporters that no incidents of piracy or robbery had been reported on rivers in Sarawak. "Our rivers are safe. We don't have piracy or robbery," he said.
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
4 times more piracy, armed robbery cases in straits of Malacca and Singapore in first half of 2025
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox There were 80 piracy and armed robbery cases in the straits of Malacca and Singapore reported between January and June 2025. SINGAPORE - There were about four times more piracy and armed robbery cases in the straits of Malacca and Singapore in first half of 2025, compared with the same period in the previous year. There were 80 such incidents reported between January and June 2025 to the anti-piracy group, ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC). There were 21 incidents reported in the same period in 2024, it said in a press release on July 10. In Asia as a whole, there was an 83 per cent rise in such incidents, with 95 being reported between January and June 2025, compared with 52 incidents reported in 2024. ReCAAP, or Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, entered into force in 2006. While the numbers in Asia have gone up, the incidents are of lower severity compared with those that occur in other parts of the world, said ReCAAP ISC's executive director Vijay D Chafekar at a media briefing in York Hotel Singapore on July 10. He noted there has not been a serious piracy case in the high seas in Asia in the last four to five years, and that other parts of the world, like the Gulf of Guinea, experience crimes like the kidnapping of crew for ransom. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties Singapore PAP appoints new heads of backbench parliamentary committees Singapore Singaporean fugitive charged over alleged drug trafficking, faces death penalty if convicted Singapore KTPH trials 'smart diapers' for adult patients to help prevent skin conditions, relieve burden on nurses World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha Sport No pain, no gain for Singapore's water polo teams at the world championships Singapore New regional centre for sustainable aviation in Asia-Pacific launched in Singapore Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Said Mr Chafekar: 'What we see is that while most of the Asian waters have become safe, the concerns are localised in a very small area of the straits of Malacca and Singapore. 'In most cases, the crew is not harmed. The intention is not to harm the crew, but to (commit) petty thefts.' 'It does not mean that it is not a concern. It is still a concern. A knife-wielding person on board (will cause) a huge psychological impact on the crew of the ship,' he added. According to ReCAAP ISC's half-yearly report, none of the 80 incidents reported in the straits of Malacca and Singapore were classified as Category 1 incidents. Incidents in this category are described as very significant and defined to be those where the perpetrators are mostly armed with guns or knives, and where the crew is likely to have been subjected to physical violence or have suffered some form of injury. There were seven 'moderately significant' incidents classified under Category 2, where the perpetrators carried gun-like objects and knives. Six of these incidents occurred on board bulk carriers and one occurred onboard a container ship. In one incident, a crew member suffered a minor head injury, but no medical assistance was required. In four of them , the perpetrators restrained crew members. Of the seven Category 2 incidents, four involved items stolen from the crew and ship, including a mobile phone, gold necklace, engine spares and generator spares. The rest of the 80 incidents in the first half of 2025 were deemed to be less or least significant, or were situations where the perpetrators tried and failed to board the ship. On July 10, ReCAAP ISC held a dialogue with representatives from the shipping industry to discuss the latest situation of armed robbery against ships in the straits of Malacca and Singapore. Shipping companies suggested that ships at sea should have the practice of looking out for one another, ReCAAP ISC deputy director Lee Yin Mui told the media. A positive example of such a practice was shared during the dialogue: A ship informed the vessel ahead of it that a few small boats were spotted in the vicinity approaching it. Singapore's Vessel Traffic Information System was also activated and allowed other ships in the vicinity to be informed of the presence of those small boats. 'That prevented an unauthorised boarding,' said Ms Lee. 'This is one of the good measures that has been taken by the shipping industry, to look out for on another and also to report sighting of small boats in the area, especially during hours of darkness. 'These small boats... they are really not easily visible during late, dark hours, and before you know it, (the perpetrators) have already boarded the ship.'
