With the Gulf of Aden proving to be the red hot spot for piracy during 2008, the spotlight moved away from the traditional Asian danger areas.
With the Gulf of Aden proving to be the red hot spot for piracy during 2008, the spotlight moved away from the traditional Asian danger areas.
However, according to a report issued on Monday by the Information Sharing Centre of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, piracy continues to plague certain key areas in the region during 2008, if to a slightly lesser extent than previously.
According to the report the total number of reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia in 2008 decreased compared to 2004-2007.
The decrease was most evident in the ports and anchorages of Indonesia, and the port of Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Overall, there were 96 incidents reported in 2008, of which 83 were actual and 13 were attempted incidents, a 4% decrease compared to 2007, when 100 incidents were reported, of which 77 were actual and 23 were attempted incidents.
The report noted that there had been an increase in the number of actual incidents in 2008 compared to 2007.
The greatest increase occurred in the Category 2 (moderately significant) incidents.
There was a slight decrease in the number of Category 1 incidents in 2008 compared to 2007. Of the Category 1 incidents reported in 2008, two were hijacking incidents.
In the two hijacking incidents, the culprits were arrested, the crew rescued and the hijacked ships recovered. The number of Category 3 incidents, comprising mainly petty theft incidents at ports and anchorages, has remained fairly consistent between 2006 and 2008, the report said.
Incidents in 2008 less violent compared to 2004-2007
The incidents in 2008 were generally less violent compared to 2004-2007. Incidents involving assault of crew and taking hostage of crew occurred less frequently in 2008 compared to 2004-2007.
Tankers were most frequently involved in incidents compared to other types of ships in 2008 and 2007.
Of the 96 incidents reported in 2008, 32 incidents involved tankers, 19 involved containerships, 14 involved bulk carriers and 12 involved general cargo ships.
The most notorious areas in the region were said to be ports and anchorages off Indonesia, India and Vietnam.
Theft of ship stores and engine spares made up a higher proportion of incidents reported in 2008.
?However, there has been a significant increase in the number of incidents which reported losses of cash and properties in 2008 compared to 2005-2007,? the report concluded.
Türkçe karakter kullanılmayan ve büyük harflerle yazılmış yorumlar onaylanmamaktadır.