Piracy rife in RP and RI waters

Piracy rife in RP and RI waters

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Waters around the Philippines and
Indonesia remain the most prone to pirate attacks, accounting for
more than half of the 34 piracy cases recorded around the world
in this year's first quarter, the International Maritime Bureau's
piracy center said yesterday.

In its January-to-March report, the Kuala Lumpur-based center
also urged vessels to be extra cautious at all Indonesian ports,
the area around Manila port and at Thailand's Bangkok bar, as
these areas have seen a rise in pirate activities.

Of the 34 attacks, 20 occurred in Southeast Asia, with the
Philippines recording the highest number at 10, followed by
Indonesia's eight.

Although only 34 incidents were noted this year compared to 62
in last year's corresponding period, the center said this should
not be seen as an improvement because it has yet to be notified
of other unrecorded attacks.

The center voiced concern over the dramatic increase in the
number of violent incidents, including the murder of five people
by pirates in two separate attacks on ferries in Philippine
waters.

Pirates were found to have used violence, such as assaulting
crew and passengers or taking them hostage, in 18 of the 34
cases, compared with 24 of the 62 cases last year.

The center also expressed worry about vessels being caught in
crossfire between rival factions of the Cambodian navy in the
Gulf of Thailand, saying it knew of four such incidents although
only one oil tanker lodged an official report.

Several Singapore-based shipping firms have also begun to
doubt the effectiveness of joint naval patrols by Singapore,
Malaysia and Indonesia, following the hijack of a cargo ship in
Indonesian waters.

A third of the companies interviewed stated at least one of
their vessels had been hijacked in the past, the center said.
Most attacks are on bulk carriers, containers, oil tankers and
cargo ships.