Piracy in Asia on the rise

Figures make for stark reading.

Piracy in Asia on the rise

Hoe Pei Shan

They come armed with guns, sometimes machetes and even swords, holding ship crews hostage while stealing valuable fuel.

Reported incidents of pirate attacks in the waters surrounding Singapore have been on the rise since the middle of last year, according to the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).

ReCAAP, which has 20 government members and is headquartered in Singapore, compiles regional incident reports.

In its latest report on fuel and oil siphoning in Asian waters, the organisation noted that 15 incidents were reported aboard oil or product tankers in Asia last year, up from just three in 2013.

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Source: news.asiaone.com