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Asian pirates are focusing more of their attacks on larger merchant ships near the Philippines, hoping for bigger ransom payments from kidnapping their crew, the head of a regional anti-piracy body said.
The region’s pirates have changed tactics since October, to target some of the biggest ships travelling through the Sulu and Celebes Seas, and paying less attention to small tugs and fishing boats.
The growing problem has prompted Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to step up air and sea patrols in the waters, through which about US$40 billion worth of cargo passes each year.
“Big ships belong to bigger owners, so maybe they think bigger owners can pay more money as a ransom,” said Masafumi Kuroki, executive director of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).
Previously 4 large merchant vessels, including the 179,191-deadweight-ton (DWT) capesize iron ore carrier Kumiai Shagang, were chased by armed pirates in speed boats during separate attempted attacks in the Sulu and Celebes Seas.
“Our advice is that the area should be avoided if at all possible,” said chief operating officer at one of armed guard companies. Some 48 crew have been abducted in 16 attacks in the Sulu-Celebes Seas since March, of which 15 remain captive, according to ReCAAP.
Source: REUTERS
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