Singapore, January 15: There has been a 60 per cent increase in piracy and armed robbery incidents in Asia last year compared to 2009, a report has revealed.
The increase was largely because of an increase in incidents involving ships in ports and anchorages, according to the Regional Co-operation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) on Wednesday.
ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) executive director Yoshihisa Endo urged all stakeholders in the maritime industry to work together with collective responsibility to address the challenges encountered, and to propose measures to improve the situation.
The ISC gave an account of the 164 incidents, including 31 attempted cases, reported in Asia last year at the forum.
ReCAAP, however, said there was no increase in the number of “very significant” incidents which entailed assault or serious injury to the crew.
–Agencies–