Emergency Contact Piracy in South East Asia Home Latest updates Publications Piracy in South East Asia 15 May 2015 Download page as PDF Sign up for alerts Piracy attacks in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Straits of Malacca, have long been an issue for our Members. Pirates in the area have been known to target coastal tankers, slow moving tugs and barges. Attacks often include the theft of entire cargoes of diesel and gas oil as well as the petty theft and, in extreme cases, kidnapping. Investigations report that piracy attacks primarily take place during hours of darkness and entail pirates armed with light weapons gaining access to the vessel via the main deck. In some cases, the crew are overpowered and detained in locked rooms. In addition, communication and alarm systems have been destroyed or disarmed in and, in some cases, pirates have demonstrated proficiency in operating the vessel. On Tankers, once the pirates have taken full operational control of the vessel, the cargo has been siphoned off to tankers or tank barges brought alongside. Occasionally the ship’s crew have been forced to assist the preparation and transfer of cargo. Such incidents have taken place not only when the vessels are underway but also at anchorages. On completion of the ship-to-ship transfer, the pirates disembark the vessel, leaving the crew detained. Members’ that have vessels trading in the region should adopt the necessary and appropriate anti-piracy measures to minimise exposure to the risk of piracy. Generally, pirates do not attempt to board ships that appear to be vigilant. Recommendations We recommend that our Members draw up and ensure satisfactory implementation of suitable anti-piracy measures. These measures could include, but are not limited to: Conducting voyage-specific risk assessments in respect to the precautionary measures in place and thereby evaluate the risk. Planning passages with appropriate caution given to high-risk areas and avoiding transiting those a