Piracy incidents in asia increase by 60 per cent in 2010

Singapore, Jan 14 (Bernama) There has been a 60 percent increase in piracy and armed robbery incidents in Asialast year compared to 2009, a report has revealed.

The increase was largely because of an increase inincidents involving ships in ports and anchorages, accordingto the Regional Co-operation Agreement on Combating Piracy andArmed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP)on Wednesday.

ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) executivedirector Yoshihisa Endo urged all stakeholders in the maritimeindustry to work together with collective responsibility toaddress the challenges encountered, and to propose measures toimprove the situation.

The ISC gave an account of the 164 incidents, including31 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 seriousinjury to the crew.

Tackling the problem was a shared responsibility ofgovernments and the shipping industry, MPA group director forpolicy