Piracy In The Malacca Strait
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Transcript of Piracy In The Malacca Strait
Jeremy StoneRoyal Hong Kong Yacht Club
8 June 2010
TSS Society Presentation:Piracy in the Malacca Strait
The Malacca Strait
• Named after the Malaka Empire – ruled between 1414 – 1511.
• Shortest waterway between South China Sea & Indian Ocean
• 500 ml. long - bounded by west coast of peninsula Malaysia & Singapore to north; & northern Sumatra to the south.
• 25 m deep & only 2.8 km wide at narrowest point.
Economic Importance• Main shipping channel linking
East Asian economies to India, Persian Gulf, Africa & rest of world.
• Over 60,000 ships transit p.a., carrying:– 33% of world’s cargo.
– Nearly 50% of traded oil(14 M barrels/day)
• Rising trend as China becomes world superpower
• Great news for shipping industry
Shipping Hazards• Collision hazards – 34 shipwrecks
in narrow/shallow commercial shipping channel
• Low visibility – Sumatran forest fire haze
• Piracy & maritime banditry – long history – robbery, thievery, ship/cargo seizure & hostage taking
A Potted History• Historically: A lucrative way of life & political tool• Geography: Numerous rivers/Islands/inlets &
slow moving craft afford tactical advantage• 14th Century: Pirates loyal to Hindu-Malay
founder of Malaccan Empire fended off neighbouring aggressors
• 15 – 18th Centuries: Raids against European spice traders
• 18 – 19th Centuries: Poor economic conditions spurred attacks against colonial powers.
• 1830s – 1870s: British-Dutch Demarcation line improved political/economic stability & curbed piracy problem
• 20th/21st Century: Until recently the world’s piracy hotspot
Anatomy of Modern PiracyDrivers
• Poor economic conditions
• Weak/inadequate government
• Narrow channels/choke points
• Operating bases
Motivations
• Economic gain – opportunity v. organized crime
• Political gain – maritime terrorism
Groups
• Criminals
• Organized crime syndicates
• Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
• Jemaah Islamiya (JI)
• Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
• Mindoro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
Piracy DefinedDictionary Definition:
Robbery or illegal violence at sea
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982:• Any criminal act of violence, detention, rape, or depredation• For private ends• By crew/passengers of a private ship • On the high seas (outside a State’s jurisdiction• Against another ship or persons/property on board a ship.
International Maritime Bureau (IMB)• Act of boarding any vessel with intent to commit theft or any other
crime; and • With intent/capability to use force in furtherance of that act
Malacca Strait Piracy Indicents
28
37
12 11
7
2 20
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Asian Piracy 2009
Somali Piracy 2009
Worldwide Piracy 2009
Factors – Declining Trend
• 2004 Asian Tsunami• Political settlement with
Free Aceh Movement• US Government
pressure on littoral states
• International policing• Better ship security?• Anti terror operations?
Malacca Piracy in Perspective
Malacca Straits:• Piracy Rate in 2004 –
61.67 incidents per 100,000 ships.
• In 2009 – was 3.33 incidents per 100,000 ships
Hong Kong:• Safest city in world• Violent crime rate in
2009 was 202.5 incidents per 100,000 population
Malacca Piracy Outlook
Improved situation depends on:• Continued cooperation between littoral
states• Regional economic development• Settlement of Aceh problem• Continued decline in regional jihadist
groups?
Questions