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