Maritime 'incidents' up in Indonesia but superyachts have nothing to fear
The International Maritime Bureau has published its piracy report, which indicates that incidents around the Indonesian archipelago are up. If employing due diligence superyacht charters, says a local yacht agent, can avoid the troublesome areas.…
In its global piracy report The International Maritime Bureau has attributed a fall in attacks to a five-year low in 2012 to the increased deployment of private security teams and the application of best management practices among crewmembers.
Whilst the vast majority of attacks continue to occur off the east and west coasts of Africa, there were a number of reports of pirate motherships and skiffs staging attacks in more familiar superyacht cruising grounds, including the Gulf of Oman, southern Red Sea and the Straits of Hormuz.
Elsewhere, across the Indonesian archipelago, there were 81 reports of petty theft, accounting for more than a quarter of global incidents in 2012. Thirty vessels were attacked in the last quarter of 2012. Incident reports from Indonesia have increased yearly since 2009. Vessels were boarded in 73 incidents and 47 crewmembers taken hostage. Fourteen incidents were reported at Belawan by ships anchored or berthed.
And whilst Indo Yacht Support – the company’s Indonesian branch – offers shoreside protection and on board security teams to clients, Budarlaigh says there is less than five per cent uptake – similar to most of the world’s cruising grounds.
Transiting the nearby Mollucca Straits has, he says, become safer since the introduction of a joint naval operation, similar to that employed off the Horn of Africa. The joint intervention – by Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian navies – has dramatically reduced private activity. “The Sulu Sea area between North Borneo and Southern Philippines”, Budarlaigh warns, “is still considered a high risk area by most insurance companies.” “The few superyachts that have transited this area did use on board security teams.”
This is a geographical distinction that Andy Shorten, whose Lighthouse Consultancy offers bespoke superyacht services for Indonesia, agrees with. "The areas which seem to be more greatly affected by these incidents are towards the western part of Indonesia - you could say the more industrial region - whereas the main scenic cruising grounds to the east have remained incident free.", Shorten explained. "This is probably due to the fact that, rather than industry, there is a focus on tourism and conservation.
Shorten says that he has never encountered any negativity or feelings of insecurity from his clients. And he attributes this, in part, to the national government. "The Indonesian government is pretty zero tolerance when it comes to anything that could affect the perception of parts of the country which rely heavily on tourism, and they ’d take a dim view on such matters."
Related Links
International Maritime Bureau Website
Indo Yacht Support Website
Lighthouse Consultancy Website
Whilst the vast majority of attacks continue to occur off the east and west coasts of Africa, there were a number of reports of pirate motherships and skiffs staging attacks in more familiar superyacht cruising grounds, including the Gulf of Oman, southern Red Sea and the Straits of Hormuz.
Elsewhere, across the Indonesian archipelago, there were 81 reports of petty theft, accounting for more than a quarter of global incidents in 2012. Thirty vessels were attacked in the last quarter of 2012. Incident reports from Indonesia have increased yearly since 2009. Vessels were boarded in 73 incidents and 47 crewmembers taken hostage. Fourteen incidents were reported at Belawan by ships anchored or berthed.
A combined naval operation has reduced pirate attacks in the Mollucca Straits.
Yacht Support’s Captain Cilian Budarlaigh, a yacht agent covering Indonesia, is better placed than most to provide intelligence to visiting vessels on the dangers that naive operation of a superyacht may present. He points out the fact that, in the company’s seven years of trading there has never been a reported attack on a superyacht in the region, whereas “most reported attacks seem to be on commercial vessels are at anchor near Singapore”. He adds that incidents also historically occur around the Anambas Islands. And whilst Indo Yacht Support – the company’s Indonesian branch – offers shoreside protection and on board security teams to clients, Budarlaigh says there is less than five per cent uptake – similar to most of the world’s cruising grounds.
Transiting the nearby Mollucca Straits has, he says, become safer since the introduction of a joint naval operation, similar to that employed off the Horn of Africa. The joint intervention – by Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian navies – has dramatically reduced private activity. “The Sulu Sea area between North Borneo and Southern Philippines”, Budarlaigh warns, “is still considered a high risk area by most insurance companies.” “The few superyachts that have transited this area did use on board security teams.”
This is a geographical distinction that Andy Shorten, whose Lighthouse Consultancy offers bespoke superyacht services for Indonesia, agrees with. "The areas which seem to be more greatly affected by these incidents are towards the western part of Indonesia - you could say the more industrial region - whereas the main scenic cruising grounds to the east have remained incident free.", Shorten explained. "This is probably due to the fact that, rather than industry, there is a focus on tourism and conservation.
Shorten says that he has never encountered any negativity or feelings of insecurity from his clients. And he attributes this, in part, to the national government. "The Indonesian government is pretty zero tolerance when it comes to anything that could affect the perception of parts of the country which rely heavily on tourism, and they ’d take a dim view on such matters."
Athena in Indonesia. Image courtesy of Indo Yacht Support.
Taking a closer look this year at both on board and land-based security issues, the Superyacht Management Meeting: Port State Control & Security will be staged in Barcelona on 25-26 June. Please visit the Superyacht Events website for updates regarding additional speakers and to view the entire programme.
To register your place at this year's Superyacht Management Meeting: Port State Control & Security, please contact Suzie on suzie@thesuperyachtgroup.com, call a member of the Events team on +44 (0)207 924 2004, or click here to register online.
To register your place at this year's Superyacht Management Meeting: Port State Control & Security, please contact Suzie on suzie@thesuperyachtgroup.com, call a member of the Events team on +44 (0)207 924 2004, or click here to register online.
Related Links
International Maritime Bureau Website
Indo Yacht Support Website
Lighthouse Consultancy Website
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