Read our latest update on piracy and armed robbery in Asia. Credit to: Luciavonu / Shutterstock.com Although the overall situation in Asia in 2021, compared to 2020, has improved with regards to the number of reported incidents related to piracy and robbery on ships, there have been a continued increase of incidents in the Singapore Straits (SS), accounting for more than half of the incidents in Asia last year with 49 reported attacks. 2022 (as of today) has already chalked up 20 reported incidents (19 attacks and 1 attempted) in the CAT3 and CAT4 categories of incidents. Source: ReCAAP The current threats in Asia, at the time of this publication, are armed robbery and theft along the eastbound lane of the SS and at some ports and anchorages, as well as abduction of crew for ransom off Eastern Sabah (Malaysia) and in the Sulu-Celebes Seas (Philippines). While there are no reported abduction incidents since January 2020, and no crew currently being held in captivity by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), the threat remains high particularly in the areas of Sulu and nearby waters off Tawi-Tawi, as one of the ASG Commanders is still at large. The ReCAAP ISC is concerned with the persistent occurrence of incidents in the SS, particularly the increase of incidents off Pulau Nongsa, Batam Island (Indonesia). An Incident Alert (IA) was issued on 2 March 2022 to alert the shipping community of the continued occurrence of incidents in the SS and warn of a possibility of further incidents. The recent attacks on 2 March which occurred off Nongsa Point, Batam Island (Indonesia) involved armed perpetrators in all three incidents. There also remains concern with regards to potential incidents at anchorage in Manila, Philippines which saw a rise in incidents in 2021 (9 attacks) involving poor treatment of crew with several incidents including violence against the crew. Since the establishment of the ReCAAP ISC in 2006, the locations and modus operandi of piracy and armed robbery against s