Bangladesh’s territorial waters saw no piracy in 2021: reports

No vessel, be it domestic or foreign, fell victim to theft or piracy within Bangladesh's territorial waters according to published recently reports of two international organisations which disseminate related information.

This can be attributed to coordinated surveillance and patrols being beefed up as well as prompt response from the authorities.

Port users believe this will enhance the positive image of the Chattogram port, the country's premier seaport, in the global maritime sector.

One report is of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) while the other of ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

Both found a decrease in piracy incidents across the world in 2021 compared to the previous year.

The ReCAAP published its annual report on "Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia" on Tuesday.

It recorded 82 incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia in 2021, which is a 15 per cent year-on-year decrease.

The reduction was mainly witnessed in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, South China Sea and the Sulu-Celebes Seas.

In Bangladesh, no incident of piracy was recorded in 2021 whereas it was five in 2020.

In neighbouring India, five incidents were reported in 2021 and nine in 2020.

In Singapore Strait, armed robbery against ships increased to 49 incidents from 234 in 2020.

"Bangladesh had zero incident reported in 2021, due to enhanced surveillance and patrols at the Chittagong Anchorage areas and in the other waters," said the ReCAAP.

The IMB published its annual report on "Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships" last week.

It recorded 132 actual and attempted incidents of piracy across the world in 2021, compared to 195 in the previous year.

The IMB report found zero such incidents in Bangladesh in 2021 and two in 2020.

Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association Chairman Syed Mohammad Arif termed the news a big achievement for the seaport.

Several years back, many incidents of piracy used to occur at the outer anchorages and mariners used to express unwillingness to come here, he said.

Such good image of the port would surely increase confidence among the mariners of foreign vessels calling at the Chattogram port while vessels' insurance premium will go down, eventually reducing cost of freight, he said.

Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Chairman M Shahjahan said the port territory was under round-the-clock surveillance under a Vessel Traffic Management Information System equipped with CCTV cameras and radars.

"Whenever any suspicious movement is found near the vessels mostly anchored at the outer anchorage and Kutubdia, we immediately inform the coast guard and they promptly respond," he said.

Moreover, Bangladesh Navy, which maintains surveillance over the maritime territory, also comes forward in any need, he informed.

Shahajahan said ensuring security was a challenge since the port's territory was recently enhanced up to Mirsarai some 20 nautical miles to the north and up to Moheshkhali some 40 nautical miles to the south.

CCTV coverage has also been widened from Fouzderhat to Kutubdia while the remaining areas will be covered within this year.

Bangladesh Coast Guard East Zone Commander Captain Kazi Shah Alam said they were equipped with adequate offshore and inshore patrol boats and a number of high-speed boats to monitor and ensure security in the economically important maritime territory.