Singapore’s Policy on Pirate Activity in Costal Waters

Straits of Malacca

• 34 shipwrecks, some dating to the 1880s, in the Traffic Separation Scheme causing chokepoints within the already narrow channel

• Numerous river in-lets, secluded coves, and islands providing concealment and escape routes combine to make ships prime targets for pirates

Interests / Concerns• Sovereignty• Sea trade hindrance• Piracy trends• Shared responsibility & cooperation w/user• Counter maritime piracy/terrorism patrols• Sharing of info among users/law enforcement• Armed security teams• Perpetrator prosecution/incarceration

Current Policy• Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed

Robbery (ReCAAP)– Multilateral agreement between 16 countries signed in 2004;

effective Sep 2006– Information Sharing Center (ISC)– 2012 expanded to current size of 18 countries

Current Policy continued…• Malacca Straits Patrols (MSP)– Malacca Straits Sea Patrol (MSSP)– “Eyes-in-the-Sky” (EiS) air patrols– Intelligence Exchange Group (IEG)– Cooperative security measures originally established by

Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia in 2004 to counter maritime piracy and terrorism

Policy Development - Night Surveillance• Sea and air patrols have deterred the potential for daytime

attacks, but the region has historically always hosted pirate activity at night under the cover of darkness

• Employing UAVs with nighttime capabilities will provide aerial surveillance during the primary time of attacks

Policy Development - Investment• Majority of pirate activity stems from economic poverty and

instability in the region• Invest neighboring countries

– Offer technical expertise, health, and education assistance – Improving infrastructure and promoting increased trading

opportunities will strengthen relations, reduce climate fostering piracy in the region, and grow our own economy

Questions?