Islamist Group Targets Commercial Vessels in Sulu, Celebes
The Philippines-based Islamist group ASG has conducted tens of attacks against vessels in the Sulu and Celebes seas since March 2016, although since October it has increasingly targeted larger commercial vessels, heightening the risk to global shipping in the region, says a report from Protection Vessels International Ltd.
Previously, the group had only been able to abduct seafarers from slower-moving tugs and fishing boats and has kidnapped tens of Indonesian and Malaysian sailors since they first started targeting vessels in March.
ASG has not officially claimed the attacks, but the location and violent nature of the kidnappings strongly indicates the group, which is notorious for conducting kidnap for ransom attacks in the region, is responsible.
Two of the reported kidnappings were executed successfully and saw a total of eight crew members abducted from the ships, demonstrating the group’s capacity to successfully kidnap crew from larger commercial vessels.
The shift in tactics signals ASG has increased its maritime capabilities to successfully abduct crew from large, underway commercial vessels, posing a credible threat to the shipping industry in the Sulu and Celebes Seas.
The group appear to have acquired high-powered speedboats and fast-moving skiffs, as well as techniques which allow them to board larger vessels than previously seen in their hijackings earlier in 2016.
The move towards targeting commercial vessels is likely to be a deliberate and sustained tactical shift for the group as ASG have historically targeted kidnap victims perceived to solicit higher ransoms.
Now ASG has acquired the means to abduct crew from larger commercial vessels and continue to evade security forces both on land and at sea, such attacks look set to continue.
The previous wave of piracy in southeast Asia in the first half of 2015 was combatted largely by operations on land against the criminal gangs perpetrating the attacks, although onshore tactics have for years proved unsuccessful in bringing ASG’s activities to an end.
The Philippine military has conducted a series of offensives against the group in 2016 in their Basilan and Jolo strongholds. However, they have failed to make any notable gains against the group, which has successfully employed guerrilla tactics against the military, indicating the group will be able to maintain various bases in the region for the at least the medium term.
Maritime authorities in the region have been slow to respond to the attacks and have failed to secure the Sulu and Celebes Seas, despite repeated pledges to cooperate more closely and conduct joint patrols, leaving the waters vulnerable to future attacks.
