Tackling rising threat of piracy

By Robin Brant
BBC News, Malacca Straits

The Malacca Straits is a crucial maritime trade artery

The old problem of piracy at sea is not only still a threat to ships across the world - it is on the rise.

Figures for 2007 from the International Maritime Bureau show a 10% increase in the number of attacks.

The narrow Malacca Straits between Malaysia and Indonesia, a crucial shipping lane, has been a notorious hotspot for years.

But new security measures and help from the world's two richest countries have seen the number of attacks fall - for now. The threat has not gone away though.

Hundreds of vessels - tankers, cargo ships - pass through the narrow channel every day. For centuries, it has been the gateway to the east.

Malaysia patrols one side, Indonesia the other. It is their job to protect the ships from dozens of nations which pass along the straits.

Kidnapped

In August last year, they could not protect Anwar though. His tug-boat was attacked by 10 armed pirates.

The region is notorious for pirate attacks

They robbed the crew and destroyed all the communication equipment. He was kidnapped and held for 10 days.

"I was scared by the violence," he told me. "It was not safe there obviously. They used to disturb us every day," he said.

He was released after a ransom was paid.

On the dockside at Port Klang in Malaysia, you can see what riches flow through the Malacca Straits.

New cars come in from Singapore. Steel, coal - anything - goes out. Dozens of ships load or unload every day.

Vital route

Further along are huge storage containers where I saw a Japanese ship filling up with liquid petroleum gas.

Energy is the most vital component of cargo which makes its way through the straits.

Most of the oil which fuels Japan, the world's second largest economy, goes through the Malacca Straits.

Out on patrol with Malaysia's new Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) we pulled up alongside the station which marks the border. It is about 10 nautical miles (18.5km) from land.

A lighthouse painted with patriotic red and white rings sits just on the Malaysian side. A radar receiver was revolving on the roof.

The MMEA has fast boats. New helicopters are on the way. Behind-the-scenes training and support has come from those with most at stake - Japan and the US.

They are doing much to help beef up the infrastructure to ensure security standards are maintained.

One on-the-spot inspection I witnessed whilst out on patrol bore no fruit. A small fishing boat and its crew were surprised by sirens.

Most of these "stops" uncover smugglers - of people or cigarettes. No pirates have been caught recently. But vigilance has seen the number of piracy attacks fall.

"The threats against piracy and robbery are real," said MMEA Director Vice-Admiral Mohammad bin Nik.

"However, we, the littoral states [Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore] have taken measures to ensure that the waterway is safe for international shipping."

The best chance of catching pirates is through intelligence, because patrolling the straits is challenging to say the least.

Armed men on small boats have an infinite number of places to hide.

When I asked Anwar if he felt safe working back in the area from where he was kidnapped, the tug-boat captain said: "It has to be avoided because it is dangerous."

So far this year, there have been no attacks reported in the Malacca Straits. The pirates have moved elsewhere or they are laying low.

But one expert who monitors security told me he fears it is temporary, with Indonesia the weak link in the chain.