PIRACY in Asian waters has hit its highest levels this year since a piracy watch centre started keeping tabs in 2006.

There have been 169 actual or attempted sea attacks reported so far this year, predominantly in Indonesia, the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca and Strait of Singapore, according to the ReCAAP Information-Sharing Centre.

The number of incidents, logged from January to last month, has surpassed full-year figures in the last five years, and the previous record of 167 in 2010.

…Maritime security analyst Jane Chan said that while the spike in piracy looks worrying, the overall situation may not be as bad.

“The good news is that there could be more awareness among shippers, hence more people are reporting the incidents. The downside of it could be the fact that not enough is being done to stop or deter the pirates.”

The research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies said it remains to be seen whether countries in this region will be willing to expand patrols to cover more areas.