MARITIME SECURITY IN THE

MALACCA STRAITS:
An Overview of the Challenges

Catherine Zara Raymond

 Introduction
• In the aftermath of 9/11, vulnerabilities in the
maritime sector became of great concern.
• This was particularly the case in Southeast
Asia, home to one of the world’s most
strategically important waterways – the
Malacca Straits and the world’s second
largest port – Singapore.
• In addition, both piracy and terrorism are
known to be a threat in the region.
 A Piracy Hotspot

Indonesia
Malacca Straits
Malaysia
Somalia
Bangladesh
Nigeria
Gulf of Aden

Pirate attacks Jan-Sept 2006 (Source: IMB)

 Type of Actual Attacks
45
40
Hijack
35
Robbery
30
Violent Boarding
Attacks

25
Kidnap-for-ransom
20
Boarding
15
Discharge of Firearms
10
NA
5
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Year
 Equipment
30

25 Knives

20 Guns
Attack

15
Rocket Launchers/ Granades/
Machine Guns
10
Other
5

Year

• Guns have increasingly appeared alongside

knives during attacks.
 Maritime terrorism:
The Groups

• Abu Sayyaf Group

• Moro Islamic Liberation

Front

• Jemaah Islamiyah
 The Scenarios
Scenario 1: Ship Sunk to Block the
Straits of Malacca

Straits Times Newspaper in 2004: “If

terrorists want to mount a maritime strike
here [Southeast Asia], sinking a ship in the
Malacca Straits is the likely attack of choice.”

“It would enable them to wreak economic

havoc worldwide by blocking the sea lane,
and is also the easiest way to attack.”
Scenario 2: Tanker as Floating Bomb to
Strike Ports
• LNG, crude oil,
petroleum products,
chemical products.
• All have a potentially
great destructive
capacity.
• Harnessing this
capability would be
challenging.
Scenario 3: Malacca Straits Blocked by
Mines

• Could terrorists claim to have mined the

Straits and simulate a mine attack on a ship
to add credibility to their claims?
Impact:
• The Malacca Straits would be closed to
shipping traffic, forcing the vessels to
reroute around the Lombok and Sunda
Straits.
• This would cause severe delays on shipping
as these alternate routes are longer.
Scenario 4: Small boat attack

• Simple, easily obtainable equipment?

• Used before by Al-Qaeda:
Limburg 2002 USS Cole 2000
 Terrorism-piracy nexus?
• Could terrorists
exploit the maritime
knowledge and
expertise of the
pirates in order to
carry out a
devastating attack on
regional shipping?
 Conclusions…
It is only through an
accurate
understanding of
piracy and maritime
terrorism that we can
tailor our
countermeasures to
effectively combat
them.
Thank you…