PIRATE ATTACKS DAMAGE ASSURANCES ON MALACCA STRAIT

Claims in recent months by the Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean authorities that the Malacca Strait was unfairly classed as unduly dangerous by Lloyd’s War Risks Committee suffered a blow last month as three piracy incidents just two days apart doubled the number of attacks in the Strait this year. Two UN-charted cargo vessels that were transporting supplies to the Indonesian province of Aceh saw cash and construction materials stolen on the morning of July 2. Two days later an attempted attack on a Japanese bulk carrier was repelled. The UN vessel attackers had AK-47 rifles and grenade launchers.