The Vietnam Maritime Administration has issued a warning to ship owners and maritime transport companies after it received a report showing increase acts of piracy in the East Sea.

The special report conducted by the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) found an increasing number of crew abductions in the waters off East Sabah of Malaysia and south Philippines.

The administration has asked port authorities across the country to inform ship owners and maritime companies to carry out basic security measures for Vietnamese vessels working in international waters.

According to local media, the report said three crew abduction incidents occurred from late March to late April.

The Malaysian Government has temporarily banned its international trade route between East Sabah and south Philippines.

Malaysian and Philippine authorities will discuss measures to stop similar incidents.

– TiVi Tuan-san