Piracy Resurges in Southeast Asia’s Crowded Sea Lanes

Slackened vigilance, complacency, poverty play a role

By: Michael Hart

An hour past midnight on April 16, the Palais, a bulk carrier traversing the eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait, was 3.2 nautical miles north of Indonesia’s Nongsa Point when the ship’s master reported sighting three suspected pirates at the stern. The intruders were able to slip away under the cover of darkness, but it was later dis…