Piracy in the Strait of Malacca has long been a threat to ship owners and the mariners who ply the 900 km-long sea lane. In recent years, coordinated patrols by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Sing
Strait of Malacca
A US merchant seaman takes aim during training to repel pirates in the Strait of Malacca, 1984.
Suspected pirates assemble on the deck of a dhow in waters off western Malaysia, January 2006.
Strait of Malacca
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The Strait of Malacca is a narrow stretch of water, 900 kilometres long and from 65 to 250 km wide, between the Malay Peninsula to the northeast and the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the southwest,
Piracy in the Strait of Malacca
…coordinated patrols by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore along with increased security on vessels have caused a sharp downturn in piracy. The Strait of Malacca's geography makes the region very susceptible to piracy. It is an important passageway between China and India, and used heavily for commercial trade…
Malacca Strait
The Strait of Malacca as viewed from the city of Malacca, Malaysia. Besar Island ('Big Island') is visible in the distance.
A ship sailing on the Strait of Malacca, as seen from Bukit Melawati in Kuala Selangor.
Yearly haze from the smoke of raging bush fires, limiting visibility.