The Singapore Strait accounted for the highest number of piracy incidents in Asia last year, according to figures released on Wednesday.

There were 31 reported actual incidents and 2 attempts incidents involving thieves boarding ships underway in the strait, the Singapore-based Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) said.

Between January and August, thieves focused on tugs and barges in the Westbound lane of the Traffic Seperation Scheme (TSS).