The chemical/oil product tanker ‘Henry Maersk’ became subject of an armed robbery while berthed at MOT Terminal, Sandakan, Sabah, East Malaysia, ReCAAP ISC said in its weekly piracy report.
While at berth in the early morning hours of 12 April, the crew on the manifold heard the sound of the padlock being broken. On investigation of the forecastle, it was noted that the padlock to the forward bosun store had been broken. The rod securing the plates blocking access through the anchor chain pipes was found removed but the plates were still closed.
Upon further investigation of the forecastle, it was discovered that the ship’s anchor bell was missing, presumably stolen by the perpetrator. A complete ship inspection was conducted and all other doors and locks were found intact. The crew was safe.
The ReCAAP ISC report includes also two incidents of armed robbery against an unidentified petroleum/chemical tanker and the bulk carrier Ioanna L, both reported within an interval of four hours and in close proximity to each other off Tanjung Pergam, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait, according to a ReCAAP ISC warning last week. In one of the incidents, the perpetrator hit the third engineer using a wrench, causing him a mild contusion on his forehead.
