The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published its Monthly Piracy Report for the month of August 2024.
The following acts of piracy and armed robbery were allegedly committed against ships during the month of August 2024, reported by IMO Member States or international organizations in consultative status. In August 2024, eight incidents were reported. These are as follows:
#1 In international waters
- Aphrodite, Barge Carrier, Liberia
The incident: While underway, two perpetrators were sighted at the poop deck. Upon sighting by the crew, the perpetrators jumped overboard. The ship’s general alarm was raised, and the crew mustered to conduct a search. No perpetrators were found, and no loss of property occurred. All crew members were safe. The incident was reported to Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS), initiating a safety navigational broadcast. The Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) were notified of the incident. The PCG boarded the ship at Singapore anchorage to conduct a security search and investigation, reporting no perpetrators found onboard and no loss of property. Information about the incident was shared with the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 2.6 nm northwest of Pulau Cula (Indonesia), in the eastbound lane of the TSS
- Jin Hwa 49/Jin Hwa 39, Tug, Malaysia
The incident: While sailing, seven unauthorized personnel from two sampans boarded the barge. The perpetrators left with some scrap metal from the barge. The crew was not injured, and no assistance was required. The incident was reported to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) East, and a safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) were notified of the incident.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 3.6 nm south of Tanjung Setapa (Malaysia), in the westbound lane of the TSS
#2 In territorial waters
- HK Tug 3/LKH 3883, Tug, Singapore
The incident: While towed by HK Tug 3, the barge, LKH 3883, was boarded by an unknown number of perpetrators from several small boats. The perpetrators transferred scrap metal from the barge to the small boats and left after about half an hour. The crew was not injured. The incident was reported to the Singapore Port Operations Control Centre (POCC).
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 8.5 nm northwest of Tanjung Tondang, Pulau Bintan (Indonesia), in the eastbound lane of the TSS
- Ultra Colonsay, Bulk Carrier, Panama
The incident: While underway, 5-6 perpetrators with knives were sighted in the engine room. The ship’s general alarm was raised, and crew mustered to conduct a search, but no perpetrators were found. Some engine spare parts and the Chief Engineer’s cellphone were stolen. They entered the engine room, took the chief engineer hostage, and tied his hands and feet. Before escaping, the robbers stole the ship’s properties. The chief engineer freed himself and raised the alarm. All crew members were safe. The incident was reported to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS), and a Navtex broadcast was initiated to alert other vessels in the area to exercise caution and step up anti-piracy watch. The Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) boarded the ship at anchorage, reporting no perpetrators found onboard.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approximately 4.3 nm northwest of Pulau Cula (Indonesia), in the eastbound lane of the TSS
- Lucky Long, Bulk Carrier, Panama
The incident: While underway, five perpetrators, of whom two carried knives, were sighted in the engine room. The officer-on-watch raised the alarm, and crew were mustered to conduct a search to locate the perpetrators. The master reported that all crew members were accounted for, with no injuries reported, but generator spares were found missing. The incident was reported to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) East. Safety navigational broadcast was initiated, and information of the incident was shared with the Indonesian authorities. Upon the ship’s arrival at the port of Singapore, the PCG boarded the ship, conducted a thorough search onboard, and reported no perpetrators found.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 4.2 nm northwest of Pulau Nongsa Lighthouse (Indonesia), in the eastbound lane of the TSS
#3 In port area
- Spec Nichole, Supply Ship, Liberia
The incident: Two unauthorized persons boarded an anchored vessel and escaped with ship’s properties. The theft was discovered in the morning by the crew. Ship’s properties were stolen. The incident was reported to the Indonesian Marine Police HQ.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Batam Anchorage, Indonesia
- Bourbon Liberty 320, Tug, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
The incident: An unauthorized person boarded an anchored offshore tug via a canoe. The vigilant crew noticed the person and raised the alarm, resulting in the person escaping with his accomplice in the canoe with stolen ship’s stores. The incident was reported to the port authorities, and a security boat was dispatched towards the coast where the persons had abandoned the stolen ship’s stores while escaping from the authorities.
Location: WEST AFRICA, Abidjan Anchorage, Ivory Coast
- Happy Avocet, LPG Tanker, Denmark
The incident: Duty AB onboard an anchored tanker heard noises near the forecastle. Upon investigating, he noticed a boat with four persons near the anchor chain and one person in the hawsepipe attempting to gain access. The Officer on Watch (OOW) notified and activated the fire pump. Seeing the crew’s alertness, the persons escaped. The incident was reported to port control and coast guard. A patrol boat searched the waters around the tanker.
Location: SOUTH AMERICA (C), Cartagena Anchorage, Colombia
