The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published its Monthly Piracy Report for the month of November 2024.
The following acts of piracy and armed robbery are allegedly committed against ships during the month of November 2024, reported by IMO Member States or international organizations in consultative status:
#1 In international waters
- Metro Ionian, Tanker, Liberia
The incident: While underway, some perpetrators were sighted on the poop deck. A high-speed craft approached the ship from the stern but was not detected by radars. The master raised the alarm and mustered all crew to conduct a search. The crew members were not injured. 12 pieces of ME fuel injection valves were stolen. The master reported the incident to Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS). A safety navigational broadcast was initiated, and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) were notified. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 3.6 nm northwest from Pulau Cula, Indonesia, eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme.
- Saga Fjord, General Cargo Ship, Hong Kong, China
The incident: While underway, seven to eight perpetrators were sighted in the engine room and workshop. They entered by breaking the lock of the aft steering room door. One robber had a gun-like weapon and threatened the third engineer in the workshop. The master raised the alarm and all crew mustered to conduct a search, but no perpetrators were found. Some tools and engine spare parts were reported stolen. The crew members were not injured.
The master reported the incident to Singapore VTIS. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated, and the RSN MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 4.3 nm northwest from Pulau Cula, Indonesia, eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme.
- NUS, LPG Tanker, Comoros
The incident: While underway, five perpetrators armed with metal rods were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was raised, and all crew mustered to conduct a search. The crew members were accounted for and there were no injuries. Nothing was stolen. The master reported the incident to Singapore VTIS. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated, and the RSN MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 4.2 nm northwest from Pulau Cula, Indonesia, eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme.
#2 In territorial waters
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Oshima Trader, Bulk Carrier, Philippines
The incident: Duty crew spotted three robbers armed with guns and long knives inside the engine room. The alarm was raised, and VTIS notified. The Coast Guard escorted and boarded the ship for investigation. Engine spare parts were reported stolen.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Singapore Straits, Singapore (01° 02.76′ N, 103° 39.45′ E).
- Oshima Trader, Bulk Carrier, Philippines
The incident: While underway, three to four perpetrators were sighted in the engine room. Two were armed with machetes, and one carried a gun-like object. The alarm was raised and all crew mustered at the bridge. The search was not conducted, and the suspected perpetrators were still on board at the time. Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) later boarded the ship at anchorage and conducted a thorough search but found no perpetrators. Some engine spares were stolen. The master reported the incident to the Singapore VTIS West. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated, and the RSN MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 2.3 nm northwest from Pulau Cula, Indonesia, eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme.
- Dara, Bulk Carrier, Liberia
The incident: While underway, one perpetrator armed with a gun-like object was sighted on deck. The crew locked themselves in their cabins and conducted a search later during daylight. All crew members were accounted for, and there were no injuries. The crew was unable to confirm if anything was stolen. The master reported the incident to Singapore VTIS. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated, and the RSN MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 4.2 nm northwest from Pulau Cula, Indonesia, eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme.
- Ammos, Bulk Carrier, Bahamas
The incident: While underway, three perpetrators were sighted in the engine room. The master raised the alarm and all crew mustered to conduct a search, but no perpetrators were found. The crew members were not injured. Some ship stores were reported stolen. The master reported the incident to the Singapore VTIS West. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated, and the RSN MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. PCG boarded the ship and carried out a security search but did not find any perpetrators. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, 3.7 nm north from Pulau Cula, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the TSS in Singapore Strait.
- Genco Lion, Bulk Carrier, Marshall Islands
The incident: While underway, four perpetrators were sighted in the engine room. The master raised the general alarm and carried out a search. No perpetrators were found onboard, and nothing was lost. All crew members were accounted for, and there were no injuries. The master reported the incident to the Singapore VTIS Central. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated, and the RSN MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. PCG boarded the ship and carried out a security search but did not find any perpetrators. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 2.5 nm northwest from Pulau Cula, Indonesia, eastbound lane of the TSS in Singapore Strait.
- HTK Confidence, Bulk Carrier, Vietnam
The incident: While underway, two perpetrators armed with knives were sighted in the engine room. The master raised the general alarm and all crew mustered safely in the wheelhouse. The crew did not conduct a search but waited for PCG’s assistance. There were no injuries. Some spare parts were stolen. The ship agent reported the incident to the Singapore VTIS via telephone. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated, and the RSN MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. PCG boarded the ship on her arrival at Singapore Anchorage but did not find any perpetrators. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 1.46 nm northwest from Pulau Cula, Indonesia, eastbound lane of the TSS in Singapore Strait.
- Theodore JR, Bulk Carrier, Panama
The incident: While underway, six perpetrators armed with knives were sighted in the engine room and at the poop deck. The general emergency alarm was raised, and all crew mustered to conduct a search. No perpetrators were found onboard. All crew was accounted for with no injuries. Some engine spares were stolen, and one padlock was broken. The master reported the incident to the Singapore VTIS. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated, and the RSN MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. PCG boarded the ship and carried out a search but did not find any perpetrators. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 2.0 nm northwest from Pulau Cula, Indonesia, eastbound lane of the TSS in Singapore Strait.
- Express, Bulk Carrier, Panama
The incident: While underway, two perpetrators were sighted at the aft mooring station of the ship. The alarm was raised, and all crew mustered to conduct a search. No perpetrators were found onboard. The crew members were not injured, and nothing was stolen. The master reported the incident to the Singapore VTIS. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated, and the RSN MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. PCG boarded the ship at anchorage and carried out a search but did not find any perpetrators. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 2.8 nm north from Pulau Cula, Indonesia, eastbound lane of the TSS in Singapore Strait.
#3 In port area
- Karlovasi, Bulk Carrier, Liberia
The incident: While at anchor, the crew sighted 10 perpetrators with knives and bats at the port quarter deck of the ship. The perpetrators tied up three local watchmen and injured one of them on the leg. One ship crew was also assaulted and was slightly injured on the head. Some ship property/stores were stolen. After receiving the incident information, the Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) started an investigation of the incident onboard the ship.
Location: INDIAN OCEAN, Outer Anchorage Kutubdia, Bangladesh
Ceylon Princess, Bulk Carrier, Sri Lanka
The incident: Eleven unauthorized persons boarded an anchored ship. Alert duty crew noticed the unauthorized persons and immediately raised the alarm, resulting in the persons escaping empty-handed. The incident was reported to Port Authority and Navy.
Location: INDIAN OCEAN, Chattogram Anchorage, Bangladesh (21° 23.44′ N, 091° 48.63′ E)
- Navios Destiny, Container Ship, Marshall Islands
The incident: Around 15-20 robbers armed with knives boarded the berthed ship and took hostage the duty AB, a stevedore, and the Bosun. The robbers stole cargo from containers, and when noticed by a watchman, they escaped. Alarm raised, and the incident was reported to the port authorities.
Location: WEST AFRICA, Tin Can Port, Nigeria (06° 25.92′ N, 003° 21.26′ E)
#4 In territorial waters
- Dokos, Bulk Carrier, Marshall Islands
The incident: Two persons in a small boat attempted to board the ship underway. Duty crew noticed the attempt and raised the alarm, resulting in the individuals aborting and moving away. The incident was reported to VTIS.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Singapore Straits, Indonesia (01° 03.00′ N, 103° 38.00′ E)
- Dokos, Bulk Carrier, Marshall Islands
The incident: While underway, two to three perpetrators in a boat attempted to board the ship from the starboard quarter. Upon raising the alarm and switching on the deck lights, the perpetrator’s boat moved off southward. The master reported the incident to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS).
Location: MALACCA STRAIT, Approx. 5.7 nm northwest from Pulau Cula, Indonesia (01° 03.50′ N, 103° 37.09′ E)
