The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published its Monthly Piracy Report for the month of June 2024.
The following acts of piracy and armed robbery are allegedly committed against ships during the month of June 2024, reported by IMO Member States or international organizations in consultative status.
#1 In international waters
- Corrado Bulk carrier Bahamas
The incident: While underway, the ship engineer sighted four perpetrators armed with knives in the engine room. The master raised the alarm and mustered the crew. A search was conducted and some engine spares were missing. The master reported the incident through his local agent via email to Singapore Port Operations Control Centre (POCC). A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were notified. Information about the incident was shared with the Indonesian authority
Location: MALACCA STRAIT Approximately 15 nm west of Pulau Cula (Indonesia), in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
#2 In territorial waters
- Santa Regina Bulk carrier Panama
The incident: While underway, six perpetrators armed with knives entered the engine room through the steering gear door, tied up two crew (oilers) in the engine room workshop and stole the engine spares. An engineer discovered the tied-up crew and informed the master. The master raised alarm and crew mustered. Search was conducted with no further sighting of the perpetrators. The master reported the incident through his agent to Singapore Port Operations Control Centre (POCC) via email. The Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed. Information of the incident was shared with the Indonesian authority.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT Approximately 5.3 nm west of Pulau Cula (Indonesia), in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS)] Indonesia
- Ivestos 9 Bulk carrier Liberia
The incident: While underway, the engine crew sighted four perpetrators armed with knives in the engine room and notified the watch officer on the bridge immediately. The bridge officer raised the alarm. The perpetrators escaped upon realising the crew had been alerted. The crew was mustered and a search
onboard was conducted. No perpetrators were found and some engine spares were stolen. The crew was not injured. The master reported the incident to Singapore Port Operations Control Centre (POCC) via email. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were notified. Information of the incident was shared with the Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT Approximately 4.4 nm from Pulau Cula (Indonesia), in the Straits of Malacca & Singapore (SOMS) Indonesia
- IVESTOS 8 Bulk carrier Liberia
The incident: While underway, the master reported to Singapore Vessel Traffic Information Service (VTIS) that one perpetrator was sighted in the steering gear room. The alarm was raised and all crew mustered to conduct search onboard the ship. The master declared nothing was stolen, the crew was safe and no further assistance required. The ship was enroute from Santos, Brazil to pick up her pilot from Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia.
A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were notified. Information of the incident was shared with the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT Approximately 7.7 nm from Pulau Iyu Kecil, Indonesia. Straits of Malacca & Singapore (SOMS) Indonesia
- Name Withheld Chemical tanker Panama
The incident: A tanker underway sighted a dimly lit boat near the port bow and altered course. At a distance of 1.5nm, the boat suddenly started flashing lights, increased speed towards the tanker and made an approach in an attempt to come alongside. The tanker took evasive manoeuvres and notified VTIS. A patrol boat arrived to assist the tanker. Seeing the patrol boat, the boat aborted and moved away.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT Singapore Straits Indonesia
- Fairchem Conquest Chemical tanker Panama
The incident: While underway, the bridge team sighted a suspicious boat on its port bow with very dim lighting. The ship altered its course to starboard to keep a safe distance from the boat. However, at a distance of about 1.5 miles, the boat suddenly started flashing lights and accelerated, making a desperate
attempt to board the ship. The ship performed evasive manoeuvres to deter the boarding attempt, and immediately notified Singapore Vessel Traffic Information Service (VTIS) East. Upon sighting a RSN ship in the vicinity, the small boat aborted its attempt and moved away from the ship. The ship implemented additional lookout measures to monitor for suspicious boats as part of its security measures, in accordance with the BMP5.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT Approximately 3 nm north of Pulau Batam, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the TSS. [SOMS] Indonesia
#3 In Port Area
- Avatar Courage Tug Singapore
The incident: While anchored, the duty able bodied (AB) spotted three perpetrators armed with long knives at the starboard rescue zone of the ship. The perpetrators were suspected to have had board the ship with ropes and ship fenders. The perpetrators attempted to attack the AB but he managed to escape and ran into the ship accommodation block with the door locked from inside. The AB reported the incident to the duty bridge officer who raised the general alarm and announced via the PA system about the armed perpetrators onboard. All crew were called to assemble at the navigation bridge. The ship security officer alerted the Batam Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) and the Company Security Officer (CSO) to request for immediate assistance. The Indonesian Navy and Coast Guard arrived at 0150 hrs and 0210 hrs respectively, but no perpetrator was found onboard. The Indonesian Navy then continued to escort the vessel until daylight hour. The crew was not injured and nothing was stolen.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT Batam Anchorage, Indonesia Indonesia
- Maersk Sarnia Container ship Singapore
The incident: An anchored ship was boarded by a perpetrator via the anchor chain. Ship’s properties reported stolen. Incident reported to the port authorities.
Location: WEST AFRICA Luanda Anchorage, Angola Angola
- Dongbang Giant No.6 Heavy load carrier Republic of Korea
The incident: While anchored, two perpetrators boarded the ship, stole engine spare parts and escaped. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. The crew was not injured. The incident was reported to VTS and Indonesian authorities boarded the ship for investigation.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT Kabil Anchorage, Indonesia
- Belatlantic Bulk carrier Norway
The incident: While anchored, the watchman and duty crew spotted six perpetrators attempting to board the ship through the chain hawse pipe from a small boat. Upon realising the crew had been alerted, the perpetrators aborted the attempt and escaped immediately.
Location: INDIAN OCEAN Anchorage area “A” of Chattogram anchorage, Bangladesh
