The number of incidents reported in the Philippines for the first nine months of 2020 has almost doubled compared to the entire year of 2019, with 13 incidents this year compared to seven last year. This is why ReCAAP ISC issued a Special Report to alert the shipping industry.
From the 13 actual incidents in the Philippines in 2020, nine incidents occurred at Manila anchorage, three at Batangas and one at General Santos Harbour anchorage.
The increase of the number of incidents in the Manila anchorage areas during Jan-Sep 2020 is due to the increase of the number of ships anchored in the Manila Bay area which has been designated as a Green Zone for crew change by the IMO due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The large number of ships anchored in the area provides opportunities for perpetrators to come alongside in small boats during hours of darkness to commit robbery/theft from the ships,
…says ReCAAP ISC.
Of the 13 actual incidents reported during Jan-Sep 2020, two were CAT 2, three were CAT 3 and eight were CAT 4 incidents. The majority of the incidents were CAT 4 incidents, and this accounts for 62% of the number of actual incidents (eight of 13 incidents). This is consistent with the past 13-year trend of incidents during 2007-2019 where 70% of the incidents were CAT 4 incidents (55 of 79 actual incidents).
Following the increase of the number of incidents of sea robbery reported at Manila and Batangas anchorages/ports during Jan-Sep 2020, the shipping industry is advised to adopt the following measures when anchor/berth in the area:
- Enhance vigilance and maintain strict anti-robbery watch
- Keep the ship’s surroundings well lit, keep flood lights on
- Keep sharp look-out for small boats approaching close to the ship and do not allow any boats to come near ship as much as possible
- Keep the ship’s forward store room double and heavily locked.
- Keep breathing apparatus, brass articles (such as fire nozzles) or paint drums, in safe and secured stores
- Sound alarm when sighted suspicious boats loitering in the vicinity of the ship, or suspicious persons on board the ship
- Report immediately all incidents and suspicious activities in the vicinity via Channel 16 to alert all ships in the vicinity, the VTMS and nearest Coast Guard Station.
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