Chemical tanker ‘Southern Falcon’ was attacked unsuccessfully by pirates in the Celebes Sea due to crew efforts. The attack occurred 160 nautical miles east of Tarakan Island, Indonesia while the vessel was bound to Gresik under ballast, according to IMB Piracy Reporting Center.
Souther Falcon was approached by small speed boat with heavy armed men, who tried to board the vessel. Crew thwarted the attack successfully without injuries and resumed voyage to East Java. The high free board helped them and seriously disturbed the pirates from boarding the tanker.
According to the witness evidence from the crew of the chemical tanker, the attackers were heavily armed militants of Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, who has control over the Celebes Sea region. However, it is not clear if the pirates opened fire on the vessel; fortunately no one were injured during the accident.
The accident was reported to local authorities, navy and Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency, who started investigation and tried to trace the pirates.
