In its weekly piracy report for 14-20 April 2020, ReCAAP ISC informed of four incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. Of the four, one was a piracy incident (CAT 4) onboard a VLCC while underway in the South China Sea. The other three were armed robberies, including a CAT 3 incident that occurred on a NYK container ship anchored at Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) Breakwater, Philippines, and two CAT 4 incidents that occurred on a bulk carrier while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait and an oil tanker anchored off Alang Anchorage, India.
- The first incident involves the Palau-flagged oil/chemical/gas tanker Seafrost (18 April).
While Seafrost towed by tug boat, Atlantis was waiting for demolition off Alang, India, some perpetrators boarded the unmanned Seafrost from a dinghy boat. Some ship property was stolen.
The master of the tug boat reported the incident to VTS Khambhat, who relayed the message to the Indian Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard Station Pipavav requested Marine Police Alang and Customs Bhavnagar to investigate the matter. Further investigation is in progress.
- The second incident involves the Belgium-flagged VLCC Arafura (16 April).
While en route from port of Sungai Linggi, Malaysia to Qingdao, China, the master of the VLCC discovered off Anambas Island, Indonesia, that padlocks to restricted spaces were cut with heavy cutter.
A breathing apparatus air compressor unit and various spare parts were found stolen. The master conducted a search on board the ship, but did not see the perpetrators.
The crew was not injured. The master reported the incident to ReCAAP Focal Point (Singapore) via email. The Republic of Singapore Navy and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed; and the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities were notified. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated.
- The third incident involves the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Palais (16 April).
While en route from Singapore to China, the master of the bulk carrier reported to Singapore VTIS East on the sighting of three perpetrators at the stern of the ship.
There was no confrontation between the perpetrators and the crew.
The master raised the alarm and a search on board the ship was conducted to locate the perpetrators, but with no sighting of them. The master reported that the crew was safe and some engine spare parts were stolen.
The Singapore Police Coast Guard and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) were informed; and the Indonesian authorities were notified. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated to alert mariners.
- The fourth incident involves the Singaporean-flagged container ship NYK Joanna (14 April).
While at anchor, the duty roving noticed an unlit small motor banca near the starboard quarter of the ship. He reported to the duty officer who raised the alarm and made an announcement through the PA system.
One of the crew was directed to proceed to the forward station; and he heard the banging of door and people talking.
The Chief Officer together with two crew proceeded to the forward station to verify the situation. They noticed one perpetrator with a knife standing at the hawse pipe area of the ship (port side) and one perpetrator running from the bosun store and escaped through the port hawse pipe in the unlit small motor banca. The crew was mustered and a search and check of the inventory of the ship’s property were conducted.
A set of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), a piece of flashlight and three sets of chain blocks were stolen.
The crew was not injured. The master of the ship reported the incident to VTMS Manila and Coast Guard Station Manila. The Philippine Coast Guard boarded the ship and conducted an inquiry of the incident.
