Tanker attacked, cargo stolen
ReCAAP ISC has issued update regarding an the incident involving theOil Product Tanker, Moresby 9.
On 5 Jul 14, the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) issued an Incident Alert 06/2014 (as attached) following a report from the shipping company that on 4 Jul 14, a Honduras registered oil product tanker Moresby 9, carrying MGO was boarded by an unknown number of perpetrators at or about 1938hrs (local time) at 03⁰ 23.32 N, 105⁰ 08.90 E (approximately 34 nm from Pulau Anambas).
Noting that the location of boarding is not within Malaysia territorial waters, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) informed the ReCAAP ISC that their assets were on standby should the perpetrators moved into their waters.
The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) reportedly deployed their ships to the location of the incident but was not able to locate Moresby 9 off Pulau Anambas. The last known position of Moresby 9 was at 03⁰ 22.21 N, 105⁰ 08.09 E (approximately 36 nm from Pulau Anambas).
On 5 Jul 14, the shipping company managed to establish communication with Moresby 9, and instructed her to anchor at 01⁰ 20 N, 104⁰ 19.3 E (approximately 3.9 nm southeast of Tanjung Ramunia, Johor).
| Comments by the ReCAAP ISC |
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The modus operandi of this incident was similar to the other siphoning incidents involving tankers occurred during January-June 2014, where the robbers armed with guns and machetes boarded the vessel, tied the crew and locked them in a room and siphoned the fuel/oil to another tanker which came along the vessel. The ReCAAP ISC strongly urges the master to exercise enhanced vigilance and report any suspicious vessels loitering in its vicinity. Prevention is better than cure, and in this case, responsiveness of the enforcement agencies to the location of the incident has been a challenging task as the location is far away from shore. Authorities are urged to cooperate in information sharing and operational responses as and when the situation warrants for it, and intensify the conduct of patrols in areas of concern. |
Source and Image Credit: ReCAAP ISC
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