During 5-11 December 2017, two incidents, comprising one incident of armed robbery against ships, and one piracy incident, were reported to the ReCAAP ISC.
The first involved the container ship ‘CPO Norfolk’ while it was anchored at Quarantine Anchorage area, South Harbour Manila, Philippines. The duty officer on board the container ship was conducting routine security rounds, when he noticed that the securing cables of the forward/forecastle lifesaving appliances were cut. He also noticed that the forecastle store room was unlocked.
The crew immediately conducted inventory check on the ship’s equipment and discovered that two life rafts and four immersion suits were missing. They reported the incident to the Philippine Coast Guard. It is believed that the perpetrators boarded the ship by climbing through the anchor chain and hawse pipes.
The second incident involved the tanker ‘Jupiter Sun’. While at anchor 15 nm northnortheast off Tanjung Berakit, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia, four perpetrators wearing black, barefooted and armed with knives and swords boarded the tanker from a small craft. They confronted and tied the 2nd engineer who was working in the engine room workshop. The perpetrators forcibly entered the spare parts store, stole two bags of engine spare parts and escaped. The master conducted a search on board and no perpetrators were found. The crew was not injured.
The ReCAAP ISC urges ship master and crew to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal State and flag State, exercise vigilance and adopt relevant preventive measures taking reference from the Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia. It also reiterates its advisory issued via the ReCAAP ISC Incident Alert dated 21 November 2016 to all ships to re-route from the area, where possible. Otherwise, ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the Sulu-Celebes Sea and eastern Sabah region and report the incidents to authorities.
Explore more herebelow:
