During the period of 16-22 January 2018, two incidents of armed robbery against ships, comprising an actual incident and an attempted incident, were reported to the ReCAAP ISC. Due to timely reporting and vigilance of the ship masters and crew, the perpetrators were arrested in the actual incident; and in the other attempted incident, the perpetrators did not board the ship.
The first incident involved the container ship ‘Polar Ecuador’. While at South Harbour Anchorage Area, Manila, five perpetrators boarded the ship from a motorized motor banca with markings “Shyrill”. The master of the ship reported the incident immediately to the port authorities. Upon receipt of the report, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) immediately deployed its floating asset DF 313 and conducted maritime patrol in the vicinity. The PCG team located the suspected motor banca, boarded and apprehended five perpetrators on board. Two other perpetrators managed to jump into the water and swam towards an unknown direction. Some of the stolen items were recovered from the perpetrators.
The second incident concerned the workboat ‘Marineco Toomai’ in the eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait, approximately 8.5 nm NNE of Tanjung Balai, Indonesia, on 18 January. The boat towing three pipelines (length of tow about 700 metres) was underway to Batam port, when two perpetrators onboard a small craft approached the boat. The crew was alerted and reported the incident immediately to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) on VHF radio. The perpetrators did not board the boat.
There was no description of the small craft due to the darkness of the surroundings. The VTIS on duty initiated the navigational broadcast to request ships to look out for approaching small craft in the vicinity. The VTIS also notified the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Singapore Police Coast Guard and Indonesian authority.
“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.”
