ReCAAP ISC issued a security warning to urge vigilance for ships sailing in the South China Sea, after seven perpetrators armed with guns and knives boarded the Korean-registered bulk carrier ‘C.K. Bluebell’ off Indonesia in the early morning hours of Tuesday.
ReCAAP ISC classified the incident as a CAT 2, as perpetrators were armed. The crew was threatened and two crew members sustained minor injury.
This is the first incident reported off west of Pulau Anambas in South China Sea in 2019. There were two previous incidents occurred in 2017 in the similar vicinity in South China Sea,
…ReCAAP ISC noted.
While underway approximately 28 nm west of the Anambas island, Indonesia, seven perpetrators armed with guns and knives boarded the ship at about 0325 hrs.
They threatened the ship captain, chief engineer and duty navigator and took away approximately 13,000 USD from the safe and the crew’s personal belongings. Two crew members sustained minor injury.
The perpetrators left the ship at about 0400 hrs and the ship proceeded towards the next port of call at Incheon, Korea.
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.
