During 8 – 11 April 2021, three incidents of armed robbery were reported onboard ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait, ReCAAP ISC said in a new Incident Alert to shipping.
The three incidents occurred in close proximity to each other (Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia) and in particular, two incidents on 8 Apr occurred within an interval of four hours.
In two of the incidents, the perpetrators were sighted in the engine room. In addition, engine spares were reported stolen in the incident on 11 Apr and nothing was reported stolen in the other two incidents.
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In one of the incidents on 8 Apr, the perpetrator confronted the engine room crew and hit him on his head when the crew attempted to shout for assistance. There was no confrontation between the crew and the perpetrators in the other two incidents.
With the latest incidents, a total of 10 incidents were reported in the Singapore Strait during January-April 2021, comprising nine incidents in the eastbound lane of the TSS and one incident in the westbound lane. In 2020, a total of 34 incidents were reported in the Singapore Strait.
Although there was an arrest of five perpetrators in the Singapore Strait by the Indonesian Navy on 21 February 2021, incidents have continued to occur in the area. This suggests that there are other criminal groups operating in the Singapore Strait.
The ReCAAP ISC urges the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in their respective waters as well as strengthen coordination among the littoral States, including information sharing on the latest situation, and the criminal groups involved, in order to make more arrests of the perpetrators.
The incidents
a. On 8 Apr at about 0147 hrs, when a bulk carrier, Trina Oldendorff, was underway at about 6.8 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia, four unauthorized persons armed with knives were sighted in the engine room. The perpetrator confronted the engine room crew and hit him on his head when he attempted to shout for assistance. Thereafter, the perpetrators escaped from the ship. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. A search on board the ship was conducted with no further sighting of the perpetrators. The master declared nothing was stolen, the crew was safe and accounted for. He did not report the incident immediately to the nearest coastal State and continued with the voyage. The master reported the incident to Singapore Port Operation Control Centre (POCC) only on 9 Apr. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed, and the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities were notified.
b. On 8 Apr at about 0550 hrs, when a petroleum/chemical tanker, Harrisburg was underway at about 6.3 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia, two unauthorized persons boarded the ship. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. A search on board the ship was conducted with no further sighting of the perpetrators. Nothing was stolen and the crew was safe.
c. On 11 Apr at about 0115 hrs, when a bulk carrier, Pantazis L was underway at about 7.6 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia, four unauthorized persons were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. A search on board the ship was conducted. At 0255 hrs, the master updated Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) that the search on board was completed with no further sighting of the perpetrators. The master reported that some engine spares were stolen. All crew was safe and accounted for. No assistance was required and the ship continued with her voyage. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed, and the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities were notified.
As the perpetrators of these incidents are not arrested, there is a possibility of further incidents in the Singapore Strait. All ships are advised to exercise enhanced vigilance, adopt extra precautionary measures and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State. Ship masters and crew are advised to keep abreast of the latest situation and tune-in to advisories and navigational broadcasts announced by the littoral States,
…ReCAAP ISC advised.
