During 25–29 January 2021, three incidents were reported onboard ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait, the ReCAAP ISC informed in a special alert to shipping. This is the first incident alert for 2021, following a turbulent 2020 for ships in the region.
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The three incidents occurred in close proximity to each other and in particular, two incidents occurred within an interval of four hours. In all three incidents, the perpetrators were sighted in the engine room. However, nothing was reported stolen and the crew was safe with no confrontation with the perpetrators.
In 2020, a total of 34 incidents were reported in the Singapore Strait. Of these, 30 incidents occurred in the eastbound lane, two in the precautionary area, one in the westbound lane and one just outside (south) of the TSS.
As a result, the ReCAAP ISC had issued five Incident Alerts on the incidents in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait and one Special Report on incidents against ships in the Singapore Strait in 2020.
The incidents
- On 25 Jan at about 0325 hrs, the bulk carrier Ark Royal was underway at about 7.1 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia when five unauthorised persons were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. A search onboard was conducted. At 0506 hrs, the master updated Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) that the search on board was completed with no further sighting of the unauthorised persons. The master reported that nothing was stolen, and all crew was safe and accounted for. He added that no assistance was required, and the ship continued its voyage. 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.
- On 28 Jan at about 2232 hrs, bulk carrier, Elvia was underway at about 6 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia when 10 unauthorised persons armed with knives were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. A search on board the ship was conducted. At 2338 hrs, the master updated VTIS East that the search on board was completed with no further sighting of the unauthorised persons. Nothing was stolen and the crew was safe. No assistance was required and the ship continued on her voyage to China. 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.
- On 29 Jan at about 0221 hrs, general cargo ship, Vantage Wave was underway at about 5.8 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia when three unauthorised persons armed with knives were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. A search on board the ship was conducted. At 0322 hrs, the master updated VTIS East that the search on board was completed with no further sighting of the unauthorised persons. Nothing was stolen and the crew was safe. No assistance was required and the ship continued on her voyage to Caofeidian, China. 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.
Recommendations
- All ships are advised to exercise enhanced vigilance, adopt extra precautionary measures and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State.
- Ship master and crew are advised to keep abreast of the latest situation (at https://www.recaap.org/) and tune-in to advisories and navigational broadcasts announced by the littoral States.
- The ReCAAP ISC urges the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in their respective waters, strengthen coordination among them and promote information sharing on the latest situation, and the criminal groups involved in order to make arrests of the perpetrators.
