On 17 July 2021, two incidents of unauthorized boarding occurred to ships while underway off Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island, Indonesia, the ReCAAP ISC said through a new incident alert. The two incidents occurred within an interval of 30 mins and in close proximity to each other in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait.
In both incidents, the perpetrators were armed with knives. They were sighted in the engine room in one incident, and in the steering gear room in the other. In both incidents, the perpetrators escaped upon being sighted, the crew was safe and nothing was stolen.
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With the latest occurrences, a total of 22 incidents were reported in the Singapore Strait since January 2021, with 18 incidents occurring off Tanjung Pergam. Perpetrators were armed with knives in nine incidents, the crew was assaulted in two incidents and engine spares were stolen in six incidents, ReCAAP ISC data suggest.
As the perpetrators are not arrested, there is a possibility of further incidents off Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island. All ships are advised to intensify vigilance and look out in that area during night time, adopt preventive measures and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State. Ship masters and crew are advised to get the latest information (at www.recaap.org) and tune-in to advisories and navigational broadcasts announced by the littoral States,
…the ReCAAP ISC advised, urging the littoral States to increase patrols in their respective waters, respond promptly to incidents and strengthen coordination among littoral States, in order to arrest the perpetrators.
The incidents
- On 17 Jul at about 0016 hrs, when bulk carrier, Star Nike was underway at about 9 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island, five unauthorized persons were sighted in the steering gear room. The perpetrators escaped upon being sighted. The ship’s alarm was raised and crew mustered. A search on board the ship was conducted but with no further sighting of the perpetrators. The master declared that nothing was stolen. All crew are safe and accounted for. No assistance was required and the ship continued her voyage for Manila, the Philippines. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were notified. Information of the incident was shared with the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities.
- On 17 Jul at about 0040 hrs, when a bulk carrier, Adventurer was underway at about 7.7 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island, five unauthorized persons were sighted in the engine room. The perpetrators escaped upon being sighted. The ship’s alarm was raised and crew mustered. A search on board the ship was conducted but with no further sighting of the perpetrators. The master declared that nothing was stolen. All crew are safe and accounted for. No assistance was required and the ship continued her voyage for Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore Police Coast Guard were notified. Information of the incident was shared with the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities.
