Four incidents of robbery against ships reported and no piracy incident during this month
The ReCAAP ISC has issued its monthly report on piracy for May 2013. According to the report, four incidents of robbery against ships reported and no piracy incident during this month.
Compared to the samemonth of 2012 (eight incidents), the number ofincidents reported in May 2013 had decreasedby 50%. The number of incidents reported inMay 2013 is the lowest compared to the sameperiod during past four reporting years (2009-2012).
Two of the four incidents reported in May 2013occurred onboard barges while underway. The incidents involved barge Crest 2825 occurrednorth of Tanjung Babi, Pulau Batam on 12 May13, and barge Crest 289 at approximately 9.8 nmwest-southwest of Pulau Berhala on 15 May 13. In the incident involving Crest 2825, the masterof the Singapore-registered tug boat Crest Jade1 reported that four men armed with knivesand long knives boarded the barge at or about2100 hours (local time) while the vessels weretransiting to Malaysia.
The master activated theemergency alarm immediately, and the robbersupon hearing the alarm, fled in a small boattaking with them ship stores.In the incident involving barge Crest 289, theCSO of Singapore-registered tug boat TCL4401reported that robbers had boarded the bargebetween 0000-0400 hours (local time) whilethe vessels were passing the Tioman Island,enroute to Kuantan Port, Malaysia. The masterdiscovered the missing items upon arrival atthe Kuantan Port. In both incidents, the crewwas not injured.
In May 2013, one noticeable characteristicin two of the robbery incidents is the specifictargeting of barges while underway. This maybe due to the inherent vulnerability of thebarges as compared to the tug boats. Bargesare usually unmanned while in transit makingit easier for the robbers to board the vesselunnoticed. Cargoes and equipment are carriedonboard the barges which provides the robbers more items to steal and more areas to hide,especially during the hours of darkness. As thebarge is being towed by the tug boat at a slowspeed, it takes considerable time for the tugboat to manoeuvre in order to initiate response,if any, against the robbers present onboard thebarge. The robbers on being spotted escapes inthe smaller high speed boats/crafts.
The ReCAAP ISC recommends that the owner oftug boat and barge may consider strengtheningsecurity measures on the barge; and the mastershould enhance vigilance and keep a close eye for the barge, especially in this region and in thehours of darkness.
For more information, please click at ReCAAP ISC Report – May 2013
Source: ReCAAP ICS
