In its weekly report for 26 March- 1st April, ReCAAP ISC informed of one actual incident and one attempted incident of armed robbery against ships in Asia. The incidents occurred on 26 March and 25 February, respectively.
The actual incident involved the Marshall Islands-flagged product tanker ‘Nakhal Silver’, while anchored at Batangas Anchorage Alpha, Philippines.
While at anchor, a perpetrator boarded the ship through the anchor chain by breaking the padlock of the anchor chain pipe securing arrangement.
The duty A/B sighted the perpetrator and informed the OOW. The general alarm was raised, and crew mustered. The crew went to the forecastle to investigate and the perpetrator jumped overboard. The crew was not injured. The ship’s bell was stolen.
The attempted incident involved the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier ‘Name withheld’, while anchored at Taboneo Anchorage, South Kalimantan, Indonesia.
While at anchor, the duty watchman on routine rounds noticed two perpetrators attempting to board the ship via the anchor chain. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. The perpetrators escaped in a waiting skiff.
Indonesian and Philippine anchorages have been many times areas of concern for ship’s security.
The report also includes two incidents, involving the same ship, outside Asia.
While the Singaporean-flagged product tanker ‘Nord Steady’ was at anchor in Secured Anchorage Area, Lagos, Nigeria in the night hours of 24 March, the duty watchman discovered two perpetrators hiding behind the bollards.
The crew reported the incident to the Nigerian Navy, and the Navy despatched a patrol boat. Gun shots were heard. The Navy apprehended the perpetrators. About 70 MT of cargo was stolen from one port and one starboard tank. The crew was not injured.
A week later, in the morning hours of 30 March, while the ship was at anchor in STS Area carrying out a ship-to-ship operation, the duty watch keeper saw two perpetrators near the vessel cargo tank. The perpetrators escaped into a waiting boat when their presence was discovered.
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,
…ReCAAP ISC advised.