In its weekly report for 3-9 November, ReCAAP ISC informed of six incidents against ships in Asia. Of these, three incidents occurred onboard ships while underway in the Singapore Strait in one night, two in Vietnam and one in Indonesia.
The incidents were classified as CAT 4, where the perpetrators are not armed and the crew not harmed.
With the three incidents reported in Singapore Strait, ReCAAP ISC has reported a total of 31 incidents in the area since January 2020,which creates concerns.
Therefore, it issued an Incident Alert Monday, to advise ships to exercise utmost vigilance, adopt extra precautionary measures and report all incidents to the nearest coastal States; and urge the littoral States to increase patrols and coordination among them.
The incidents
Incident #1
The first incident involves the Panamanian bulk carrier Atlantic Diana, approximately 5.7 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait, in the early morning hours of 9 November.
While underway, one perpetrator was sighted in the vicinity of the steering gear flat. The alarm was raised, crew mustered and a search onboard was conducted. There was no confrontation between the crew and the perpetrator.
At about 0755 hrs, the master updated Singapore VTIS that there was no further sighting of the perpetrator onboard. There was no injury to crew.
Nothing was stolen. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)’s Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed; and the Indonesian authorities were notified. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated to alert mariners.
Incident #2
The second incident involves the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Lefkada, while about 5.4 nm southeast of Tanjung Ramunia, East Johor, Malaysia in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait, also in the early morning hours of 9 November.
While underway, two perpetrators were sighted in the vicinity of engine room locker. The alarm was raised, crew mustered and a search on board the ship was conducted. There was no confrontation between the crew and the perpetrators.
At about 0340 hrs, the master updated Singapore VTIS that there was no further sighting of the perpetrators on board. The oil spill equipment locker was found unlocked and a lifebuoy was stolen. There was no injury to crew.
Shortly after, the RSN’s MSTF and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed; and the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities were notified. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated to alert mariners.
Incident #3
The third incident involves the Liberian flagged tanker Zeno, approximately 4.4 nm south of Tanjung Bulat, East Johor, Malaysia in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait, in the night of 8 November.
While underway, three perpetrators were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was immediately raised and a search onboard was conducted. There was no confrontation between the crew and the perpetrators.
At about 2305, the master updated Singapore VTIS via VHF that there was no further sighting of perpetrators onboard. Some ship equipment including a sounding rod, an oil sampling rod, a portable breathing apparatus, portable instruments for measuring ullage and a portable spray painter were stolen from the engine room. There was no injury to crew.
The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed; and the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities were notified. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated to alert mariners.
Incident #4
The fourth incident is about the Cyprus-flagged container ship Cape Martin, while at Vung Tau Anchorage (on “H19”), Vietnam, in the early morning hours of 3 November.
While at anchor, the duty crew noticed seven or eight perpetrators had boarded the ship. The alarm was raised immediately. The perpetrators jumped overboard and escaped in a small boat.
Then, the crew conducted a search onboard and discovered 12 cans of paint missing from the paint store. There was no injury to crew.
The incident was reported to Vung Tau Port Control; and the Vietnam authorities and Vietnam Coast Guard were notified.
Incident #5
The fifth incident is about the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier Hanyang, while on Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in the morning of 30 October.
While underway, the bosun discovered that the padlock of the masthouse No. 1 was broken. Upon investigation, some spares for ship anchor were missing from the masthouse.
No perpetrators were found and there was no injury to crew. The ship’s CSO was informed.
Incident #6
The sixth incident concerns the Panamanian-flagged chemical tanker SG Friendship, while in Dumai Anchorage, Indonesia, in the early morning hours of 28 October.
While at anchor, a perpetrator boarded the ship via the midpoint on the stern of the ship from a wooden motor boat with one OBM. The duty AB, while on his rounds noticed some wet steps on the poop deck and conducted a search.
During his search, the perpetrator came out from his hiding place and escaped in the wooden boat with four other perpetrators waiting in the boat.
The duty AB alerted the other crew immediately via walkietalkie. The duty officer also sounded the alarm and the crew was mustered. A thorough search was conducted on board the ship.
Nothing was stolen. There was no injury to crew. The incident was reported to the local police through the agents.
