In its latest weekly piracy report, ReCAAP ISC informed of four actual and two attempted incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia, during 29 May – 4 June. Most incidents were attacks against anchored ships. Out of the six incidents, four were reported to Indonesia and two in Chittagong.
The first involves the Product tanker ‘Bertina’. While anchored at Chittagong Anchorage, Bangladesh, on 12 April, three perpetrators armed with iron rod boarded the ship from a small boat. They injured the watch keeper, stole 10 drums of paint (each 140 litres) and escaped. The master raised the alarm, mustered the crew and reported the incident to the Chittagong Port Control and Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG). The BCG dispatched a patrol boat to the location, recovered the stolen items and arrested the perpetrators. The stolen items were returned to the victim ship and the perpetrators handed over to the local police.
The second involves the tanker ‘Erik Spirit’, approximately 12 nm northnortheast of Tanjung Berakit, Bintan Island, Indonesia, on 5 May. While at anchor, perpetrators boarded the tanker unnoticed, stole ship’s properties and escaped. The theft was later discovered during the ship’s routine emergency drill.
The third incident was reported against the bulk carrier ‘Wangaratta’. While at anchored at Tarahan Anchorage, Indonesia, on 19 May, five perpetrators armed with knives boarded the ship using a rope. They held the duty AB hostage, tied him and threatened him with knives. The perpetrators stole the ship’s properties, damaged the door to the engine room, stole engine spares and escaped. The AB managed to free himself and raise the alarm. The OOW sounded the ship’s horn and mustered the crew. A search was conducted on board the ship.
The last attack was against the tanker ‘Front Ull’ on 19 May. While underway approximately 2.5 nm eastnortheast of Pulau Karimun Kecil, Indonesia (SOMS), six perpetrators boarded the tanker. The duty engineer noticed the perpetrators, informed the master who raised the alarm. Seeing that the crew had been alerted, the perpetrators escaped empty-handed.
Attempted
ReCAAP ISC also informed of an attempted attack against the general cargo ship ‘IDM Doodle’ on 18 April, while at Chittagong Bravo Anchorage, Bangladesh. Six perpetrators with knives in a black boat tried to board an anchored ship from astern. The ship master and crew were vigilant and raised the alarm.
On 6 May, the bulk carrier ‘Baltic Scorpion’ was at Muara Berau Anchorage, Samarinda, Indonesia. While at anchor, the duty AB on routine rounds on board the ship heard noises coming from the hawse pipe. He saw a perpetrator trying to remove the hawse pipe protection cover. The duty AB immediately informed the OOW who raised the alarm and sounded the ship’s whistle. Upon hearing the alarm, the perpetrators aborted the attempted boarding and escaped. The crew was mustered, and a search was carried out. Nothing was stolen. The SSO tried to call the port control on VHF but received no response.
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.