Tag: kidnapping

During 30 October-5 November, four incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia were reported to ReCAAP ISC. Of the four incidents, three occurred at anchorage areas in Batangas Bay, Philippines. Included in the weekly report is a crew abduction that occurred on 29 October off Congo, West Africa.

Armed pirates boarded and hijacked an offshore supply vessel, about 68 nautical miles west of Pointe Noire, Congo, on October 29, IMB reported. Four crewmembers were kidnapped, while one member is reportedly injured. Bridge equipment was damaged during the attack.

In its weekly report for 23-29 October, ReCAAP ISC informed of two armed robberies against ships in Asia, one in Batangas, Philippines and another one in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Meanwhile, special attention in the last hours has been given to information received from Philippine Coast Guard that about 10 Abu Sayyaf members are planning to conduct kidnapping activities in Sabah.

Pirates boarded a container ship off Nigeria, kidnapping 11 crew including eight from Poland. The container ship 'MV Pomerania Sky' was heading to the Nigerian port of Onne and was boarded on October 28. According to the vessel’s management company, nine other members remain on board and are unharmed.

According to the ReCAAP ISC, there are information that a group of approximately 10 Abu Sayyaf Group members armed with pistol, rifles and grenade launcher is planning to carry out kidnapping activities in Sabah. These activities are mainly targeting businessmen or ship's crew of foreign vessels.

The 12 crew members of the Swiss cargo ship 'Glarus', who were kidnapped off Nigeria in mid-September, were freed on 26 October. The vessel was carrying wheat from Lagos to Port Harcourt, when pirates boarded it on 22 September, about 45 nautical miles south west of Bonny Island.

According to the latest ReCAAP ISC report on piracy in Asia, a total of 64 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during January-September 2018. Of these 64 incidents, 3 were incidents of piracy and 61 were incidents of armed robbery. This is an increase of 3%.

The abductors of the two Indonesian fishermen of 'Sri Dewi 1', who were kidnapped by armed men in waters off Semporna on 11 September, had reportedly demanded for a ransom of RM 4 million for their release. This was the first actual abduction of crew reported in 2018 in these waters.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has started search rescue operations for the abducted 12 crew members onboard 'MV Glarus' which was hijacked off Bonny Island in Rivers State to ensure that they are found and released unconditionally.

Pirates kidnapped 12 crew from a Swiss merchant vessel on Saturday, 22 September in Nigeria, Massoel Shipping the ship’s operator informed. The ship was traveling between Lagos and the Port Harcourt. The attack took place about 45 nautical miles south west of Bonny Island.