In its weekly report for 24-30 December, ReCAAP ISC informed of three actual incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia. Of these, one incident occurred to a ship while anchored at Panjang Customary Anchorage, Indonesia, and two occurred to ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait.
The first incident – 22 Dec
The first incident, classified as CAT 4, involved the Singaporean-flagged tugboat Kim Hock Tug 9 while underway at the Eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait.
While underway, two sampans with unknown number of perpetrators came alongside barge LKH 2882 towed by Kim Hock Tug 9. They boarded the barge and stole some scrap metal on board.
The master reported the incident to Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) and sailed into Singapore Territorial Waters (STW).
The Singapore Police Coast Guard and Republic of Singapore Navy assisted to chase away the sampans. The crew was safe.
The second incident – 24 Dec
The second incident involved the Singaporean-flagged tanker MTM Penang while anchored at Panjang Customary Anchorage, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia.
While the 3rd engineer was doing safety round at the engine room, three perpetrators armed with knives boarded the ship and attempted to attack the duty oiler.
The 3rd engineer immediately ran to the engine control room and raised the general alarm. The perpetrators escaped from the starboard side by a rope attached to the ship’s railings.
A search was conducted on board the ship. The master reported the incident to Panjang Vessel Traffic System (VTS) through VHF Channel 16/10 and to the Company Security Officer (CSO). The crew was not injured and nothing was stolen.
The third incident – 25 Dec
The third incident involved the British-flagged tanker Stena Immortal, approximately 4.6 nm east of Pulau Karimun Kecil, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait.
While underway, the chief engineer sighted six unarmed perpetrators in the ship’s engine room. The master was alerted and the ship’s alarm system was activated.
The perpetrators escaped emptyhanded at the stern in an identified small boat.
The master reported the incident to VTIS. Upon the ship’s arrival at Singapore anchorage, the Singapore Police Coast Guard boarded the ship for investigation. The crew was safe.
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.
Singapore Strait has been a key area of concern for maritime security this year, with a total of 30 incidents reported.
The ReCAAP ISC has issued five Incident Alerts on incidents occurred to ships while underway in the eastbound lane of Singapore Strait on 23 October 2019, on 29 November 2019, on 21 December 2019, on 23 December 2019 and on 30 December 2019.
Incident outside Asia – 30 Dec
The weekly report includes also an incident outside Asia, involving the Singaporean-flagged bulk carrier ‘Drogba’, 20 nm southwest of Okrowi Oil Production Terminal, Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria.
The Company Security Officer (CSO) reported that while the ship was underway to Port Harcourt, she was pursued by a suspected pirate skiff.
The master and the crew went to the citadel except for the chief engineer who hid in his cabin.
As the skiff came closer to the ship, there was an exchange of gunfire between the seven Nigerian armed guards onboard the ship and the pirates onboard the skiff.
The pirates eventually aborted the pursuit and fled. The ship resumed operation and proceeded to Bonny, Nigeria with all 21 crew and 7 armed guards onboard.
