During the period of 27 February – 5 March 2018, three incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asian waters were reported to the ReCAAP ISC, according to its weekly report. The report also describes a recent incident onboard ‘Maersk Maya’ which occurred outside Asian waters.
The latest incident involved the tanker ‘Maersk Maya’. While at anchor at Anchorage H, Port Au Prince, Haiti, on 22 February, the security on watch sighted some perpetrators armed with gun (s) at the ship’s forecastle area. The alarm was raised and general alarm was sounded. One of the perpetrators allegedly fired a shot at the deck crew. The crew then hid inside the accommodation for their safety. The perpetrators cut the mooring rope eye and left the ship. There were no injuries. The crew reported the incident to the local authorities via VHF.
A few days earlier, on 11 February, the bulk carrier ‘Tiberius’ was at Chittagong Anchorage, Bangladesh, when five perpetrators in a boat boarded the ship from the port side using a hook. The perpetrators stole a rope and escaped. The incident was reported to the port control who informed the Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG). The BCG conducted a search in the vicinity and recovered the stolen rope and returned it to the ship.
Another incident concerned the bulk carrier ‘Globe Explorer’, in Godau Port, Vietnam, on 1 February. While at anchor, two perpetrators armed with knives boarded the ship. They held the bosun hostage, threatened, injured him with a knife and tied him up. The bosun managed to free himself and informed the master who raised the alarm and mustered the crew. A search was conducted, and some ship stores were found missing. The incident was reported to the port authorities who boarded the ship to conduct an investigation. The bosun was sent ashore for medical treatment
Further, on 31 January, the bulk carrier’ was in Kutubdia Anchorage B, Bangladesh, when five perpetrators armed with knives boarded the ship from a boat. They threatened the Duty AB, who managed to escape and raise the alarm. Seeing that the crew had been alerted, the perpetrators escaped with ship stores and ropes. The crew reported the incident to the Chittagong Port Control via VHF. The Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) boarded the ship to conduct an investigation. They managed to recover the stolen items and returned them to the ship at 1630 hrs on the same day.
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.
