In its weekly report for 25-31 August 2020, ReCAAP ISC informed of three incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia. Of these, two incidents (one CAT 3 and one CAT 4) occurred onboard bulk carriers while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait.
In these two incidents, the crew was safe and no item was missing. The third incident (CAT 4) occurred on board a tanker while anchored at Sandakan Inner Anchorage, Sabah, East Malaysia. The crew was safe but 11 drums of paint were stolen.
Incident #1
The first incident involves the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Sea Diamond, approximately 7 nm off Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait.
While underway in the early morning hours of 30 August, one perpetrator was reported onboard the bulk carrier.
The master later updated Singapore VTIS East that the crew conducted a search on board and no perpetrator was found. The crew was safe, and no item was missing.
A navigational broadcast was promulgated to warn all ships in the vicinity. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)’s Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF), Singapore Police Coast Guard, and the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities were notified.
Incident #2
The second incident involves the Iranian bulk carrier Amina, approximately 6.9 nm northnorthwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait.
While underway in the night of 29 August, six perpetrators armed with long knives were on board the bulk carrier.
The master later updated Singapore VTIS East that the crew conducted a search on board and no perpetrator was found. The crew was safe and no item was missing.
A navigational broadcast was promulgated to warn all ships in the vicinity. The RSN’s MSTF, Singapore Police Coast Guard, and the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities were notified.
Incident #3
The third incident involved the Singaporean-flagged petroleum/chemical tanker GS Fabulous, at Sandakan Inner Anchorage, Sabah, East Malaysia, on 25 August.
The CSO reported that the store padlock of the tanker was found broken and 11 drums of paint were discovered stolen from the paint store.
There were footprints found near the railings, indicating that the perpetrators were likely to have boarded the ship from port side of forecastle. The crew was not injured.
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.
