In the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre weekly report for 24-30 December, it informed of 3 actual incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia. Of these, 1 incident occurred while a ship anchored at Panjang Customary Anchorage, Indonesia; and 2 occurred to ships while underway in the Eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait.
The incident on 22-December-2019 was classified as CAT 4, and involved the Singaporean-flagged tugboat Kim Hock Tug 9 while underway at the Eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait. Two sampans with unknown number of perpetrators came alongside barge LKH 2882 towed by Kim Hock Tug 9. They boarded and stole some scrap metal onboard.
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 the Singapore Navy chased away the sampans. The crew was safe.
The incident on 24-December-2019 involved the Singaporean-flagged tanker MTM Penang anchored at Panjang Customary Anchorage, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia. While the 3rd engineer was doing a safety round at the engine room, 3 perpetrators armed with knives boarded the ship and attempted to attack the duty oiler. The 3rd engineer ran to the engine control room and raised the general alarm. The perpetrators escaped starboard side by a rope attached to the ship’s railings.
A search was conducted onboard 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 incident on 25-December-2019 involved the British-flagged tanker Stena Immortal, plying 4.6 nm east of Pulau Karimun Kecil, Indonesia, in the Eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait. The chief engineer sighted 6 unarmed perpetrators in the engine room. The master was alerted and the ship’s alarm system was activated. The perpetrators escaped empty-handed at the stern in a 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 to investigate. The crew was safe.
Singapore Strait has been a key area of concern for maritime security this year, with a total of 30 incidents reported for 2019.
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.
The ReCAAP ISC had issued 5 Alerts on incidents that occurred to ships while underway in the Eastbound lane of TSS in the Singapore Strait on 23-October-2019, 29-November-2019, 21-December-2019, 23-December-2019, and 30-December-2019, showing a total of 10 incidents from September to 25-December.
The ReCAAP ISC had issued 5 Alerts on incidents that occurred to ships while underway in the Eastbound lane of TSS in the Singapore Strait on 23-October-2019, 29-November-2019, 21-December-2019, 23-December-2019, and 30-December-2019, showing a total of 10 incidents from September to 25-December.
The weekly report includes an incident outside Asia as well, 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 as the ship was underway to Port Harcourt, a pirate skiff pursued it. The master and crew went to the citadel except for the chief engineer who remained in his cabin. As the skiff drew nearer, an exchange of gunfire between the 7 Nigerian armed guards and the pirates onboard the skiff transpired. The pirates eventually aborted pursuit and fled. The ship resumed operation and proceeded to Bonny, Nigeria with all its 21 crew and 7 armed guards.
The map shows the approximate location of the 4 incidents (in red) of which 3 incidents occurred within a five-day period from 23 to 27-November-2019, as well as the 3 previous incidents reported on 23-October-2019 (in blue), for a total of 7 incidents during the period of September to November 2019.
The 4 victim vessels in November were 2 bulk carriers, 1 tugboat & barge, and one chemical tanker. Of the 4 incidents, 3 occurred onboard ships in the Eastbound lane of TSS in the eastern sector of the Singapore Strait; and 1 occurred onboard in the Eastbound lane of TSS in the western sector of the Strait.
The 3 victim vessels in September to October were two bulk carriers and one chemical tanker. All three incidents took place in the Eastbound lane in the western sector of the Strait.
There was an attempt against a chemical tanker on 5-November that occurred in the Westbound lane of TSS in the western sector of the Strait, when the tanker was on its way to the Eastbound lane. There was a previous attempt against a chemical tanker, NCC Amal, on 25-October that occurred in the western sector of the Strait.
Weapons used on deck were long knives or jungle knives, but included a gun in the previous incidents. No items of value were stolen, but in the previous incidents, engine spare parts (including piston rings, oil rings, valve seats, valve spindles, crankpin bearing shell, twist locks, and ropes) were taken, and the perpetrators escaped through the steering room.
On 27 November, at about 0458 hours, in the incident involving the bulk carrier, Kmax Evdokia, while transiting the Eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait, the perpetrators grabbed the duty oiler and pointed a knife at him.
On 19 October at about 0100 hours, while the bulk carrier, Nord Steel, was underway in the Eastbound lane of the TSS in the western sector of the Strait, the duty oiler sighted 5 perpetrators armed with a gun and jungle knife on deck. The perpetrators threatened the duty oiler and tied his hands. The duty oiler informed the master who then raised the general alarm and reported the incident to Singapore VTIS.
Worth noting is that in these incidents, there were 5 perpetrators in actual attacks on the larger ships; incidents took place within a few days apart; occurrence in locations of close proximity to each other in the Singapore Strait; attack times were during hours of darkness between 2300 and 0522 hours; and large vessels were most vulnerable on or heading towards the Eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait.
With the occurrence of 7 incidents that took place from September to November 2019 in the Eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait, in both western and eastern sectors, the ReCAAP ISC advices all ships to exercise enhanced vigilance, adopt extra precautionary measures and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State.
The ReCAAP ISC recommends to the law enforcement agencies of the littoral States to step up surveillance, increase patrols and enhance cooperation and coordination among them in order to respond promptly to incidents.
References:
References:
- RECAAP ISC
- Safety4Sea