Four attacks in one week… Asia is under pressure

Safety at Sea Reports that In its weekly report for 2-8 June 2020, ReCAAP ISC informed of four incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. Of the four incidents, one was a piracy and three were armed robberies against ships.

The piracy incident (CAT 3) occurred onboard a tanker while anchored in the South China Sea, and the three armed robberies (two CAT 3 incidents and one CAT 4 incident) occurred on board ships anchored/berthed at Anyer anchorage and Merak anchorage, both in Indonesia; and at Chittagong Port, Bangladesh.

Incident #1

The first incident involves the Danish-flagged tanker Torm Lotte, approximately 33 nm northeast of Pulau Bintan, Indonesia (South China Sea), on 4 May.

While at anchor, six perpetrators in a 6m long wooden boat with outboard engine came alongside the port quarter of the tanker. Four of the perpetrators used rope hook and boarded the ship from stern. The other two perpetrators remained in the boat.

The perpetrators wore T-shirts and shorts; and one carried a 20cm long knife. The perpetrators stole an UHF radio from the duty A/B before they escaped.

The master informed the company’s security department and the local agent. He also alerted ships in the vicinity on VHF and conducted a search onboard.

Four padlocks broke, including steering gear room, rope locker, oxygen/acetylene and deck workshop. However, nothing was missing from these rooms.

Incident #2

The second incident involves the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker STI Precision, while at Anyer Anchorage, Indonesia, in the early morning hours of 17 May.

While at anchor, two crew on deck patrol spotted a perpetrator with a machete in the port quarter.

The A/B reported the sighting to the bridge via his walkie-talkie and the guard at the bridge raised the general alarm.

Upon hearing the alarm, another perpetrator exited from emergency steering gear room and jumped overboard.

A search was conducted on board the ship and no perpetrator was found.

Some engine parts were missing from the engine room workshop. The master reported the incident to the agent.

Incident #3

The third incident involves the Danish-flagged tanker Torm Venture, while at Merak Anchorage, Indonesia, in the early morning hours of 18 May.

While at anchor, two perpetrators armed with knives boarded the tanker using a ladder from a small craft.

They entered the engine room via the steering gear room entrance. The perpetrators later escaped empty-handed. There was no injury to crew.

The master reported the incident to the coastal authority.

Incident #4

The fourth incident involves the Singaporean-flagged tanker FSL Osaka while at DoJ Berth #6, Chittagong Port, Bangladesh, in the evening of 24 May.

While at berth, an unknown number of perpetrators boarded the ship. The duty crew alerted his officer when he discovered part of a mooring rope missing.

A search found no other items missing. The crew was safe and the incident was reported to the local authority.

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.