Armed robbery attempts against 3 ships in Singapore Strait

Armed robbery attempts against 3 ships in Singapore Strait
Nick Blenkey April 11, 2021 https://www.marinelog.com/shipping/safety-and-security/armed-robbery-att...

Incidents of armed robbery against ships are continuing to occur against ships while underway in the Singapore Strait, reports the ReCAAP (Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia) Information Sharing Center.

Three incidents occurred April 8-11, involving ships underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. The three incidents occurred in close proximity to each other (Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia) and in particular, two incidents on April 8 occurred within an interval of four hours.

Following are the details of the incidents;

On April 8, at about 01.47 a.m., when the bulk carrier, Trina Oldendorff, was underway at about 6.8 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia, four unauthorized persons armed with knives were sighted in the engine room. A perpetrator confronted an engine room crewmember and hit him on his head when he attempted to shout for assistance.

The perpetrators escaped from the ship. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. A search on board the ship was conducted with no further sighting of the perpetrators. The master declared nothing was stolen, the crew was safe and accounted for. He did not report the incident immediately to the nearest coastal state and continued with the voyage. The master reported the incident to Singapore Port Operation Control Cente(POCC) only on April 9. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed, and the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities were notified.

In a second incident on April 8, at about 5.50 a.m, when the petroleum/chemical tanker, Harrisburg was underway at about 6.3 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia, two unauthorized persons boarded the ship. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. A search on board the ship was conducted with no further sighting of the perpetrators. Nothing was stolen and the crew was safe.

On April 11, at about 1.15 a.m., when the bulk carrier, Pantazis L was underway at about 7.6 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia, four unauthorized persons were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. A search on board the ship was conducted.At 2.55 a.m., the master updated Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) that the search on board was completed with no further sighting of the perpetrators. The master reported that some engine spares were stolen. All crew were safe and accounted for. No assistance was required and the ship continued with her voyage.

A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed, and the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities were notified.
FURTHER INCIDENTS POSSIBLE

As the perpetrators of these incidents were not arrested, there is a possibility of further incidents in the Singapore Strait. All ships are advised to exercise enhanced vigilance, adopt extra precautionary measures and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal state.