Three more robberies from ships off Singapore

Approximate location of the 31 incidents of armed robbery against ships occurring in the Strait of Singapore region thus far this year. [Image: ReCAAP ISC]

The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) reports that, in a six hour period, November 8-9, three ships were the subjects of armed robberies while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. The incidents occurred in close proximity to each other. In all three incidents, there was no confrontation between the perpetrators and the crew.

Following are the details of the incidents

• On November 8, at about 2125 hrs, the tanker Zeno was underway at about 4.4 nm south of Tanjung Bulat, East Johor, Malaysia when three perpetrators were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was immediately raised and a search on board the ship was conducted. At about 2305 hrs, the master updated Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) via VHF that there was no further sighting of the perpetrators on board. Some ship equipment including a sounding rod, an oil sampling rod, a portable breathing apparatus, portable instruments for measuring ullage and a portable spray painter were stolen from the engine room. The crew was not injured. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)’s Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed; and the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities were notified. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated to alert mariners.

• On November 9, at about 0220 hrs, the bulk carrier, Lefkada was underway at about 5.4 nm southeast of Tanjung Ramunia, East Johor, Malaysia when two perpetrators were sighted in the vicinity of engine room locker. The alarm was raised, crew mustered and a search on board the ship was conducted. At about 0340 hrs, the master updated Singapore VTIS that there was no further sighting of the perpetrators on board. The oil spill equipment locker was found unlocked and a lifebuoy was stolen. The crew was not injured. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed; and the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities were notified. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated to alert mariners.

• On November 9, at about 0308 hrs, the bulk carrier, Atlantic Diana was underway at about 5.7 nm northwest of Tanjung Pergam, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia when one perpetrator was sighted in the vicinity of the steering gear flat. The alarm was raised, crew mustered and a search on board the ship was conducted. At about 0755 hrs, the master updated Singapore VTIS that there was no further sighting of the perpetrators on board. Nothing was stolen and the crew was not injured. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed; and the Indonesian authorities were notified. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated to alert mariners.

With these three latest incidents, a total of 31 incidents have been reported in the Singapore Strait this year. Of these, 27 incidents occurred in the eastbound lane of the TSS, one incident in the westbound lane of the TSS, two incidents in the precautionary area, and one incident just outside (south) of the TSS.

Masafumi Kuroki, Executive Director of ReCAAP Information Sharing Center, commented:

“Since January 2020, 31 incidents of armed robbery against ships have been reported in the Singapore Strait, of which 27 occurred in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme. In addition to asking the shipping community to exercise upmost vigilance, we also urge the littoral states concerned to take enforcement actions to apprehend the perpetrators–without which the spate of incidents is likely to continue. All incidents, however ‘moderate,’ should not be ignored because the lack of arrests can embolden criminals to escalate their crimes.”