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SINGAPORE – Armed pirates raided three ships in the Singapore Strait in a span of two and a half hours between Sunday night (October 25) and Monday morning.
But nothing was stolen from the bulk carriers in the three separate incidents, which took place in close proximity to each other, in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) on the waterway.
Nor was its crew injured, the information clearinghouse of the Regional Cooperation Agreement to Combat Piracy and Hand-to-Hand Theft Against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) said Monday.
The latest armed robberies bring the October count to six, the highest monthly figure this year.
In total, 28 such incidents have been reported in the Straits of Singapore so far this year, up from 31 for all of last year.
Of the cases this year, 24 occurred in the eastbound lane of the TSS.
The 105 km long Strait of Singapore is important as it provides passage for thousands of ships entering and leaving the port of Singapore. Although it is called the Singapore Strait, it also passes through the territorial jurisdictions of Malaysia and Indonesia.
In the six attacks in October, there was no confrontation between the perpetrators and the crew. In addition, nothing was stolen except a boat where they took a lifebuoy and some welding rods.
In the last three cases, the first took place around 11:09 p.m. Sunday, when the Seajourney bulk carrier was traveling near Nongsa Point in Batam, Indonesia, on its way to Ciwadan, also in Indonesia.
The ship’s captain informed the Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) that an unauthorized perpetrator was seen near the entrance to the engine room.
“The alarm was raised and the captain conducted a search on board the ship, but without spotting the perpetrator. The crew was safe and nothing was stolen,” said the ReCAAP Clearinghouse.
The Singapore Navy Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and the Singapore Police Coast Guard, along with Indonesian authorities, were notified. A safety navigation broadcast was also conducted.
About two hours later, at 12:46 a.m. Monday, another bulk carrier, A Racer, was traveling north of Pulau Nongsa in Indonesia on its way to China, when it was alerted by VTIS to an unknown craft alongside it.
The ship’s captain reported that five unauthorized perpetrators were seen on board. The alarm was raised and a search was carried out.
There were no further sightings of the perpetrators, nothing was lost and the crew was unharmed.
The MSTF of the Singapore Navy, the Coast Guard Police and the Indonesian authorities were notified.
Less than an hour later, at 1.30 am, another bulk carrier, EL Matador, was near Nongsa Point in Batam when it was alerted to an unknown vessel alongside it.
The ship’s captain saw three intruders in the engine room, raised the alarm and four perpetrators were seen fleeing the ship.
Not sure if all the intruders had abandoned the ship, the ship’s captain diverted the ship to the Batam anchorage, where the Indonesian Navy boarded and searched the ship.
There were no more perpetrators on board, the crew was safe and nothing stolen, so the ship resumed its journey.
“The ReCAAP ISC (Information Clearinghouse) is concerned about the increase in incidents in the Singapore Strait. As the perpetrators of these incidents are not arrested, there is a possibility of further incidents in the Singapore Straits.” the organization said.
“All vessels are advised to exercise maximum vigilance, take additional precautionary measures and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal state.”
The ReCAAP Information Clearinghouse also urged littoral states to increase patrols and law enforcement in their respective waters, and to coordinate and share information on incidents and criminal groups involved.
Experts have called for greater regional cooperation to tackle piracy, given the extraterritorial nature of the problem.
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