Pirates hijack tug and crew off Malaysia, but release hostages in a liferaft with provisions.In an incident report by the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB), an odd departure from the usual story of high seas piracy occurred off Tioman Island, Malaysia.
ReCAAP, the Asia Information Sharing Centre, stated that the Indonesian-registered tug boat, Marina 26, towing the barge Marine Power 3301, was underway at approximately 12nm east of Pulau Tioman, Malaysia when a group of over 10 pirates armed with knives and parangs (long knives) boarded the tug boat from a speed boat. They took the crew hostage by tying them up, locked them in a cabin and turned off the tracking system onboard the vessel. In a departure from the usual method of operating by pirates anywhere, on March 24, the crew were given some food, water, their passports and cash; and were then forced onto a liferaft IMB Report.
According to the ReCAAP report, the crew was later rescued by a passing fishing boat on March 26, and arrived at Natuna Island, Indonesia, on March 27. The crew reported the incident to the Indonesian authorities and the ship owner that same day. The crew also stated that the tug, originally red in colour, had been repainted green, and was last seen to be heading in an easterly direction.
Singapore’s Port Operations Control Centre (POCC), which is also the ReCAAP Focal Point (Singapore), was informed of the incident by the local agent March 29.
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