ReCAAP Piracy & Robbery Against Ships Report - May 2013
Source: ReCAAP 
ReCAAP reports a total of four actual incidents of robbery against ships were reported in May 2013. No piracy incident was reported. Compared to the same month of 2012 (eight incidents), the number of incidents reported in May 2013 had decreased by 50%.
The number of incidents reported in May 2013 is the lowest compared to the same period during past four reporting years (2009-2012). Graph 1 shows the number of incidents reported in May of 2009-2013.
Of the four actual incidents reported in May 2013, three were Category 3 (less significant) incidents and one was a petty theft (minimum significant) incident. Notably, for the first time in May of 2009-2013, no Category 2 incident was reported. However, the number of Category 3 incidents had increased in May 2013 compared to the same period of 2009-2012.
Two of the four incidents reported in May 2013 occurred onboard barges while underway.
The incidents involved barge Crest 2825 occurred north of Tanjung Babi, Pulau Batam on 12 May 13, and barge Crest 289 at approximately 9.8 nm west-southwest of Pulau Berhala on 15 May 13.
In the incident involving Crest 2825, the master of the Singapore-registered tug boat Crest Jade 1 reported that four men armed with knives and long knives boarded the barge at or about 2100 hours (local time) while the vessels were transiting to Malaysia. The master activated the emergency alarm immediately, and the robbers upon hearing the alarm, fled in a small boat taking with them ship stores.
In the incident involving barge Crest 289, the CSO of Singapore-registered tug boat TCL4401 reported that robbers had boarded the barge between 0000-0400 hours (local time) while the vessels were passing the Tioman Island, enroute to Kuantan Port, Malaysia. The master discovered the missing items upon arrival at the Kuantan Port. In both incidents, the crew was not injured.
In May 2013, one noticeable characteristic in two of the robbery incidents is the specific targeting of barges while underway. This may be due to the inherent vulnerability of the barges as compared to the tug boats. Barges are usually unmanned while in transit making it easier for the robbers to board the vessel unnoticed.
Download full report (PDF)
Subscribe to our newsletter. Receive a weekly round-up of all piracy-related news.
OCEANUSLive.org
Information, Security, Safety; Shared
Submitted by Team@oceanuslive.org