Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - ReCAAP July 2014
ACCORDING TO ReCAAP ISC, the number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia has decreased from 21 incidents reported in June 2014 to 14 incidents in July 2014.
The ReCAAP ISC observes that the number of incidents fluctuated with a pattern of ups and downs over the one-year period of July 2013 to July 2014. The number of incidents decreased from 17 cases in July 2013 to nine in September 2013 before it increased to 20 in October 2013. This pattern of ups and downs continued in the subsequent months at an interval of four-month period (October 2013 to February 2014, and February 2014 to July 2014).
Of the 14 incidents reported in July 2014, close to 50% were petty thefts and the rest were armed robbery against ships, including three Category 1 (very significant) incidents.
The three Category 1 incidents involved siphoning of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) and Marine Fuel Oil (MFO) from product tankers, Moresby 9 and Oriental Glory on 4 Jul and 15 Jul respectively; and an armed robbery onboard product tanker, Ji Xiang on 25 Jul.
The ReCAAP ISC is concerned and mindful of the number of incidents involving siphoning of fuel/ oil from product/oil tankers. In response, the ReCAAP ISC had promulgated a Special Report, entitled “Incidents of Siphoning of Fuel/Oil at Sea in Asia” which collated the modus operandi of pirates/robbers involved in these incidents, highlighted best practices and lessons learned through case studies; and recommended countermeasures to be adopted by ship owners, masters, crew and authorities in tackling with the situation.
The Full Report also provides a case study of two incidents of siphoning of fuel/oil occurring in July 2014, which involved tankers Moresby 9 and Oriental Glory.
Incident onboard Moresby 9
On 4 Jul at or about 0430 hrs, Honduras-registered product tanker Moresby 9 was underway at approximately 48.6 nm northwest of Pulau Anambas when an unmarked vessel came alongside and the crew suddenly heard a gunshot. Nine pirates armed with machetes and three pistols were sighted on the deck of Moresby 9. The pirates gathered the crew at the starboard bridge wing, tied and locked them in the engine control room except the Chief Officer who was detained at the bridge for navigation purposes. Read more.
Incident onboard Oriental Glory
The second incident occurred on 16 Jul onboard Malaysia-registered product tanker, Oriental Glory. At or about 0551 hrs on 16 Jul, the company received a security alert from the vessel, and tried to communicate with the vessel but not able to reach the master. The company reported the incident to the authorities . The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) deployed its vessel, KD Trengganu and the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) also deployed its asset to the location of the incident. However, the pirates had left the vessel.
Source: ReCAAP ISC
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