Tugboat Robbed, Crew Tied Up Off Trinidad
THE Captain of a commercial tug boat, Ms. Anne, was beaten when the vessel was boarded by robbers whilst anchored in the most westerly end of Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad.
The incident occurred at approximately 0530 local time on 3 November, when a local pirogue (a dugout wooden boat) pulled alongside the anchored tug seeking assistance for repairs to the boat. A single crew-member on deck indicated willingly to assist. Unbeknown to him, another local pirogue pulled alongside on the other side of the tug and four other men boarded the tug.
When the one crew-member went to get his tools to provide assistance he was met by three men with handguns who demanded cash, jewellery, cell phones and drugs. When they were refused, they took the Captain into another room where they beat him up in order to get what they wanted. The robbers stole approximately USD$5000, cell phones, and jewellery. The robbers then tied up all 6 crew-members and escaped.
The tug crew managed to free themselves, and contacted the Coast Guard.
The Captain was taken to the hospital where his injuries were treated and he was later released. The Coast Guard and local police began an investigation, but without any result reportedr.
The report was made by Mr. Jesse James, Members Only Maxi Taxi Service, and a board member of YSATT, the yachting association of Trinidad and Tobago. He is also the SSCA Cruising Station Host and the OCC Port Officer for Trinidad. Mr. James also acknowledges that while there is significant local crime in Trinidad, often violent, however, it is usually drug/gang/turf/trafficking related, and has occurred in other areas of the island. There have been no major crimes against cruisers reported in recent times, he continued.
Source: CSSN News
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