Six Pirate Attacks off Singapore
On August 21 and 22, six vessels while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore were subject to pirate attack.
The vessels reported the incidents, five boardings and one attempt, to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System.
August 21, 2015
1. At about 0230 hrs, Advantage Summer was underway when five pirates attempted to board the vessel at the stern from a speedboat. The crew was alerted, the pirates aborted the attempt and fled.
2. Slightly more than an hour later, at about 0340 hrs, Navig8 Stealth SV was underway when four pirates armed with knives were sighted in the engine room. The master raised the alarm and the pirates fled. There was no loss of property and the crew was safe.
3. Less than an hour later, at about 0430 hrs, Maersk Lebu was underway when four pirates were again sighted in the engine room. The master raised the alarm and the pirates escaped in a waiting small boat. There was no loss of property and the crew was safe.
4. At about 2329 hrs, Peace Bright was underway when four pirates were sighted on board the vessel. The alarm was raised and the pirates escaped in a waiting boat. There was no loss of property and the crew was safe.
August 22, 2015
5. At about 0525 hrs, Atout was underway when the crew sighted four pirates without weapons onboard the vessel. The alarm was raised and they escaped. There was no loss of property and the crew was safe.
6. About an hour later, Elbtank Denmark was underway when the crew sighted four pirates armed with knives onboard the vessel. The pirates stole the crew’s personal effects and escaped in a small boat. The crew was safe.
Considering the close interval of time and proximity of these incidents, the pirates could be from the same group. Of concern, says ReCAAP ISC is their persistence in ‘hovering’ in the vicinity seeking out their next target.
The ReCAAP ISC strongly recommends all vessels operating in this area to exercise enhanced vigilance and take extra precautionary measures while underway.
Name and Type of Ship:
Advantage Summer / Tanker
Navig8 Stealth SV / Tanker
Maersk Lebu / Container ship
Peace Bright /Bulk carrier
Atout /Container ship
Elbtank Denmark / Tanker
Date/Local time of Incident:
August 21 at 0230 hrs
August 21 at 0340 hrs
August 21 at 0430 hrs
August 21 at 2329 hrs
August 22 at 0525 hrs
August 22 at 0535 hrs
Location of incident:
01° 10.60’ N, 103° 26.70’ E
01° 07.20’ N, 103° 29.80’ E
01° 10.08’ N, 103° 30.17’ E
01° 04.07’ N, 103° 41.58’ E
01° 07.27’ N, 103° 31.68’ E
01° 10.40’ N, 103° 49.80’ E