AN alert has been issued by ReCP Information Sharing Centre after four incidents of unauthorised boarding of ships in locations of close proximity to each other were reported in the western section of the Singapore Strait between January and April.
All four incidents occurred to tug boats towing barges and a dredger while underway in the westbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). Of the four incidents, two incidents reported loss of scrap metal, and nothing was reported stolen in the other two incidents. The crew was not injured in all four incidents.
With the occurrence of these four incidents in close proximity to each other within a period of three months, ReCP ISC recommends all ships, particularly tug boats, exercise enhanced vigilance, adopt extra precautionary measures and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal state.
It is also calling on the relevant littoral states to step up surveillance, increase patrols and respond promptly to all reports of incidents.
The details of the incidents are described as follows: On February 5 at 17:09 hrs, Malaysia-registered tug boat, Jin Hwa 43 towing a barge was underway in the Singapore Strait when some perpetrators boarded the barge from a few small boats. The barge was laden with scrap metal. The perpetrators left the barge with some scrap metal, and the tug boat and barge continued on their voyage to Penang, Malaysia.
On March 5 at 11:10 hrs, Malaysia-registered tug boat Sung Fatt 31 towing a barge was underway in the Singapore Strait when 11 perpetrators boarded the barge from two small crafts. The barge was carrying scrap metal and bound for Penang, Malaysia. At 11:45 hrs, the master reported that the 11 perpetrators escaped in their small crafts with some scrap metal. The crew was safe.
On April 24 at 05:10 hrs, Cyprus-registered tug boat, Union Topaz towing a backhoe dredger was underway five nautical miles west-north-west of Nipa island, Indonesia when two perpetrators boarded the dredger. Two wooden boats were sighted alongside the backhoe dredger. The master shone a light at the backhoe dredger, and the two perpetrators escaped via the wooden boats. No items were reported stolen.
On April 25 at 05:30 hrs, Malaysia-registered tug boat, Vector 1 towing a barge was underway off Tanjung Piai, Malaysia when three to four perpetrators boarded the barge. The master reported the incident to Singapore authorities, and no items were reported stolen.
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All four incidents occurred to tug boats towing barges and a dredger while underway in the westbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). Of the four incidents, two incidents reported loss of scrap metal, and nothing was reported stolen in the other two incidents. The crew was not injured in all four incidents.
With the occurrence of these four incidents in close proximity to each other within a period of three months, ReCP ISC recommends all ships, particularly tug boats, exercise enhanced vigilance, adopt extra precautionary measures and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal state.
It is also calling on the relevant littoral states to step up surveillance, increase patrols and respond promptly to all reports of incidents.
The details of the incidents are described as follows: On February 5 at 17:09 hrs, Malaysia-registered tug boat, Jin Hwa 43 towing a barge was underway in the Singapore Strait when some perpetrators boarded the barge from a few small boats. The barge was laden with scrap metal. The perpetrators left the barge with some scrap metal, and the tug boat and barge continued on their voyage to Penang, Malaysia.
On March 5 at 11:10 hrs, Malaysia-registered tug boat Sung Fatt 31 towing a barge was underway in the Singapore Strait when 11 perpetrators boarded the barge from two small crafts. The barge was carrying scrap metal and bound for Penang, Malaysia. At 11:45 hrs, the master reported that the 11 perpetrators escaped in their small crafts with some scrap metal. The crew was safe.
On April 24 at 05:10 hrs, Cyprus-registered tug boat, Union Topaz towing a backhoe dredger was underway five nautical miles west-north-west of Nipa island, Indonesia when two perpetrators boarded the dredger. Two wooden boats were sighted alongside the backhoe dredger. The master shone a light at the backhoe dredger, and the two perpetrators escaped via the wooden boats. No items were reported stolen.
On April 25 at 05:30 hrs, Malaysia-registered tug boat, Vector 1 towing a barge was underway off Tanjung Piai, Malaysia when three to four perpetrators boarded the barge. The master reported the incident to Singapore authorities, and no items were reported stolen.
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