ReCAAP Raises Alarm , As Sea Robbers Attack 6 Ships In Singapore Strait Within 30 Days

ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre has issued another warning on vessel boardings by sea robbers in the Eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait.

Between 1 November  and December 1 a total of six vessels were boarded by robbers in the busy shipping lane, with five of the incidents taking place in the eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait Traffic Separation Scheme.

The Maritime centre said of the incidents in the eastbound lane of  Singapore Strait two were off Nongsa Point, Batam Island and three off Tanjung Pergram, Bintan Island, both in Indonesia.

It noted that to-date this year there have been 25 incidents off Tanjung Pergram and nine off Nongsa Point.

ReCAAP said in the latest incidents there were no reports of the perpetrators being armed or injuries to crew on vessels that were boarded. Engine spares were stolen in one incident, and ship stores in another.

The perpetrators in the continued incidents in the Singapore Strait have not been arrested and ReCAAP warned of the possibility of further boardings as result.

Ships transiting the area were advised to “intensify vigilance”.

“The ReCAAP ISC urged the littoral States to increase patrols in their respective waters,  respond promptly to incidents reported by ships, strengthen coordination among the  littoral States and promote information sharing on incidents and criminal groups involved  in order to arrest the perpetrators,” it said.