During 19-25Jan 21, one incident of armed robbery against ship in Asia was reported to the . The CAT 41 incident(where the perpetrators were not armed and the crew not harmed) occurredon 25 Janon board a bulk carrier while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strai
The location of the incident is shown in the map; and detailed description of the incident tabulated in the attachment.
This is the first incident reported in 2021 in the Singapore Strait since the last incident occurred on 30 Nov 2020. No incident was reported in the Singapore Strait in December 2020.
SITUATION OF ABDUCTION OF CREW IN THE SULU-CELEBES SEAS AND WATERS OFF EASTERN SABAH
The risk of the abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah is high as demonstrated by the abduction incident on 17 Jan 20, information of planned kidnapping in Sabah and Semporna, Malaysia (as reported in ReCAAP ISC’s Warning issued on 2 Jul 20), and the operation on 3 Nov 20 by the Philippine authorities in preventing a kidnap-for-ransom incident. The ReCAAP ISC reiterates its advisory issued via ReCAAP ISC Incident Alert dated 21 Nov 16 to all ships to reroute from thearea, where possible. Otherwise, ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the area, and report all incidents immediately to the Operation Centres of Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) ofMalaysia.ThecontactdetailsoftheOperationCentresofthePhilippinesandESSCOM of Malaysia (updated by ReCAAP ISC on 3 Jan 19) are as shown (nextpage):
In the event that the ship master is not able to establish contact with the Operation Centres of the Philippines as listed in the ReCAAP ISC Advisory, he can contact the Philippine Coast Guard Command Centre at the following contact details:
Tel: +632-8-527-8481 (ext: 6136/37)+632-998-585-5327(mobile)+632-917-842-8249(mobile)+632-8-527-3877 (fax)Email: [email protected]
The ReCAAP ISC advises the shipping industry and ships to enhance their situation awareness by referring to the Guidance on Abduction of Crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and Waters off Eastern Sabah produced by ReCAAP ISC in July 2019. The Guidance is available at www.recaap.org
RECOMMENDATION
TheReCAAP ISC urges ship master and crew to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal State and flag State, exercise vigilance and adopt relevant preventive measures taking reference from the Regional Guideto Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships inAsia.
