31 Oct 14 INFORMATION FUSION CENTRE MARSEC WEEKLY REPORT 21 Oct 27 Oct 14 For the period from 21 to 27 Oct 14, IFC received information on the following: Events Categories Number of Incidents Registered* Contraband Trafficking 3 Irregular Human Migration 3 Irregular, Unlawful, & Unregulated Fishing 2 Maritime Incidents 7 Natural Events - Piracy / Sea Robbery / Sea Theft (Attempted and Actual) Weapons Trafficking - Maritime Terrorism - INFORMATION FUSION CENTRE AFPN 6504 103 Tanah Merah Coast Road, #02-01 Singapore 498750 Tel : +65 9626 8965 (Mobile) +65 6594 5728 (Office) Fax : +65 6594 5734 IFC_DO@defence.gov.sg www.infofusioncentre.gov.sg * 2 Contraband Trafficking Incidents, 4 Piracy/Sea Robbery/Sea Theft, and 6 Maritime incident occurred out of the period of 21 Oct to 27 Oct 14. 9 Legend Contraband Trafficking Irregular Human Migration Irregular, Unlawful & Unregulated Fishing Maritime Incidents Natural Events Piracy / Sea Robbery / Sea Theft (Actual/ Attempted) Weapons Trafficking Maritime Terrorism Figure 1: Location of Incidents 1
OVERVIEW OF INCIDENTS Smuggling / Trafficking of Contraband 21 Oct 14 Airgun Trafficking / Vung Tau / Vietnam Detail: The Vietnam Customs Anti- Smuggling and Investigation Department seized 94 rifles during a routine inspection on a vessel anchored at Sao Mai Ben Dinh wharf in the southern province of Vung Tau. Events reported out of the period: 16 and 18 Oct 14 Smuggling / Tawau & Kota Kinabalu / Malaysia Detail: - The Sabah Marine Police foiled 3 smuggling attempts and seized goods, including fuel, cigarettes and sand, worth almost RM12.5mil in the statewide operation. Comment: Illegal activities are expected to be curbed in this area given on-going security measures enforced by ESSCOM. 20 Oct 14 Diesel Smuggling / Miri / Malaysia Detail: The General Operation Force of Malaysian Police in Miri detained 2 fishing boats for smuggling of subsidized diesel. Irregular Human Migration 21 Oct 2014 Eleven Illegal Immigrants Arrested / Kuala Selangor / Malaysia Detail: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) arrested 11 Indonesian for entering Malaysia via water route without proper documentation. These illegal migrants were found traveling on a wooden boat off the waters of Kuala Selangor. 24 Oct 2014 Twenty Trafficked Immigrants Rescued / Indonesia Detail: Cambodian Embassy with the cooperation from the Indonesian authorities rescued 20 Cambodian, who were trafficked to work as illegal fishermen on board fishing boats in Indonesia. The victims were rescued when the boats docked at an Indonesian port 25 Oct 2014 Immigrants Rescued / Baragay / Philippines Detail: The multi-agency Sea-Based Anti- Human Trafficking Task Force (SBATTF) had arrested 4 women in Baragay, Philippines. Authorities had tightened watch since human traffickers are using this city as jump-off point in smuggling persons into Malaysia and to other Middle East countries. 2
21 Oct 14 Sea Robbery / South China Sea / Malaysia Detail: On 210300LT Oct 14, a sea robbery incident occurred on board a Hong Kong flagged chemical tanker anchored at position Lat 01 48N Long 104 31E (35nm South of Pulau Aur). It was reported that 5 to 6 perpetrators armed with knives and guns boarded the vessel using speed boat while she was underway. The perpetrators took over the bridge, tied all crew and threaten the 2 nd Officer to slow the main engine. All communication equipment were damaged. The perpetrators stole personnel belongings before escaping via a speed boat. 21 Oct 14 Attempted Sea Theft / Ho Chi Minh Port / Vietnam Detail: On 210700LT Oct 14, an attempted sea theft occurred on board a Greece flagged container ship at position Lat 10 09.7N Long 107 06.1E while the vessel was berthed at port of Ho Chi Minh. It was reported that the perpetrators used boats to approach the vessel and 4 to 5 perpetrators armed with knives boarded the ship. Upon discovery of their presence, the ship crew sounded the alarm and the perpetrators escaped from the ship. 22 Oct 14 Attempted Sea Theft / North Bintan / Indonesia Detail: On 220330LT Oct 14, an attempted sea theft occurred on board a Marshall Island flagged bulk carrier at position Lat 01 25.31N Long 104 35.91E (12nm North of Bintan). It was reported that 5 perpetrators boarded the vessel. The ship s master did a piracy broadcast via MMS CH 16, sounded horn and flashed light as an anti-piracy measure. The perpetrators escaped when alarm was raised. Nothing was stolen. All crew were reported safe. Piracy/ Sea Robbery/ Sea Theft 3 23 Oct 14 Attempted Sea Theft / Philips Channel / Indonesia Detail: On 230558LT Oct 14, an attempted sea theft occurred on board a Panama flagged cement carrier at position Lat 01 07.44N Long 103 31.33E (9nm East of Pulau Karimun Kecil, Indonesia). It was reported that 4 perpetrators boarded the ship. The ship sustained no damage, nothing was stolen and all crew were reported safe. 26 Oct 14 Attempted Sea Theft / North of Bintan / Indonesia Detail: On 260520LT Oct 14, a sea theft occurred on-board a Marshall Island flagged container ship position Lat 01 24.95N Long 104 39.92E (North of Bintan). It was reported that 4 perpetrators armed with knives boarded and left the vessel, nothing was stolen and no one was injured. Comments: Vessels transiting or anchored in the Northern part of Bintan Waters are advised to be vigilant and enhance crew alertness in this area. Events reported out of the period: 09 Oct 14 - Hijacked / Sampit- Kalimantan / Indonesia Detail: On 09 Oct 14, an Indonesia Flagged tanker which was loaded with palm oil was hijacked. The crews were held captive for 13 days before they were put onto on a lifeboat. The crew was saved by Malaysian fisherman on 24 Oct and brought to Chendering, Malaysia. Search for the tanker is currently on-going. Comment: The Vessel is called SRIKANDI 515 (IMO 9710828). All vessels sailing in South China Sea are kindly requested to report any sighting of
this missing vessel. 17 Oct 14 - Sea Theft / Tarahan Anchorage / Indonesia Detail: On 170550H Oct 14, a sea theft incident occurred on board a Singapore flagged bulk carrier at Tarahan Anchorage position Lat 05 30.0 S Long 105 18.0 E. It was reported that 6 perpetrators boarded the anchored vessel. Upon discovery of the perpetrators, the ship alarm was raised and the crew mustered. Seeing the crew alertness, the perpetrators escaped with the ship's stores. 18 Oct 14 - Sea Robbery / Pulau Karimun Kecil / Indonesia Detail: On 180330LT Oct 14, a sea robbery incident occurred on board a Hong Kong flagged chemical tanker while she was underway at position Lat 1 07.59 N Long 103 27.59 E (3nm East of Pulau Karimun Kecil, Indonesia). It was reported that 5 perpetrators armed with long knives Irregular, Unlawful & Unregulated Fishing in a boat came alongside and boarded the vessel. The perpetrators went into the engine room to steal various engine spare parts before escaping. The crew were reported safe. 20 Oct 14 - Sea Theft / Karimun kecil / Indonesia Detail: On 200535LT Oct 14, a sea theft incident occurred on board a Norway flagged bulk carrier at position 01 08.38N 103 29.03E around 5nm East of Karimun Kecil. It was reported that 2 perpetrators were spotted by the crew at the starboard engine room while vessel was anchored. The alarm was raised, all ships lights were lit up and ship crew were mustered on the bridge. Engine spare parts were found stolen from the machinery space. Comments: Vessels sailing in the vicinity of Philips Channel are advised to be vigilant, enhance crew alertness and report timely any suspicious activity or incident observed in this area. 21 Oct 2014 Poaching incident / Palawan / Philippines Detail: 3 Chinese fishing vessels engaged in poaching and illegal trade of endangered sea turtles off southern Palawan had escaped the arrest from maritime patrol units. 24 Oct 2014 Illegal Fishing / Kelantan / Malaysia Detail: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Kelantan detained a Vietnamese fishing boat for encroaching into Malaysian waters. One ton of tuna fish and fishing equipment were seized. Maritime Incident 24 Oct 14 Drowned Body Found / Teluk Kemang / Malaysia Details: The body of a drowned Myanmar man was found after missing for 2 days. The victim was travelling in a boat when it was caught under the big waves and sunk, according to witnesses. Events reported out of the period: 16 Oct 14 Drifting Motorboat / Canigao / Philippines Details: Philippine Coast Guard had successfully rescued 9 passengers from a drifting motor boat off the waters of Canigao Islands, Philippines. The boat had 4
encountered engine trouble after leaving Bato Port. 18 Oct 14 Lifeboat failure / Sapura Kencana Oilrig / Malaysia Details: 2 workers aboard a jack-up rig were killed when the lifeboat that they were working on unexpectedly fell to the water. The rig has been shut down until an investigation into the matter had been completed. 19 Oct 14 Sunken Motorbanca / Cagayan / Philippines Details: 27 passengers and crew were rescued by the joint team of Coast Guards in Aparri and Camiguin from a sunken boat 12nm off Camiguin Island, Cagayan. The boat was damaged and sunk by strong waves. All passengers were reported in good condition. 19 Oct 14 Submerged motorboat / Palawan / Philippines Details: 6 passengers and 2 crew members were saved by the Coast Guard in Roxas, Palawan when their motorboat sank. All passengers were found in good physical condition. 19 Oct 14 Vessel Collision / Tobaco / Philippines Details: A vessel was collided with another vessel near Port of Tabaco while underway and left a female passenger injured. Both motor vessels suffered slight damages/scratches. 20 Oct 14 Bad weather capsized boat / Mindoro / Philippines Details: 2 passengers went missing in Mindoro when rough seas and bad weather capsized their motorboat. The personnel of Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) San Jose De Buenavista together with Philippine National Police (PNP) Caluya were conducting search and rescue operation between Mindoro and Semirara Island. IFC Advises: Recommendations 1. All mariners to report any incidents timely to the nearest coastal state and IFC at the earliest possible time. 2. Ships moving at slow speed or choosing to remain at anchor in areas where sea robbery/theft is regularly reported to be vigilant and to adopt necessary security measures. 3. All mariners to take note on the description of the perpetrators and to take photos of the perpetrators if possible. 4. Shippers and Seafarers operating in Sulu Sea and in vicinity of East Sabah Waters are strongly recommended to be vigilant and to establish contact with both Malaysian and Philippines Authorities to report their presence. Note: Shippers should remain vigilant especially in areas where the threat level is assessed to be above one in accordance with the IFC Spot Commentary 1/14 and IFC quarterly assessment report. Ships should apply the appropriate security measures (such as BMP4 or Tugs and Barge Guide). Ship masters should also be aware and refer to the Maritime Security Charts Q6112 and Q6113, both published by the UK Hydrographic Office. 5
CONTACT In case of any doubt, incident at sea, suspicious approach or unusual observed activity at sea, please contact IFC: IFC Duty Officer : Email : Tel : IFC_DO@defence.gov.sg or ifc_do@infofusioncentre.gov.sg +65 9626 8965 (Mobile) +65 6594 5728 (Office) Fax : +65 6594 5734 The IFC seeks your cooperation in the course of your normal business. The IFC would like to remind mariners to be mindful of national and international laws, company and other policy requirements as well as health and safety obligations, whilst recording or reporting any observations at sea. The reporting of such events to IFC does not absolve you of your obligations towards coastal/ port/ flag authorities. 6