The Malaysian-flagged, 2,954 dwt tanker was sailing from Labuan to Tanjung Manis in East Malaysia on 15 May morning when six fishing vessels surrounded the tanker at 34.50’ N, 110° 39.08’ E, roughly 60 nm northwest of Bruit Island according to an alert from ReCAAP.
Some 30 pirates boarded the vessel and sailed it to 188 nm of Bruit Island where they siphoned of 2,500 tonnes of bunker fuel.
The crew were reported to be safe and the vessel later sailed to Tanjing Manis where the incident is under investigation.
“This is the 7th incident of ship fuel siphoning reported since January 2015,” ReCAAP noted. “Pending more information about this incident, the ReCAAP ISC is issuing this Incident Alert to urge vessels to exercise enhanced vigilance and the littoral states to step up surveillance.”
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