Pirates attack two more vessels in Singapore Strait

On 9 February at 0220hours six pirates armed with knives were spotted in the engine room of the 58,000 dwt Greek-owned bulker, White Spirit while it was transiting the eastbound lane of the traffic separation scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. On seeing the crew the perpetrators ran onto the deck and escaped. Nothing was reported to be stolen.

In the second incident just over half an hour later at 02-52hours a perpetrator was spotted in the engine room of the Indian aframax Swarna Jayanti. The alarm was raised and a search conducted for the perpetrator who could not be found, however, some engine spares were missing.

“Since the perpetrators of these incidents are not arrested, there is a possibility of further incidents reported in the Singapore Strait. All ships are strongly advised to exercise utmost vigilance, adopt extra precautionary measures and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State,” ReCAAP said.

It brings to six the number of incidents in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait this year. There 16 similar incidents in the area in 2019, 12 in November and December, and its believed the attackers were targeting to steal engine spares.

At a media briefing last month ReCAAP called for increased patrols by the littoral states of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

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