Seven robbers have reportedly managed to gain access to the engine room aboard a Panama-flagged bulk carrier while underway in the Eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), Phillip Channel, Singapore Strait. All crew have been reported safe, and no items have been reported stolen. The vessel did not require any assistance and continued her passage to Singapore.
This incident is the 56 illegal boarding of this type to occur in the immediate area of the Singapore Strait TSS this year; the first robbery to occur in December.
In most instances, robbers have been discovered armed with knives, or makeshift/expedient weapons, and in or near the vessels' engine room. All but seven of these incidents occurred while the vessel was underway
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