While underway in the Singapore Strait, five perpetrators, two of whom were armed with knives/parang, were sighted in the engine room of the Panama-flagged Bulk Carrier LUCKY LONG (IMO: 9122564).
The officer on watch raised the alarm, and the crew mustered to conduct a search for the intruders. The master reported that all crew members were accounted for with no injuries, but generator spares were found missing. The incident was reported to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) East, and the ship resumed its voyage to Singapore.
ANALYSIS: There have been at least fifteen similar incidents reported this year in this area. While underway in the Singapore Strait on August 5, 2024, five to six perpetrators armed with knives were sighted in the Engine Room of the Panama-flagged Bulk Carrier ULTRA COLONSAY (IMO: 9448217). The vessel's general alarm was raised, and the crew mustered to conduct a search, but no perpetrators were found. Engine spare parts and the Chief Engineer's cellphone were reported stolen. All crew members were reported safe, and the incident was reported to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS).
In 2023 at least 67 incidents occurred within, or near, the Singapore & Malacca Straits; most in the vicinity of Phillip Channel.
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