Loss Prevention Advice
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A total of 23 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during January-March 2022. This accounts for a 35% increase in the total number of incidents compared to the same period in 2021.
Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia
A total of 23 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during January-March 2022. No piracy incident was reported during this period. Of the 23 incidents, 22 were actual incidents and one was an attempted incident.
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During the period 26 April-3 May 22, four incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia.
Of the four incidents, two incidents occurred to ships while anchored at Chattogram Anchorage, Bangladesh, one incident occurred to a tanker while anchored at Batangas Anchorage, the Philippines and one incident occurred to a bulk carrier while underway in the Singapore Strait.
The crew were safe in all four incidents. Ship property/stores were stolen only in three incidents. The details of the four incidents are as follows:
- On 16 Apr, an unknown number of perpetrators in a country boat came alongside the LPG tanker. One of the perpetrators boarded the ship and reportedly stole 20 cans of paint and two drums of lubricating oil. Due to timely reporting of the incident to the local authorities, the Bangladesh Coast Guard recovered the stolen items and handed over to the master. The crew was not injured.
- On 26 Apr, about seven to eight perpetrators boarded the petroleum/chemical tanker from a small boat. The alarm was raised and the perpetrators escaped
immediately upon hearing the alarm. One set of gangway wire coil was found missing. The crew was not injured. - On 27 Apr, the master of the bulk carrier reported to Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) that one perpetrator was sighted in the engine room.
Nothing stolen and there was no confrontation between the perpetrator and the crew. With this incident, a total of 21 incidents since January 2022 (comprising 20 actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported in the Singapore Strait. - On 28 Apr, three perpetrators boarded the oil/chemical/gas tanker. The alarm was raised and the perpetrators escaped immediately upon hearing the alarm. A 10mm rope bundle, two cans of grease can (20kg) and butterfly nuts of forward hatch, were stolen. The crew was not injured.
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The ship master and crew to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal State and flag State, exercise vigilance and adopt relevant preventive measures taking reference from the Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia.
In its report for Q1 2022, total of 23 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during January-March 2022. This accounts for a 35% increase in the total number of incidents compared to the same period in 2021.
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Reporting by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has indicated that a vessel has been boarded 55nm SSW of Cotonou.
Reports indicate that all crew have reached the citadel. The vessel is understood to have been outbound from Lagos. There are 21 crew members on board, all believed to be Indian nationals.
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- Tanker attacked at Nika Tera Port, Nikolayev.
On 03/05/2022 tanker MTM RIO GRANDE (IMO No. 9314911, Flag: Singapore) sustained hit while her stay at Nika Tera Port, Nikolayev. The vessel arrived before start of the war for loading sunflower oil. On the said date Russian forces held attacks along the whole coastline and most probably the vessel was damaged by cluster shell. No crew injuries reported.
- Rocket and mining danger at the Black Sea.
*As of 04/05/2022 there were 3 Russian warships armed with about 20 cruise missiles "Caliber" at the Black Sea. Russian naval groups continue missile strikes, blockade the coast, and conduct reconnaissance.
*One more mine floated onto surface at the Black Sea coast, this time in Zatoka, Bilgorod-Dnistrovskiy District of Odessa Region. The mine was safely liquidated by controlled detonation.
- Third attack on the bridge in Odessa Region.
After 2 attacks on 26 & 27/04/2022, the bridge crossing the Dniester Estuary in the Odessa region was attacked with rocket strike for the third time on 02/05/2022.
The bridge is closed for exploitation.
- Seafarers' crisis.
*Starting from the beginning of the war about 1500 seafarers were evacuated, but around 500 seafarers are still stuck on the vessels at the Ukrainian ports. They can't leave as the minimum safety manning certificate requirements are to be complied with.
But due to regular attacks from the Russian side seafarers' stay at Ukrainian ports is considered to be dangerous. International organizations, in particular ICS and UN, call for evacuation of remained crew.
*Statistics says that number of Russian seafarers takes the second place in the world (~198000), number of Ukrainian seafarers takes the sixth (~47000).
Seafarers of both nationalities face difficulties with employment due to strengthening of sanctions and difficulties with the crew change, respectively.
Ukrainian seafarers can't leave motherland in case they are of military age and do not fall under number of exclusions, also repatriation home is complicated by non-operation of Ukrainian airports, thus need of complex land transport arrangements arises.
Among the problems encountered by the Russian seafarers are lack of civilian flights to Russian airports & cancelled international payment systems in Russia which affects transfer of wages.
Due to above the shipowners are planning to increase number of crew from another countries, in particular Philippines and India.