During the Maritime Safety Committee’s 109th session (MSC 109), held on 2-6 December, safety, maritime security, armed robbery and piracy were on top of the agenda with the Committee noting updates and key developments regarding the industry’s burning issues.
Over the past week, 10 – 16 December, two incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia (both CAT 3 incidents) were reported.
On 11 December at 0210 hrs and 14 December at 0001 hrs, two incidents of armed robbery occurred in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS). The first incident involved a tanker about 2.4 nm northwest of Pulau Cula, Indonesia, with two perpetrators armed with knives who assaulted the crew, although no injuries were reported. The second incident occurred about 8.1 nm west of Pulau Cula, Indonesia, involving a bulk carrier and six perpetrators, who stole engine spares while also using knives.
A safety alert following an incident where a pressurized hose disconnected during maintenance on a vessel, highlighting the lack of secondary securing systems and proper equipment checks.
The loading of finished and unfinished steel products alongside break-bulk, containerized, and project cargoes in the same cargo hold of bulk carriers.
Break-bulk, containerized, and project cargoes include large, heavy, oversized items, machinery parts, crates, and heavy-duty wheeled items such as trucks, cranes, or pay loaders. Unlike vessels dedicated to carrying break-bulk, containerized, or project cargoes, bulk carriers are not fitted with suitable lashing and securing arrangements