Information Fusion Centre (IFC) issued its latest infographic, providing a summary of incidents against ships in the Singapore Strait as of 6 January 2022.
According to the infographic below, there were a total of 8 incidents that happened in the month of December, which occurred between 1000H-0530H. There has been increasing incidents involving tug and barges recently.
Of note, there were three incidents regarding tugs and barges in December 2021 and one in November 2021.
Based on the reports, perpetrators avoided confrontation in most cases and escaped immediately upon being sighted by the crew.
Perpetrators usually are in groups of 4-6, and they use small boats, targeting slow moving vessels.
Recommendations
- Remain vigilant, particularly when transiting the known hotspots off Bintan and Batam.
- Adopt ship protection measures recommended in the regional guide to counter piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia, such as illuminating the accommodation block and poop deck and deploying sentries at poop deck.
- Participate in Voluntary Community Reporting as depicted in MARSEC Charts Q6112 and Q6113.
- Upon sighting of suspicious activities immediately report to local authorities.