Armed Pirates Board Tanker in Indonesian Waters

Interpol Ten armed pirates boarded a tanker while it was underway some 26 nautical miles off the Indonesian Mangkai Island on June 28, according to data released by International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC). The pirates entered the bridge as the second officer was altering course and held the officer and the duty able seaman hostage at gun point and beat them, IMB PRC said. After they went to the Masters cabin, they took the Master and the other crew hostage as well. The pirates stole the vessels GPS and Navtex equipment and removed the cabling from the remaining satellite communication equipment. Before escaping they stole cash and other personal effects from the crew and released the Master. The name of the tanker in question was not revealed. During June, the IMB PRC reported a number of boarding attempts in the Indonesian waters. Namely, on June 28, the centre notified of a failed boarding as two unauthorised persons attempted to board an anchored tanker in the countrys Balikpapan Anchorage, while three robbers armed with knives boarded an anchored bulk carrier in the Dumai Inner Anchorage and stole engine spares and escaped. The incidents were preceded by a robbery which occurred on June 16 when four robbers armed with guns boarded an anchored heavy lift carrier off Batu Ampar, Batam Island, Indonesia and stole engine spares. World Maritime News Staff