Tug found crewless

Militants suspected of kidnapping crew.

Tug Found Without Crew in Abu Sayyaf Waters

On Monday afternoon, fishermen spotted a tugboat with its engine running but no crew on board off of Sabah, Malaysia – waters made notorious by a string of kidnappings by terrorist organization Abu Sayyaf.

The tug was reportedly engaged in towing a load of sand from Semporna to Sandakan, a coastwise trip around a peninsula. They were due to arrive Monday morning. To date, most attempts to combat Abu Sayyaf hijackings have focused on commercial tug voyages bound for the Philippines, which must pass through waters near the terrorist group’s island strongholds in Tawi-Tawi province. The tug’s route would have taken it within 20 nm of the westernmost extent of that island chain.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: maritime-executive.com