3 Suspects Arrested For Attempted Theft Aboard Cargo Ship In Singapore Strait

UPDATE March 17: The below incident is likely the same as that reported by the ICC: “15.03.2020: 2030 UTC: Posn: 01:10.9N – 103:26.0E, Singapore Straits. Three robbers armed with crowbar and pipes boarded a bulk carrier underway. The engine crew noticed the robbers and managed to lock them inside the engine room workshop. Alarm raised and crew mustered. Two accomplices in a skiff tried to approach the vessel but were repelled by the crew. Singaporean and Indonesian Authorities notified. Two Indonesian Authority armed guards boarded the vessel and arrested the three robbers. ” (ICC)

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March 16, 5:11 LT: Coordination between the navies of Singapore and Indonesia has reportedly prevented a robbery in the Singapore Strait.

The Maritime Port and Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) Port Operations Command Centre received a report from the Cargo Vessel SAM JAGUAR (IMO #9637428) at 5.11am LT that three unauthorized persons had boarded the vessel and been locked in the engine room by the ship’s crew.

The RSN’s Maritime Security Task Force immediately began to monitor the vessel closely and dispatched its littoral mission vessel RSS Independence and police coast guard craft to the location.

At the same time, the RSN’s Information Fusion Centre shared real-time information on the incident with Indonesian authorities.

This information helped TNI-AL to eventually apprehend the pirates in Indonesian waters after deploying two ships and a helicopter to hail and board Sam Jaguar.

Sam Jaguar’s crew were safe and unharmed.

Source: Straits Times