Ships transiting Indonesia to exercise enhanced vigilance, since on Mar 2, three incidents occurred off Nongsa Point, Batam Island within an interval of four hours and at close proximity to each other.
An alert informing that the perpetrators were armed in the three incidents (with a lookalike gun, knives, axe and metal rods). However, the perpetrators did not threaten or harm the crew, and escaped upon being sighted. The crew was safe and nothing was stolen in all three incidents.
With these three incidents, a total of 16 incidents were reported in the SS since January 2022, comprising 12 incidents in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), two incidents in the precautionary area, one incident in the westbound lane and one incident outside the TSS. The locations of 16 incidents are indicated with latitude and longitude in the map next page. All the incidents were of low severity level. There was no report of the crew being threatened or injured. Engine spares were stolen in two incidents, ship stores in two incidents, scrap metal in one incident, item stolen was not known in one incident and nothing was stolen in the other 10 incidents.
The persistent occurrence of incidents in the Singapore Strait, particularly the increase of incidents off Nongsa Point, Batam Island. Since the perpetrators are not arrested, there is a possibility of continued occurrence of incidents in the Singapore Strait.
The littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in their respective territorial seas/archipelagic waters, and promote cooperation and coordination among the littoral States in patrols and information sharing on incidents and criminal groups involved in order to arrest the perpetrators.
As such, all ships are advised to intensify vigilance and maintain look-out while transiting the areas of concern, particularly during night time, adopt preventive measures and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State.