And apparently they are hitting more frequently than in the last few years.
From ReCAAP
Incident Alert
Sea Robbery Incidents in
the Singapore Strait
IA 02/2023 13 June 2023
Sea Robbery Incidents in the Singapore Strait
The ReCAAP ISC alerts the maritime community on the continued occurrence of
incidents of sea robbery on board ships while underway in the Singapore Strait
(SS).Within a period of 11 days (3-13 Jun 23), five incidents were reported on board ships while underway in the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the SS. Two incidents occurred on 3 Jun, and three incidents on consecutive days of 11, 12 and 13 Jun.
The two incidents on 3 Jun occurred off Pulau Nongsa, Batam Island (Indonesia) and Pulau Tondang, Bintan Island (Indonesia) while the ships were underway in the eastbound lane of the TSS. In one incident, the perpetrators were armed with knives, and no report of the perpetrators with arms in the other incident. The crew was not injured in both incidents. Engine spares were stolen in one incident, and nothing was stolen in the other.The three incidents on 11, 12 and 13 Jun occurred off Pulau Iyu Kecil (Indonesia) and Pulau Cula (Indonesia). Two incidents occurred in the eastbound lane of the TSS and one incident in the precautionary area. The perpetrators were armed with knives in two incidents, and a shovel-like weapon in the third incident. In all three incidents, the perpetrators were sighted in the steering gear room. The crew was not injured and nothing was stolen in all three incidents.
With these five incidents, a total of 34 incidents were reported in the SS since January 2023. As the perpetrators are not arrested, there is a possibility of further
incidents in the Singapore Strait.....
....MUCH MORE
ReCAAP list of incidents, Jan 1 - June 3, 2023.
We used to track the Somali pirates, many of the links are in "Why Pirates Are Giving Up On Oil":
I was always under the impression that by taking up piracy those who ply that vocation self-identified (probably not a term they use) as outlaws, literally outside-the-law and could be shot on sight by any navy in the world. The lady attorneys tell me this is not always the case.
More after the jump.....
The brazenness and impunity were amazing:
Back in the heyday of the Somali pirates the business grew to be quite formalized. Some of our posts from that time:
Piracy 2012: Now With Form Letters, P.R.
"Somali sea gangs lure investors at pirate lair" and "A comparison of Piracy and Private Equity"
"Mace and Vomit: The Latest in Anti-Pirate Tech"
Oil: Somali Pirates Seize Supertanker, Smoke the Khat, Head for Home
Somali pirates set up "agencies" on three continents
"The Arms Race Against the Pirates"
Big Money: Somali Pirates' Rich Returns
Arrgh: 'Pirates Not a Good Long Term Bet
Who said a grenade launcher could not be a perfect financial asset?"
A new form of finance on the coast of Somalia.
I particularly enjoyed this part:
Piracy investor Sahra Ibrahim, a 22-year-old divorcee, was lined up with others waiting for her cut of a ransom pay-out after one of the gangs freed a Spanish tuna fishing vessel.
“I am waiting for my share after I contributed a rocket-propelled grenade for the operation,” she said, adding that she got the weapon from her ex-husband in alimony.
“I am really happy and lucky. I have made $75,000 in only 38 days since I joined the ‘company’.”
But then a few of the navies said enough's enough and after a couple of dramatic shootouts, including one involving an Indian frigate: "Indian navy destroys 'pirate ship'" and we didn't hear much about the Somalis any more. West Africa however....Bight of Benin, Gulf of Guinea, that 'hood, is pretty active.
