Tanker attacked off Batam
A tanker managed by Sharjah-based Silver Star Ship Management was attacked by five assailants yesterday off Singapore.
Five men carrying knives boarded the 107,176 dwt GP T2 just after 0100 hrs yesterday while the tanker was underway near Batam island in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait.
The perpetrators tied up the duty oiler in the engine room, took away some engine spare parts and escaped in a small boat. The small boat was seen moving in a southerly direction. The master raised the alarm and conducted a security search onboard the ship. No other perpetrators were found. The crew was not injured and the ship is proceeding towards the next port of call in China.
The local piracy watchdog ReCAAP noted that this was the seventh incident reported to have occurred in the Singapore Strait since January this year. Ships transiting the area were requested to increase vigilance amid the current threat environment.