Two pirate attacks have been reported to the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre in April so far.
A general cargo ship was boarded by two pirates while at Sandakan Port Berth No. 4 in Malaysia on Friday. The crew sounded the alarm and mustered, prompting the boarders to flee, taking with them some stolen property.
A product tanker was boarded last Wednesday 62 nautical miles north of Pulau Uwi in Indonesia. Around 15-25 pirates armed with pistols boarded the vessel and took the crew hostage.
Some on-board equipment was damaged and crew belongings stolen. The pirates also transferred some of the ship’s cargo into another vessel before escaping. All crew are reported safe, with the ship making its way to port.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard remains concerned that a grounded Indonesian tanker that was taken by pirates and then abandoned earlier this year may cause an oil spill.
The tanker was left aground in Barangay Cabuaya in Mati, Davao Oriental in February. Authorities are concerned that MT Rehoboth still has fuel aboard that might leak into the sea and want it to be towed away.
The vessel has been looted, and the Coast Guard is reportedly meeting with stakeholders to decide the fate of the vessel which was taken by pirates near Paraitan Lembeh Island in North Sulawesi on January 29.
Two crew members were thrown overboard in the incident, but were later rescued by fishermen
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