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Gard recommends anti-piracy measures when bunkering at Callao Anchorage

Gard suggests equipment such as fenders, anchor chains, and hawse pipes should be physically blocked during STS/bunkering operations as they can provide a point of access for perpetrators.

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Maritime protection and indemnity (P&I) club Gard on Tuesday (4 July) published an alert on piracy and armed robbery reports received from Peru’s Callao Anchorage and recommends anti-piracy measures while in the port: 

On 29 September 2023, a vessel was boarded by thieves whilst at anchor in Callao, Peru. The perpetrators tied up the duty crew and shore watchmen on routine rounds and held them at knifepoint, before escaping with the ship’s stores, reports the IMB PRC.  

According to the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Center (IMB PRC), this incident is the thirteenth piracy and armed robbery report received from the Callao Anchorage so far in 2023, and the third in September alone. In comparison, 12 incidents were reported from Callao during the whole of 2022. The recent reports from this port also indicate that crew are frequently taken hostage, assaulted and threatened, making this location quite a high risk for crew.

Even if the IMB PRC incident records for Peru's Callao Anchorage showed a welcome decline in 2022, this year’s worrying trend serves as a reminder to ship’s crew to keep a careful watch and anti-piracy measures in place while in this port.

Preventive measures

When alongside at port or anchorage, or during STS/bunkering operations, equipment such as fenders, anchor chains, and hawse pipes should be physically blocked as they can provide a point of access for perpetrators. Regular security rounds should be conducted, and particular attention paid to suspicious small boats passing close to the ship or loitering in the vicinity. Since the perpetrators often board ships during the hours of darkness, it may be useful to increase the deck watch at night and leave lights on. A well-lit ship is less vulnerable to attacks.

Remember that the Maritime Global Security website at http://www.maritimeglobalsecurity.com offers industry-issued best practices and guidance to mariners by geographic region. Additional advice is also available from Gard’s website “Piracy and armed robbery at sea”.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Tony Hogwood
Published: 9 October, 2023

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Incident

Singapore: Bunker spill leads to checks on all fuel pipes at other Police Coast Guard bases

Police said fuel pipes at the other three bases at Loyang, Lim Chu Kang and Gul are also being checked with inspections expected to be wrapped up on 10 February.

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RESIZED bunker tanker singapore

The recent oil leak incident at Police Coast Guard (PCG) Brani Regional Base has prompted checks on all fuel pipes at PCG’s three other bases for leaks, according to The Straits Times on Monday (10 February). 

Responding to queries from the local news provider, the police said all fuel pipes at Brani Regional Base were inspected on 6 February while fuel pipes at the other three bases at Loyang, Lim Chu Kang and Gul are also being checked with inspections expected to be wrapped up on 10 February. 

The police also said that a preliminary assessment on the cause of the leak might be due to micro cracks in a damaged fuel pipe as a result of repeated twisting of the pipe due to the movement of the pontoons caused by tidal changes.

On 6 February, Singapore authorities confirmed that a diesel oil leak was discovered at the Brani Regional Base on 5 February, at around 11.40am (Singapore Time). 

According to a joint statement by Singapore Police Force, Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and National Environment Agency (NEA), about 23 metric tonnes had leaked from a damaged shore fuel hose used to refuel patrol craft at Selat Sengkir. 

The leak was eventually isolated at about 3.40pm and there were no oil slicks observed.

Related: Singapore confirms bunker spill from damaged shore fuel hose at Brani Regional Base

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 11 February, 2025

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Incident

Tanker “Koala” suffers multiple explosions at Russian port of Ust-Luga

Vessel reportedly suffered three separate blasts while preparing to depart, resulting in the engine room flooding while the vessel was secured to the pier, says Ambrey Analytics.

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Oil tanker "Koala" suffers multiple explosions at Russian port of Ust-Luga

An Antigua and Barbuda-flagged tanker has been reported to sustain explosions in the aft of the vessel while docked in the port of Ust-Luga, Russia, according to Ambrey Analytics on Monday (10 February). 

The tanker reportedly suffered three separate blasts while preparing to depart, resulting in the engine room flooding while the vessel was secured to the pier.

Ambrey said the vessel's 24 crew evacuated with no injuries and the vessel's cargo tanks were reportedly not damaged. 

Authorities in Leningrad, Russia reportedly described the blasts as a “man-made incident”. 

Finnish authorities are also monitoring the incident in preparation for a potential oil spill from the vessel. 

“Ambrey assesses this to be consistent with an attack but additional information is required to verify this,” it said.  

“Ambrey is aware of recent incidents in which vessels trading from Ust-Luga with a similar trading profile have suffered multiple explosions under the waterline at the aft.”

“The vessel was flying a flag of convenience and her ownership was obscure.”

The vessel's behaviour aligned with Ambrey’s thresholds for a vessel highly likely to be investigated in connection with future sanctions designation. 

“The vessel was not sanctioned at the time or on the Ukrainian Military Intelligence list. This incident, and others that have gone unreported, will likely initiate a review of war risk premium rates for vessels calling Russian Baltic Sea ports,” it added.

Ambrey advised shipping companies to conduct asset screening assessments for all charter-party agreements and purchases, and to carry out dynamic voyage risk assessments.

Aleksandr Drozdenko, Governor of Leningrad Oblast, identified the tanker as Koala and that the incident occurred during engine start up.

“Efforts are underway to inspect the engine room and establish the cause of the accident,” he said on his Telegram channel. 

 

Photo credit: Aleksandr Drozdenko on Telegram
Published: 11 February, 2025

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Incident

Malaysia-flagged tanker and Norwegian bulker boarded by armed gangs in Singapore Strait

Two vessels were boarded by armed individuals off Indonesia within only 16 minutes of each other on 2 February, according to Ambrey Analytics.

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Singapore Police Coast Guard

Two vessels were boarded by armed individuals off Indonesia which happened only 16 minutes apart on 2 February, according to Ambrey Analytics.

In the first incident at 20:15 UTC, a Malaysia-flagged products tanker was boarded by six individuals 4.4 nautical miles north of Kapalajernih Island, Indonesia whilst transiting eastbound in the Philip Channel, Singapore Strait. 

“The suspects were reportedly armed with bladed weapons. The vessel was enroute from Singapore to Port Dickinson, Malaysia,” Ambrey Analytics said in a report shared with Manifold Times

At the time of writing, the vessel was observed continuing its journey. During the incident, the vessel had an estimated freeboard of 2.3 metres and was underway at 7 knots.

According to a later update by Ambrey, authorities subsequently revealed that the suspects stole some engine spare parts during the incident. No casualties were reported.

Earlier, at 19:59 UTC, a Norway-flagged bulk carrier was boarded by four individuals 3.6 nautical miles northwest of Kapalajernih Island, Indonesia whilst transiting eastbound in the Philip Channel, Singapore Strait. 

The individuals were reportedly armed with bladed weapons and “gun-like objects”. The vessel was enroute from Port Klang, Malaysia to Fangcheng, China. 

At the time of writing, the vessel was observed continuing its journey. During the incident, the vessel had an estimated freeboard of 5.1 metres and was underway at 9.6 knots. 

Ambrey said crews transiting the Singapore Strait with freeboards lower than 10m are advised they are at heightened risk. 

Crews are advised to lock down access to the accommodation block and ship's stores. It is recommended to carry out partnered deck patrols.

 

Photo credit: Singapore Police Force and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 10 February, 2025

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