Crime

IFC Annual Report 2023: 58 incidents of theft, robbery and piracy at sea in Singapore Strait

IFC recorded 58 incidents of TRAPS in the Singapore Strait, which remains the main area of concern but it noted there was a notable 47% decrease in incidents in the second half of 2023.

Published

7 months ago

February 20, 2024

Admin

IFC Annual Report 2023: 58 incidents of theft, robbery and piracy at sea in Singapore Strait

The Information Fusion Centre (IFC), a regional Maritime Security centre hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy, on Saturday (17 February) released its annual report and infographic for 2023.

The report and infographic covers Theft, Robbery and Piracy At Sea (TRAPS), Maritime Incidents and Contraband Smuggling, Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing, Irregular Human Migration, Environmental Security and Cyber Security.

According to the report, IFC recorded 58 incidents of TRAPS in the Singapore Strait, which remains the main area of concern but it noted there was a notable 47% decrease in incidents in the second half of 2023.

“The 58 incidents recorded in 2023 is higher than 2022 (55) and 2021 (49), and is a continuing trend possibly due to the current slow economic recovery and the rising cost of living, prompting more locals to resort to petty theft,” IFC said in the report.

Most of the incidents occurred in the Phillip Channel (34 Incidents), mainly Northeast of Karimun Besar Island and Northwest of Kepalajernih Island, where vessels have been known to decrease speed significantly when turning. The other area of concern is waters off Bintan and Batam islands (12 incidents). It is assessed that increased enforcement efforts by regional authorities in the waters off Bintan and Batam islands have caused perpetrators to shift their operations to the Phillip Channel.

Notably, the number of incidents in Singapore Strait fell by 47% in the second half of the year, assessed due to the overall stepped-up enforcement efforts by regional authorities. Particularly, a successful land operation mounted by Indonesian authorities in October led to the arrest of several members of a suspected sea robbery syndicate; following this, there was only 1 incident reported in November and December combined.

According to the report, bulk carriers were the most frequently targeted vessel types in the Singapore Strait, accounting for 69% of the incidents, followed by tugs and barges, and tankers making up 19% and 12% of the incidents respectively.

“This is due to their slower speed (7 to 12 knots), and lower freeboard (less than 8m). Stolen Items include engine spare parts and small tools (bulk carriers and tankers), and scrap metal (tugs and barges),” IFC added.

Recent investigations by Indonesian authorities have also revealed that perpetrators have become more tech-savvy, making use of commercially available online applications in their handphones to select suitable targets (using AIS information to identify vessel type and speed) to increase chances of success.

IFC said the report and infographic are co-developed by its International Liaison Officers (ILO), with insights and data collected over the past years, covering IFC's 8 MARSEC categories within the IFC Area of Interest (AOI).

Note: Information Fusion Centre’s Annual Report 2023 and infographic can be downloaded here.

Photo credit: Information Fusion Centre
Published: 20 February, 2024

Related Topics:Legal - Crime Others - Incident

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Bunker Fuel

MPA: Sentek Marine & Trading bunkering licenses to cease from 18 September

Sentek Marine & Trading must not continue to operate as a bunker supplier and bunker craft operator within Singapore Port on and from 18 September, says MPA.

Published

1 week ago

September 5, 2024

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Wednesday (4 September) said it will not be renewing the bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licences of Sentek Marine & Trading Pte Ltd (Sentek), which will expire on 17 September.

“On and from 18 September 2024, Sentek Marine & Trading Pte Ltd will cease to be licensed and must not continue to operate as a bunker supplier and bunker craft operator within the Singapore Port,” MPA said in a port marine circular.

MPA reminded all bunker licensees, including bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators, to comply strictly with all the terms and conditions of the respective bunker licence(s).

“MPA will not hesitate to take firm action against any licensee that contravenes any of its bunker licence terms and conditions, including taking into account such contraventions in considering whether to renew the bunker licence(s), suspending or cancelling the bunker licence(s), and/or taking enforcement action against any such bunker licensee," it warned.

MPA did not state any reason for the decision of not renewing Sentek’s bunkering licences.

However, Manifold Times recently reported the General Division of the High Court dismissing an application from Sentek to quash MPA’s refusal to renew its bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licenses (Licenses).

Both Licenses were due to expire on 28 February 2023, and Sentek applied to the MPA on 16 January 2023 for them to be renewed. After a series of further correspondence, MPA informed Sentek on 1 April 2024 the Licences would not be renewed and would expire on 31 May 2024.

The decision to not renew Sentek’s Licenses was due to alleged breaches of the terms and conditions of the Licences in 2016 and 2017.

In response to MPA’s decision of 1 April 2024, Sentek on May 2024 applied to the High Court for a mandatory order requiring MPA to consider Sentek’s bunkering licenses applications afresh while preventing the cancellation of its existing Licenses.

Permission for judicial review was later granted on 11 July 2024.

Manifold Times understands from a Sentek representative the company is planning to appeal the High Court decision.

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 5 September, 2024

Business

Singapore: Sentek application to quash MPA’s refusal to renew bunkering licences dismissed

Manifold Times understands from a Sentek representative the company is planning to appeal the High Court decision.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 30, 2024

Admin

The General Division of the High Court on Tuesday (27 August) dismissed an application from Sentek Marine & Trading Pte Ltd (Sentek) to quash the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)’s refusal to renew its bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licenses (Licenses).

The decision to not renew Sentek’s Licenses was due to alleged breaches of the terms and conditions of the Licences in 2016 and 2017.

Concerned with potential reputational damage to Singapore as a trusted bunkering hub, MPA started its own investigations to find out if Sentek had complied with the terms and conditions of the Licences relating to the maintenance of correct and accurate records.

Permission for judicial review was later granted on 11 July 2024.

In court, Sentek argued the alleged breaches were technical, isolated and virtually unpreventable while stating there was no systemic flaw of the company itself, according to documents procured by Manifold Times.

“To the contrary, the alleged breaches were caused by ex-employees going on a frolic of their own and it is not reasonable for MPA to assert that its decision was entirely independent of the Bukom Theft,” it argued.

The High Court discovered Sentek’s existing measures could not show it had established a system which could ordinarily detect employees who had embarked on a frolic of their own.

It also found Sentek did not explain how its enhanced measures would prevent falsification or manipulation of records in the future.

Amongst other reasons, the High Court found “no procedural impropriety” from MPA and dismissed Sentek’s original application.

Note: Sentek is currently still included in MPA’s ‘List of licensed bunker suppliers in the Port of Singapore’ and ‘List of licensed bunker craft operators in the Port of Singapore’ during a check by Manifold Times on 30 August 2024.

Manifold Times understands from a Sentek representative the company is planning to appeal the High Court decision.

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 30 August 2024

Legal

Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-Shell employees sentenced to more than 23 years in prison each

Muzaffar Ali Khan Muhamad Akram, 42, was given a 26½ years’ jail sentence, while Koh Choon Wei, 40, was sentenced to 23½ years’ jail.

Published

1 month ago

August 5, 2024

Admin

Two former Shell employees, who were involved in the conspiracy to misappropriate gas oil from Shell Pulau Bukom refinery, were slapped with a jail term of more than 23 years each, according to The Straits Times.

Muzaffar Ali Khan Muhamad Akram, 42, was given a 26½ years of jail, while Koh Choon Wei, 40, was sentenced to 23½ years of jail.

Muzaffar pleaded guilty to 31 charges for abetting the commission of criminal breach of trust, using his criminal benefits and corruption-related offences.

Koh Choon Wei pleaded guilty to 21 charges for abetting the commission of criminal breach of trust and using his criminal benefits.

Muzaffar, who played a role in misappropriating gas oil worth nearly $120 million, made at least $1.3 million in profits while Koh benefitted at least $1 million from his role in misappropriating gas oil worth over $101 million.

Earlier coverage of developments by Manifold Times regarding the Shell MGO bunker heist can be found below: