The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published its Monthly Piracy Report for the month of December 2024.
The following acts of piracy and armed robbery are allegedly committed against ships during the month of December 2024, reported by IMO Member States or international organizations in consultative status:
#1 In international waters
- Bourbon Liberty 234 (Supply ship, Cyprus)
The incident: While underway, six pirates in a speedboat boarded the offshore supply vessel and attempted to force their way into the citadel where the crew had taken refuge. After several failed attempts, the pirates damaged some bridge equipment and accommodation before disembarking. Once the pirates left, the crew emerged from the citadel and sailed to a safe port. All crew members were reported safe.
Response: The crew raised the alarm and took shelter in the citadel. The Equatorial Guinea PRC relayed the message to Equatorial Guinea authorities.
Location: West Africa – Approximately 95 nm west of Bata, Equatorial Guinea (01° 59.09′ N, 008° 10.19′ E)
#2 In territorial waters
- Sakizaya Miracle (Bulk carrier, Panama)
The incident: While underway, the crew spotted about eight perpetrators, four of whom were armed with knives, in the engine control room. The master raised the alarm, and the crew mustered to conduct a search, but no perpetrators were found. A crew member’s legs and hands were tied by the perpetrators, and some engine spares were stolen.
Response: The master reported the incident to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS). A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) were notified. Upon arrival at Singapore Anchorage, the PCG boarded the ship and conducted a search but found no perpetrators. Information was shared with the Indonesian authorities.
Location: Malacca Strait – Approximately 6 nm northeast of Pulau Cula, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the TSS (01° 08.02′ N, 103° 45.40′ E)
- Genco Augustus (Bulk carrier, Marshall Islands)
The incident: While underway, the crew spotted six perpetrators armed with knives in the steering gear room. The master raised the alarm, and the crew mustered to conduct a search, but no perpetrators were found. All crew members were accounted for, and nothing was stolen.
Response: The master reported the incident to Singapore VTIS. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. The PCG boarded the ship at Singapore Anchorage and conducted a search but found no perpetrators. Information was shared with the Indonesian authorities.
Location: Malacca Strait – Approximately 2.8 nm northwest of Pulau Cula, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the TSS (01° 04.00′ N, 103° 40.40′ E)
- Kyzikos (Bulk carrier, Liberia)
The incident: While underway, the crew spotted eight unarmed perpetrators in the steering gear room. The master raised the alarm, and the crew mustered to conduct a search, but no perpetrators were found. Some engine spare parts were stolen.
Response: The master reported the incident to Singapore VTIS. A safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. The PCG boarded the ship at Singapore Anchorage and conducted a security search but found no perpetrators. Information was shared with the Indonesian authorities.
Location: Malacca Strait – 3.1 nm northwest of Pulau Cula, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the TSS (01° 03.66′ N, 103° 39.84′ E)
- Dalma (Tanker, Liberia)
The incident: During routine rounds onboard the tanker underway, duty crew noticed the padlock to the emergency generator room was broken, and ship’s property was stolen.
Response: The incident was reported, and Singapore PRC relayed the message to the Singapore Police Coast Guard and Indonesian Marine Police HQ (IMBKL).
Location: Malacca Strait – Singapore Straits, Indonesia (01° 03.50′ N, 103° 39.79′ E)
- Proteus Harvonne – Tanker (Singapore)
The incident: While en route to Singapore, a motorman conducting routine checks on the poop deck was attacked by a knife-wielding perpetrator while another attempted to board the ship. The motorman escaped, alerted the bridge, and the master raised the alarm, mustering all crew. A search was conducted, and a knife and bags were found on deck. The injured crew member received first aid and was later transported to Singapore General Hospital, where he remains in stable condition. Nothing was stolen. The incident was reported to Singapore MRCC, and the Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) boarded the ship for investigation.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT – Approximately 2.4 nm northwest of Pulau Cula, Indonesia
- HK Tug 9/LKH2882 – Tug (Singapore)
The incident: While towing a barge loaded with scrap metal from Singapore to Indonesia, the tug’s master spotted four small boats approaching. Two to three perpetrators boarded the barge and transferred scrap metal to their boats. The master continuously sounded the ship’s horn and altered course, prompting the perpetrators to flee. No crew members were injured.
Location: SOUTH CHINA SEA – 8.4 nm northeast of Horsburgh Lighthouse, Malaysia
- Honor Star – Bulk Carrier (Panama)
The incident: While underway, six perpetrators armed with knives were spotted in the engine room. The master raised the alarm and mustered the crew for a search, but no perpetrators were found. Some engine spare parts were stolen. The crew was unharmed. The incident was reported to Singapore VTIS West, and a safety broadcast was initiated to warn other vessels. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT – 8.1 nm west of Pulau Cula, Indonesia
- Cape Star – Bulk Carrier (Hong Kong, China)
The incident: The crew spotted four to five perpetrators in the engine room, three armed with long knives and one carrying a gun-like object. The master raised the alarm and mustered the crew for a search, but no perpetrators were found. Some engine spare parts were stolen. The crew was unharmed. Upon arrival at Singapore Anchorage, the Singapore PCG boarded the vessel and conducted a search but found no perpetrators.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT – 0.5 nm northwest of Pulau Cula, Indonesia
- Front Eagle – Tanker (Liberia)
The incident: While underway, three perpetrators were sighted near the engine room. The master raised a general emergency alarm and mustered the crew for a search, but no perpetrators were found. Nothing was stolen, and no injuries were reported. The vessel resumed its voyage to Daesan, South Korea.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT – 3.2 nm west of Pulau Cula, Indonesia
- Rostrum Hedonist – Bulk Carrier (Liberia)
The incident: While underway, five perpetrators were sighted in the steering gear room, one carrying a gun-like object. The master raised the alarm and mustered the crew for a search, but no perpetrators were found. Some engine spare parts were stolen. There were no injuries.
The incident was reported to Singapore VTIS West, and a safety broadcast was issued to warn all ships to remain vigilant in the Singapore Strait. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. Upon arrival in Singapore, the PCG boarded the vessel and conducted a search, but no perpetrators were found. Information was also shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: MALACCA STRAIT – 3.2 nm west of Pulau Cula, Indonesia
#3 In port area
- PAC Alnath (General cargo ship, Singapore)
The incident: While berthed, the Chief Officer observed an unauthorized person attempting to board the ship via a rope, with four others in a wooden boat alongside. Upon being spotted, the intruders aborted the attempt. No items were stolen, and no injuries were reported.
Response: The Chief Officer raised the alarm, and the incident was reported to the Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) through the local agent. The Indonesia PRC relayed the message to the Indonesian Marine Police HQ.
Location: Belawan Port, Indonesia (03° 47.81′ N, 098° 43.08′ E)
- Name Withheld (Fishing vessel)
The incident: Five armed robbers in a wooden boat, carrying AK-47 rifles, boarded the fishing vessel. They held the crew hostage, stole two cell phones, and kidnapped the Captain before escaping.
Response: The incident was reported to the Benin Navy, which dispatched a patrol boat to escort the vessel back to anchorage for investigation.
Location: Cotonou Anchorage, Benin (06° 13.34′ N, 002° 32.27′ E)
- Irene (Bulk carrier, Marshall Islands)
The incident: While anchored, three robbers armed with knives were spotted near the forecastle store. One of them threatened the duty watchman while the others attempted to steal items. Upon seeing the approaching patrol boat, the robbers fled with stolen ship’s properties.
Response: The alarm was raised, a PA announcement was made, and local authorities were notified. The Takoradi Coast Guard dispatched a patrol boat to the location.
Location: Takoradi Anchorage, Ghana (04° 53.29′ N, 001° 39.50′ W)
- Name Withheld (Heavy load carrier, Marshall Islands)
The incident: Around seven robbers armed with machetes boarded an anchored ship. They threatened the duty crew, stole his UHF radio and personal mobile phone, and took ship’s property before escaping in a wooden boat. No injuries were reported.
Response: The incident was reported to Port Control, and Bangladesh PRC relayed the message to the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
Location: Chattogram Anchorage, Bangladesh (21° 35.68′ N, 091° 47.86′ E)
- AM Ocean Pride (Bulk carrier, Marshall Islands)
The incident: While anchored, the duty crew on routine rounds noticed four robbers armed with knives on the poop deck. Upon hearing the alarm and seeing the crew’s vigilance, the robbers fled empty-handed in their boat.
Response: The alarm was raised, and the incident was reported to Panjang VTS. The PRC relayed the message to the Indonesian Marine Police HQ.
Location: Tarahan Anchorage, Indonesia (05° 31.17′ S, 105° 18.14′ E)
- Nordmaas (Container ship, Cyprus)
The incident: Unnoticed robbers boarded the anchored ship and stole items from the ship’s store. The theft was only discovered during routine rounds.
Response: The incident was reported to the Vietnam PRC, which relayed the message to the Vietnam Coast Guard.
Location: Vung Tau Anchorage, Vietnam (09° 59.00′ N, 107° 04.00′ E)
- Seaspan Lumaco (Container ship, Hong Kong, China)
The incident: While at anchor, four perpetrators boarded the ship. The duty roving crew sighted them near the boatswain store entrance and immediately reported to the duty watch officer, who raised the alarm. By the time the crew mustered and arrived at the scene, the perpetrators had already escaped. No items were stolen, and no injuries were reported.
Response: The duty watch officer reported the incident to VTMS Manila. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) dispatched a Maritime Patrol (MARPAT) team to investigate, but the perpetrators were not found.
Location: South China Sea – Approx. 4 nm west of South Harbor Anchorage, Manila, Philippines (14° 32.72′ N, 120° 52.08′ E)
- Oriole (Bulk carrier, Marshall Islands)
The incident: Three robbers armed with knives and iron bars boarded an anchored ship. The duty AB on routine rounds spotted them attempting to break into the forecastle store. He was threatened but managed to escape. The alarm was raised, and the robbers fled with four accomplices waiting in a boat. No items were stolen.
Response: A search was conducted, and Port Control was notified. The Bangladesh PRC relayed the message to the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
Location: Chattogram Anchorage, Bangladesh (21° 49.79′ N, 091° 46.79′ E)
#4 In international waters
- Name Withheld (Container ship, Liberia)
The incident: While underway, pirates in a skiff approached and fired upon the vessel. The alarm was raised, the SSAS was activated, and non-essential crew mustered in the citadel. The vessel proceeded at full speed and managed to evade the attack. All crew members were safe.
Response: The alarm was raised, SSAS was activated, and the non-essential crew mustered in the citadel. The incident was reported to Bata Port Control, which relayed the message to the Equatorial Guinea authorities.
Location: 62 nm WSW of Bata, Equatorial Guinea (01° 34.50′ N, 008° 45.00′ E)
#5 In port area
- Sandpiper Pacific (Tanker, Singapore)
The incident: While anchored, three unauthorized persons in a small wooden boat attempted to board the vessel via the anchor chain. Alert crew members noticed the attempt and shouted at the intruders, causing them to abort the boarding. The crew mustered and conducted a search, but no items were stolen.
Response: The incident was reported to VTS Belawan, and the Indonesia PRC relayed the message to the Indonesian Marine Police HQ. The Marine Police investigated the incident.
Location: Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia (03° 55.95′ N, 098° 44.38′ E)
Source: Safety4Sea
