Pirates free crew abducted from Malacca Straits
The first kidnapping in more than a year has hit the Straits of Malacca, with the master and chief engineer of a tug grabbed by pirates on Thursday last week and freed yesterday.
The tug MLC Nancy 5 was attacked by about a dozen armed men in a small boat about 80 nautical miles west of Penang at about 2.30pm on Thursday while towing the barge Miclyn 3316. The tug, with a crew of 10 on board, was en route to Singapore from Mumbai.
The attackers took the shipboard communications equipment and personal effects - and the two crewmen. The 2nd officer and remaining crew made their way to Penang to seek assistance.
The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre said that the kidnapped crewmen, both Indonesians, were released yesterday afternoon and arrangements have been made for them to return to home.
Details of how their release was secured are unavailable, but the vessel's agent was concerned for their safety and did all it could to secure their release.
Before the latest incident, the last kidnapping in the Straits happened in August 2007 when the tug Brantas 25, towing the barge Singa Besar, was attacked 30 nautical miles north of Belawan by 10 armed men while going from Penang to Belawan. The ship's master and chief engineer were abducted, then freed about two weeks later.
No kidnapping incidents were reported in the Straits in 2006. Three incidents were reported in 2005 and nine in 2004.
ReCAAP warned of a likely increase in crime at sea as economic conditions worsen. It advised ship masters and crew to exercise vigilance and take precautions in the Straits.
In a chilling echo of similar attacks in the Gulf of Aden, the centre also said that pirates in the Straits are launching their attacks from larger vessels, enabling them to operate farther from shore and stay longer at sea.
The tug MLC Nancy 5 was attacked by about a dozen armed men in a small boat about 80 nautical miles west of Penang at about 2.30pm on Thursday while towing the barge Miclyn 3316. The tug, with a crew of 10 on board, was en route to Singapore from Mumbai.
The attackers took the shipboard communications equipment and personal effects - and the two crewmen. The 2nd officer and remaining crew made their way to Penang to seek assistance.
The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre said that the kidnapped crewmen, both Indonesians, were released yesterday afternoon and arrangements have been made for them to return to home.
Details of how their release was secured are unavailable, but the vessel's agent was concerned for their safety and did all it could to secure their release.
Before the latest incident, the last kidnapping in the Straits happened in August 2007 when the tug Brantas 25, towing the barge Singa Besar, was attacked 30 nautical miles north of Belawan by 10 armed men while going from Penang to Belawan. The ship's master and chief engineer were abducted, then freed about two weeks later.
No kidnapping incidents were reported in the Straits in 2006. Three incidents were reported in 2005 and nine in 2004.
ReCAAP warned of a likely increase in crime at sea as economic conditions worsen. It advised ship masters and crew to exercise vigilance and take precautions in the Straits.
In a chilling echo of similar attacks in the Gulf of Aden, the centre also said that pirates in the Straits are launching their attacks from larger vessels, enabling them to operate farther from shore and stay longer at sea.