The crew of an unnamed bulker were targeted by knife-wielding robbers off the coast of Peru earlier this week, security sources have confirmed.
The incident off Callao Anchorage in position 12° 01’ 30 S, 077° 11’42 W occurred on 26 September 2021, according to piracy reporting body International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
“Six robbers in two boats approached and boarded an anchored bulk carrier using ropes and tried to break into the bosun store,” the ICC said.
“The duty crew noticed the robbers and raised the alarm. The robbers then threatened the duty deck crew with knives and escaped without stealing anything.”
The incident was reported to local maritime authorities and a patrol boat was dispatched to the area and searched the waters around the vessel.
“In comparison to the first half of 2019 and 2020, Callao Anchorage [in] Peru has experienced a sharp rise in the number of incidents with 12 incidents reported in total for 2021,” maritime security company Diaplous Group said.
“Perpetrators in the region possess the capacity to carry out violent attacks, with two separate incidents of crew being taken hostage and assaulted occurring in the first six months of 2021.”
Diaplous said vessels operating within the region should continue to exercise maximum vigilance and mitigation measures, as well as report any suspicious activity to local authorities.
In a report earlier this summer, the ICC’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) warned of the potential of violent attacks and confirmed the two such attacks and hostage-taking incidents during the first half of the year.
