The ship was one of eleven vessels to be targeted by robbers in Asia last month according to the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).

The attack on the 17,967-dwt Dolfijngracht (built 2009) took place in position 01° 14'N, 104° 45'E about 6.5nm north of Pulau Mapor in Indonesia.

The robbers boarded the Spliethoff-owned ship and entered the ship accommodation area via the bridge.

They reportedly threatened the crew, stole cash, computers and personal belongings before they escaped.

ReCAAP say the robbers also discharged their firearms as a bullet hole was found on the vessel. However, no crew were injured.

In the South China Sea a crewman went missing following an incident involving the 5,000-bhp anchor handler Crest Apache (built 2013).

However, ReCAAP said it was unclear whether the disappearance was connected to the robbery attempt.

In an incident off Malaysia a tanker was boarded by eight robbers armed with guns and knives just north of the island of Tioman.

They ordered the chief engineer of the 2,106-dwt LG Asphalt 1 (built 2009) to reduce speed to a minimum and then mustered the crew on the bridge, the engine room and the mess room where they were tied up.

The robbers then stole the crew’s cash and ship properties, and left the ship an hour later. However, the ship’s crew later regained control of the vessel and sailed to Kemaman port.

Five of the reported incidents took place in Indonesian waters, while four more occurred in Philippine waters.

Shipowners operating in Indonesia face one of the highest chances of a piracy attack in the world where around one-third of sea crimes occur.

Almost all attacks are opportunistic ‘smash and grab’ type robberies on vessels in port or at anchor, according to AKE intelligence analyst Rory Lamrock.

Other vessels involved in incidents last month included the 50,721-dwt bulker Sanko Mercury (built 2010), the 2,742-teu Cape Mahon (built 2007), the 106,045-dwt tanker Guanabara (built 2007), the 5,150-bhp anchor handler Jaya Mermaid 3 (built 2007), the 1,118-teu Helmuth Rambow (built 2005), the 4,250-teu APL Los Angeles (built 2008), the 46,200-dwt tanker Garnet Express (built 2013) and the 19,000-dwt product tanker Kirana Tritya (built 2004).