A Japanese-owned capesize bulker has been targeted by elements of the Abu Sayyaf Group while sailing off the Philippines.
The attempt against the 179,192-dwt Kumiai Shagang (built 2011) took place on Sunday while it was sailing between the islands of Sabah and Languyan. However, few details of the incident were made public.
Details of the incidents come in an alert by the Singapore-based Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre.
However, ReCAAP did say that “the vigilance of the crew and effective activation of anti-piracy measures had successfully prevented boarding by the perpetrators”.
ReCAAP said it is “deeply concerned” about the situation of abduction of crew from ships while underway in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and eastern Sabah region.
Since March 2016, there have been nine actual incidents and two attempted incidents in the area, with 44 crew abducted and 11 crew still held captive.
ReCAAP said most of the incidents are claimed by the terrorist group of the Philippines Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
“Since October 2016, the perpetrators have begun to target ships of larger tonnage such as the Dong Bang Giant 2, Royal 16, Southern Falcon and lately the Kumiai Shagang,” ReCAAP said.
ReCAAP reiterated its advisory to all ships to re-route from the area, where possible. Otherwise, it said ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the area.
