The warning comes inthe latest piracy report from security consultants AKE Maritime which cites twoattacks off Tanjung Berakit.
In the first incident on 24 July in position 1:18°N104:41°E about 3nm north east of Tanjung Berakit about seven attackers armedwith knives boarded a tug underway and robbed the crew of their belongings.
Less than 24 hours later a similar incident involving anothertug was targeted by up to six individuals in exactly the same location.
After locking the crew up in a cabin the robberssuccessfully escaped with personal belongings and ship’s property.
“The attacks on 24 and 25 July suggest a reasonably organised criminal groupmay be operating off the Berakit peninsula,” AKE Maritime said.
“All traffic transiting the area should take appropriateaction to ensure effective counter-measures are in place, especiallyslow-moving tugs and barges.”
Shipowners operating in Indonesia face one of the highestchances of a piracy attack in the world where around one-third of sea crimesoccur.
Almost all attacks are opportunistic ‘smash andgrab’ type robberies on vessels in port or at anchor, according to AKEintelligence analyst Rory Lamrock.
