A seafarer aboard a Berge Bulk capesize bulker looks to have thwarted the theft of a large quantity of marine diesel oil (MDO).
The incident took place aboard the 180,000-dwt Berge Atlas (built 2008) off Caofeidian port, China in position 38° 46.25' N, 118° 30.76' E.
The incident took place on 30 December, but has only just been reported by the Singapore-based Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).
“While at anchor, the duty AB when on routine safety/ security rounds on deck, noticed some suspiscious movement on the main deck starboard side,” said ReCAAP.
“He noticed two perpetrators standing near the emergency generator room and immediately informed the duty officer immediately via a walkie-talkie.
“The duty officer noticed two perpetrators standing near the diesel oil (DO) tank manhole pulling out a hose from the said tank sounding pipe.
“Upon noticing that the crew was alerted, the perpetrators pulled out the hose from the surrounding pipe and jumped into the small boat on the starboard quarter of the ship.”
The boat is reported to have then steered away from the ship at full speed. It was later discovered that 1.9-cbm of MDO had been discharged.
