During 13 – 19 Aug 19, four CAT 41 incidents of armed robbery against ship were reported to the ReCAAP ISC. The four incidents occurred on (1) 31 Jul 19 at Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia; (2) 9 Aug 19 northeast of Pulau Bintan, Indonesia; (3) 12 Aug 19 at Phuoc Long Mooring Buoy No 3, Vietnam; and (4) 15 Aug 19 southeast of Tanjung Piai, Johor, Malaysia.
Refer to map below on the location of the incidents. The detailed description of the incidents is tabulated in the attachment.
As the risk of the abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah is high as demonstrated by the abduction of nine crew2 on 18 Jun 19, the ReCAAP ISC reiterates its advisory issued via the ReCAAP ISC Incident Alert dated 21 Nov 16 to all ships to reroute from the area, where possible. Otherwise, ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the area, and report immediately to the Operation Centres of Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia. The contact details of the Operation Centres of the Philippines and ESSCOM of Malaysia (updated by ReCAAP ISC on 3 Jan 19) are as follows:
