INFORMATION FUSION CENTRE

AFPN 6504
103 Tanah Merah Coast Road, #02-01
Singapore 498750
Tel : +65 9626 8965 (Mobile)
+65 6594 5728 (Office)
Fax :
+65 6594 5734
IFC_DO@defence.gov.sg
www.infofusioncentre.gov.sg
26 Jan 15

INFORMATION FUSION CENTRE

MARSEC WEEKLY REPORT
17 23 Jan 15
For the period from 17 to 23 Jan 15, IFC received information on the following:
Events Categories
Contraband Trafficking
Irregular Human Migration
Illegal, Unreported, & Unregulated Fishing
Maritime Incidents
Natural Events
Piracy / Sea Robbery / Sea Theft
Weapons Trafficking
Maritime Terrorism

Number of Incidents
Registered*
3
4
3
12
-1
---

* 1 Contraband Incidents, 1 Irregular Human Migration and 2 Maritime Incidents occurred out of the period of
17 to 23 Jan 15.
Legend
Contraband Trafficking
Irregular Human Migration
Illegal, Unreported& Unregulated Fishing
Maritime Incidents
Natural Events
Piracy / Sea Robbery / Sea Theft (Actual/
Attempted)
Weapons Trafficking
Maritime Terrorism

Figure 1: Location of Incidents

OVERVIEW OF INCIDENTS
Contraband Trafficking
17 Jan Liquor Smuggling/ Pengarang/
Malaysia
Details:
The
Malaysian
Maritime
Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted
an attempt to smuggle 7,840 cartons of
liquor worth RM4.4 million off Pengarang
waters.
22 Jan Cigarette Smuggling/ Kuala
Lukut/ Malaysia
Details:
A
Malaysian
Maritime
Enforcement Agency (MMEA) boat
intercepted a fiberglass boat loaded with
cigarettes off the waters of Kuala Lukut.

Comment: MMEA received a tip-off on a

suspicious fiberglass boat carrying
contraband cigarettes was heading from
Indonesia towards Kuala Lukut.
Events reported out of the period:
16 Jan Liquor Smuggling/ North
Butterworth
Container
Terminal/
Malaysia
Details: Customs officers had foiled an
attempt to smuggle 4 containers of
undeclared alcoholic beverages at the
North Butterworth Container Terminal.

Irregular Human Migration

17 Jan Illegal Immigrants Arrested/
Phuket /Thailand
Details: A raid was conducted at Rassada
Pier in Phuket and 4 suspects were arrested
for entering the country illegally.
17 Jan Illegal Immigrants Detained/
Kapar, Klang/ Malaysia
Details: MMEA detained a fishing boat
owned by a local fisherman after 3 of its
crew (All Indonesian) were found without
proper documentation off the waters of
Kapar, Klang.
20 Jan - Illegal Immigrants Caught/
Bagan Lalang/ Malaysia
Details: 3 Bangladeshis and an Indonesian
were detained by the MMEA off the
waters of Bagan Lalang and they were
found without proper documentation.

Events reported out of the period:

16 Jan Illegal Immigrants Detained/
Kunak/ Malaysia
Details: MMEA has detained a fishing
boat in the waters of Kunak, Sabah with 9
crews who did not possess any proper
documentation. The boat was detained and
escorted to a fishery jetty off Lahad Datu
for further investigation.

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

17 Jan - Two Vietnamese Fishermen &
Boats Detained/ Tok Bali, Kelantan/
Malaysia
Details: 11 Vietnamese fishermen and 2
Vietnamese fishing boats were detained by
MMEA for illegal fishing off the waters
off Tok Bali, Kelantan.
18 Jan Illegal Fishing/ Narathiwat/
Thailand

illegal fishing. The boats were handed over

to the police for further investigation.
20 Jan Illegal Fishing/ West Papua/
Indonesia
Details: The Raja Ampat Police
intercepted a Vietnamese fishing boat for
illegal fishing off the waters of Raja
Ampat. The vessel was taken to regency
capital Waisai for further examination.

Details: The Royal Thai Navy (RTN)

detained 3 Vietnamese fishing boats for
Maritime Incidents
17 Jan Fishermen Rescued/ South
China Sea

in Sabah waters for nearly a week without

informing the Marine Department.

Details: The Vietnams People Navy

rescued 6 Filipino fishermen who had been
drifting at sea for 13 days in South China
Sea.

18 Jan Crew Died On Board/ Cyprus

/South China Sea

17 Jan Vessel Sunk/ Sorong/ Indonesia

Details: POCC (Singapore) received

information that a crew member on board
a Cyprus Flag, Oil Tanker died on board
due to cardiac arrest.

Details: A vessel sunk off the waters of

Sorong, Indonesia. 1 crew was reported
missing and 2 crew were reported injured
from the incident.

Comment: Upon Ships arrival in

Singapore, the crew was pronounced dead
after further examination.

17 Jan Boat Capsized/ Meghna River/

Bangladesh

18 Jan - Collision / Cyprus & Singapore

/ South China Sea

Details: 3 passengers were drowned after

an overloaded boat capsized in the Meghna
River near Bipin Shah Ghat, Bangladesh.
The rest of the passengers and crew were
rescued.

Details: IFC received information from

POCC (Singapore) that a collision had
occurred between a Cyprus-flagged
platform supply ship and a Singapore
flagged tug boat at position 0121.21'N,
10420.15'E, in South China Sea on
181946LT Jan 15. No injury and oil spill
reported

17 Jan - Ship Detained/ Sabah/ Malaysia

Details: An oil tanker ship with 17 crew
members was detained by the MMEA for
trespassing and docking at Sabah waters
illegally. The vessel was found anchored

18 Jan - Two Boats Sunk/ Duc Pho/

Vietnam

IFC RELEASABLE TO MARITIME INDUSTRY

Details: 2 fishing boats were sunk due to

strong winds and rough waves off the
coastal area of Duc Pho district. A
fisherman was reported missing from the
incident.
18 Jan - Maritime Accident/ Hong Kong
/ South China Sea
Details: At 160210LT Jan 15, a Hong
Kong registered bulk carrier vessel
encountered a defect during her transit and
required immediate maintenance. While
the Second Engineer was conducting
checks on the machinery, there was a
sudden discharge of gas from a gas
cylinder that caused him to fall onto the
floor. The Second Engineer reported was
injured and medical treatment was given.
However, the second engineer subdued to
his injuries and passed away on board
Comment: The second engineer was
pronounced
dead
after
further
examination after the vessel arrived in
Singapore.
20 Jan - Fishermen Missing/ Paracels
Islands
Details: A boat with 8 fishermen from the
central province of Binh Dinh was
reported missing off the waters of the
Paracels.

22 Jan - Fishermen Rescued/ Hoi An/

Vietnam
Details: A distressed fishing vessel hit by
strong waves and wind, was rescued off
Cua Dai Sea and the vessel was brought
safely to shore.
Events reported out of the period:
9 Jan - Cargo Ship Sunk/ Camiguin
Islands/ Philippines
Details: 26 Filipino seamen were rescued
by a Chinese vessel after their cargo ship
sunk off the waters of Camiguin Islands
16 Jan Fishermen Rescued/ Cay
Islands/ Vietnam
Details: A fishing vessel with 6 Filipino
fishermen was rescued by the Vietnams
People Navy off the waters of Cay Islands,
Vietnam on 16 Jan.
Comment: Through the hotline between
the Philippines Navy and Vietnams
People Navy, the fishermen were
subsequently handed over to the
Philippines Navy on 21 Jan.

Piracy/ Sea Robbery/ Sea Theft

18 Jan - Sea Theft/ Malacca Strait / Hong Kong
Details: IFC received information from POCC (Singapore) on 180632H Jan 15, of a sea theft
incident occurred on board a Hong Kong flagged Bulk Carrier at unconfirmed position and
timing. At 180632H Jan 15, vessel reported to POCC that she noticed footprints on her deck
and an air compressor was reported missing.

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IFC RELEASABLE TO MARITIME INDUSTRY

IFC RELEASABLE TO MARITIME INDUSTRY

Recommendations
IFC Advises:
1. All mariners to report any incidents timely to the nearest coastal state and IFC at the
earliest possible time.
2. Ships moving at slow speed or choosing to remain at anchor in areas where sea
robbery/theft is regularly reported to be vigilant and to adopt necessary security measures.
3. All mariners to take note on the description of the perpetrators and to take photos of the
perpetrators if possible.
4. Shippers and Seafarers operating in Sulu Sea and in vicinity of East Sabah Waters are
strongly recommended to be vigilant and to establish contact with both Malaysian and
Philippines Authorities to report their presence.
5. Shippers are advised to take note that al-Qaeda, in its recently launched English language
online magazine Resurgence, has called for the disruption of global trade and shipping
through acts of piracy, among other tactics. Shippers are therefore advised to exercise
vigilance and to adopt self-defensive measures as stated in BMP4, especially when
transiting narrow choke points and known sea robbery/piracy hot spots.

Note: Information herein was derived from various internal and external sources
such as Focal Points, OPCENs and other maritime stakeholders. Shippers should
remain vigilant especially in areas where the threat level is assessed to be above one
in accordance with the IFC Spot Commentary 2/14 and IFC quarterly assessment
report. Ships should apply the appropriate security measures (such as BMP4 or
Tugs and Barge Guide). Ship masters should also be aware and refer to the
Maritime Security Charts Q6112 and Q6113, both published by the UK
Hydrographic Office.
CONTACT
In case of any doubt, incident at sea, suspicious approach or unusual observed activity at sea,
please contact IFC: IFC Duty Officer:
Email:
IFC_DO@defence.gov.sg or ifc_do@infofusioncentre.gov.sg
Tel:
+65 9626 8965 (Mobile)
+65 6594 5728 (Office)
Fax:
+65 6594 5734
The IFC seeks your observations in the course of your normal business. The IFC would like
to remind mariners to be mindful of national and international laws, company and other
policy requirements and also health and safety obligations, whilst recording these
observations. The reporting of such events to IFC does not absolve you of your obligations
towards coastal/ port/ flag authorities.

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IFC RELEASABLE TO MARITIME INDUSTRY