(1) BOARD > TAKING HOSTAGE / Asphalt Tanker

2130 LT | 07 August | Posn: 02-00.09 N 104-52.09 E | Around 32nm SE of Pulau Aur, Johor, Malaysia.

While enroute from Singapore to Haiphong, an asphalt tanker was boarded by 5 pirates armed with guns and knives. The Master and crew were taken hostage and taken to the bridge. The remaining crew were forced to muster in the crew mess room and were threatened at gun point. Master was forced to switched off the Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) and was ordered to slow down the tanker. The pirates then took the Master to his cabin and stole ship’s cash and locked him in the mess room with other crew. The pirates ransacked the crew cabins and escaped with crew cash and personal belongings. The Master and crew later emerged from the mess room and activated the Ship Security Alarm System (SSAS), informed their head office and made an announcement on VHF channel 16 to alert other ships in the vicinity. Incident reported to Authorities.