Marine Security Bulletin 10 APRIL 2023 - Security incident, involving an attack by pirates near the Port of Manila

Dear Shipowners, Operators and Masters of Liberian Flagged Vessels,

Subject: Security Incident involving an attack by pirates near the Port of Manila

April 10, 2023

This bulletin is to inform about a security incident, involving an attack by pirates near the Port of Manila around 0200 hours on, April 5 2023 while the vessel was awaiting its turn to enter the port.

The pirates boarded the vessel, and captured a patrolling crew member. The crew member had his hands tied and was hit in the head several times by the pirates. The crewman alleged that the attackers attempted to throw him overboard, but he managed to escape to warn the captain. The captain notified the Philippine Coast Guard, who arrived after the pirates fled.

There were no serious injuries to the crew, nor was anything of value stolen. The incident did not disrupt the vessel’s schedule but the pirates escaped and are still at large.

It is recommended that all Liberian vessels transiting the Singapore Strait, Malacca Strait, the waters off Mangkai and the Anambas in the South China Sea, and operating in the coastal waters of Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines implement all necessary security and anti-piracy measures equivalent to security level 2 in the approved Ship Security Plan, exercise extreme vigilance, and proceed with caution during your transit/operation in this area. Refer to Marine Security Advisory 03/2017 for guidance.

As of April 5, 2023 there have been 33 security incidents in Southeast Asia, far more than any other region in the world. All vessels transiting this Area are advised to take extra precaution and measures in accordance with the approved ship security plan and report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities including IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) mailto:imbkl@iccccs.org / mailto:piracy@icc-ccs.org.

Contact MSCHOA prior to transiting the Singapore Straits, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea.

The contact details of MSCHOA are:

Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA)

Email postmaster@mschoa.org

Telephone +44 1923 958545 +44 1923 958700

Fax +44 1923 958520 Website www.mschoa.org

When transiting the Arabian Sea, the Somali Basin, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and Red Sea.

Register their vessels with UKMTO

Email: watchkeepers@ukmto.org and ukmto@eim.ae

Phone: +44 - 2392-222060, +971-50-552-3215 Fax +44 1923 958520

Please keep LISCR’s Security Department informed of any security incidents at:

Office of the Senior Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs

Republic of Liberia

22980 Indian Creek Drive, Suite 200 Dulles, Virginia 20166 USA

D: +1 571 495 5944 / O: +1 703 790 3434 / F: +1 703 790 5655

Email: Security@liscr.com www.liscr.com