El-Matador

The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) has reported three incidents of armed robbery against ships in the Singapore Strait oon Oct 25, 2020, within intervals of two hours and in close proximity to each other. The attacked ships were the 'Seajourney', the 'A Racer' and the 'El Matador'. All the three ships reported unauthorised perpetrators who fled after the ships raised the alarm. Nothing was stolen and crew members were safe in all three incidents. ReCAAP has advised all ships to exercise utmost vigilance, adopt extra precautionary measures when sailing in the region and it has urged the littoral states to increase patrols and enforcement in their respective waters. he Master of the 'El Matador' reported the sighting of three perpetrators in the engine room. Then, the alarm was raised and four perpetrators were seen escaping from the vessel. As the Master was not sure if all the perpetrators had left the vessel, he diverted the bulk carrier to the Batam Anchorage for boarding and inspection by the Indonesian Navy. A security search was conducted on board the vessel by the Indonesian Navy, with no further sighting of the perpetrators. The crew were safe, nothing was stolen and the vessel resumed its voyage.