IFC - Information Fusion Centre - MARSEC Weekly Report
- ASKET Operations Team
- Oct 8, 2020
- 2 min read

1. Highlights:
- PIRACY/ROBBERY/MARITIM TERRORISM
One sea theft on a Singapore flagged Bulk Carrier "PACIFIC AURORA" while anchored at Kakinada, India;
Total events in 2020 : 85 incidents since the beginning of the year in IFC area of responsibility (compared to 66 at the same date in 2019).
Areas of interest:
Singapore Strait (and in vicinity): 21 incidents in 2017, 20 in 2018, 45 in 2019, 26 in 2020;
Sulu Sea: No successful kidnapping of merchant vessels in this area since the attack on SUPER SHUTTLE TUG 1 in March 2017, but the latest maritime event was on a fishing vessel in January 2020. It is more likely that small craft, fishing vessels and local merchant vessels operating near the Sulu archipelago, from the southern area of the Sulu Sea off Sabah to Zamboanga, will be primarily targeted considering the current destabilization of ASG groups by the Philippine army. However, any transit of a vessel with low freeboard and / or low speed in this area is still dangerous, especially for ships like pleasure crafts or yachts, the risk remaining high according to the Philippines CG;
Following anchorage areas:
Bangladesh: Chittagong;
India: Kakinada, Alang;
Indonesia: Anyer, Batam, Begawan, Belawan, Dumai, Merak, Muara Berau, Panjang, Sandakan, Samarinda, Taboneo and Tanjung Uban;
Philippines: Manila, Bauan/Batangas, General Santos Harbour ;
Vietnam: Campha, Ho Chi Minh, Vung Tau.
- CONTRABAND
Oct 1: Malaysian authorities' foiled attempt to smuggle cigarettes (6.46 million sticks) at North Port of Port Klang;
Oct 2: Indian Police foiled an attempt to smuggle 170 kilos of Ganja to Sri Lanka via sea route and arrested three persons at Velivayal fishing hamlet near Sethubavachthira.
- MARITIME INCIDENTS
Oct 2 : A fishing vessel was completely destroyed after a fire broke out due to a gas explosion inside the vessel at Tharuvaikulam Fishing Harbour;
Oct 2: A dredger sailing at full speed struck anchored tanker with moored alongside supply vessel, in Melaka Anchorage, Malaysia, Malacca Strait;
Oct 5: A fishing vessel carrying 12 passengers has lost contact off Southern Bali, Indonesia;
Oct 6: A cargo ship sunk off Danang, Vietnam, leaving six crew missing.
Comments