Another pirate attack thwarted
On the night of December 28, pirates attacked the Bahamas-registered product Tanker Gulf Coral as it steamed through Phillip Channel, Straights of Malacca and Singapore.
According to the incident report, Gulf Coral was approached under cover of darkness by approximately a half dozen small (less than 30’) unlit vessels. One after another, the vessels approached Gulf Coral‘s bow and tried to board. Gulf Coral sounded her security alarm and general alarm, and the crew mustered on the bridge and commenced anti-piracy measures. The master initiated evasive maneuvers while the crew lit the forward-facing deck lights, searchlights and an Aldis lamp. The crew had already taken the precaution of rigging fire hoses, the blast from which was directed at the pirates.
After 30 minutes of failing to board the tanked, the pirates aborted the attack and Gulf Coral continued their journey proceeding with extreme caution.
In 2009, there were a total of six pirate-related incidents occurring in the Phillip Channel. Of these, four were considered to be Category 2 (moderately significant) incidents. The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) advises ship masters to be alert and take precautionary measures when transiting the Philip Channel, especially during hours of darkness. The ReCAAP Information Sharing Center encourages ship masters, ship owners and ship operators to remain vigilant and to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery immediately after an actual or attempted attack to the nearest RCC, coastal or port State authorities, as appropriate.
Maritime Safety
The maritime industry has always been considered a high-risk occupation. The recent increase in piracy has only added to the problem. Maritime lawyers have led the fight in bringing this matter to the public’s attention and have been instrumental in forcing employers to take additional measures to protect maritime workers and seamen from the dangers of piracy.
As maritime lawyers, we applaud the vigilance of the Gulf Coral and the precautionary measures it took to ensure the safety of its crew.
If you have any questions regarding a maritime incident or have suffered a maritime injury, contact a maritime attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.
