News

On April 20, 2025, at around 5 a.m., the 'MSC Tara III', was boarded by three perpetrators who were spotted when the ship was underway approximately 5.4 nautical miles off Pulau Cula, in pos. 1° 3.2' N 107° 37.13' E, in the eastbound traffic separation lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme of the Singapore Strait. The master raised a general alarm and mustered the crew, after the three individuals were seen on the upper deck of the vessel. They reported that the perpetrators appeared to be carrying gun-like objects. The crew was safe, and nothing was reported stolen.

The 'SITC Yun 'Cheng', while underway in the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait, was boarded by three perpetrators, armed with knives, on April 3, 2025, at 3.40 a.m., about 4.4 nautical miles off Batu Berhanti Racon B, in pos. 1° 9.93' N 103° 48.72' E. The intruders stole ashing gears. No injuries were reported.

On April 21, 2025, the crew of the 'Aquaris' spotted three perpetratos on board, when the tanker was about 2.5 nautical miles off Pulau Cula in the eastbound lane of the of the Traffic Separation Scheme of the Singapore Strait in pos. 01° 4.93' E 103° 42.34' E. The intruders, armed with knives, were spotted while entering the engine control room. The crew was not injured, and nothing was reported stolen.

The 'Silver Star', while underway in the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait, was boarded by five perpetrators on April 6, 2025, at 11.50 p.m., about 2.3 nautical miles off Pulau Cula in pos. 1° 4.76' N 103° 42.9' E. Nothing was reported stolen, and no injuries were reported.

The captain of the 'Hong Tai 58' has been charged with severing an undersea telecommunications cable off the coast of Taiwan, near the Taiwanese archipelago of Penghu, last February, by the Taiwanese prosecutors. Captain Wang, has been detained in Taiwan since the incident, which occurred in the strategic and sensitive waters between Taiwan and China. The ship had eight Chinese nationals on board and was financed by China, the Coast Guard said. The vessel, which was spotted about 11 kilometres northwest of the Jiangjun fishing port, was intercepted by the Coast Guard after the cable linking Penghu to Taiwan was severed. Mr. Wang was accused of "destroying submarine cable-related facilities. The captain instructed the crew to drop anchor (...) with the intention of destroying the submarine cable. He also steered the vessel in a zigzag pattern over the cable by using the cargo ship's anchor to cut the cable, which damaged the submarine cable and affected communications between Taiwan and Penghu, according to the prosecutors. Mr. Wang faces a maximum prison sentence of seven years. Taiwan is connected by 14 international submarine cables and 10 domestic cables, which are of great strategic importance for ensuring telecommunications.