INFORMATION FUSION CENTRE AFPN 6504 103 Tanah Merah Coast Road, #02-01 Singapore 498750 Tel : +65 9626 8965 (Mobile) +65 6594 5728 (Office) Fax : +65 6594 5734 IFC_DO@defence.gov.sg www.infofusioncentre.gov.sg 18 Sep 14 INFORMATION FUSION CENTRE MARSEC WEEKLY REPORT 9 Sep 16 Sep 14 For the period between 9 and 16 Sep 14, IFC received information* of 10 Illegal Fishing incidents, 4 Smuggling/Contraband/Trafficking incidents, 6 Maritime Incident and 2 Natural Event within the IFC s Area of Interest (AoI) as shown in the diagram below. Figure 1: Location of Incidents * 5 Illegal Fishing, 3 Smuggling, and 1 Maritime Incidents occurred out of the period of 9 to 16 Sep 14. 1
OVERVIEW OF INCIDENTS Illegal Fishing 10 Sep 14 Illegal Fishing / Northern Sea and Talaimannar / Sri Lanka Details: The Navy arrested Fifty-five (55) Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters in the northern seas. The Navy also seized the boats used by the fishermen. 25 Indian fishermen were arrested off Point Pedro while 2 boats were seized and in Thalaimannar 30 fishermen were arrested and 6 boats were seized. 11 Sep 14 Illegal Fishing / Olango Island / Philippines Details: Three (3) fishermen were arrested after Philippines Authorities caught one of them throw a dynamite bottle to the sea in Barangay Panagnaan, Olango Island. Authorities confiscated three paddle boats, two bottles of explosives containing a mixture of ammonium nitrate, three improvised fins, three goggles and two kilograms of alleged dynamite-stained fish. 11 Sep 14 Illegal Fishing / Kuala Trong / Malaysia Details: MMEA have arrested a fishing boat for suspected illegal fishing using prohibited equipment approximately 0.9 nautical miles from Pulau Pasir Hitam, Kuala Trong. MMEA patrol vessel conducted checks and found no crew which believed to have jumped and escaped into the marsh mangrove. 12 Sep 14 Illegal Fishing / Palau tinggi-mersing / Malaysia Details: Twenty-eight (28) crewmembers of two Vietnamese trawlers were detained and their boats seized for illegal fishing off Johor eastern waters. Malaysia Authorities believe they have been fishing in their waters for a week based on the 25 tonnes of fish loaded on the boats. 15 Sep 14 Illegal Fishing / Sipitang- Saban / Malaysia Details: Two (2) local fishermen who are doing trawling activities in the coastal of Sipitang was detained by the MMEA patrol vessel which is patrolling the area. The two boats were detained at approximately two (2) nautical miles from the coast of Sipitang. Further examination found both boats were committing a breach of the fishing license for doing trawling boats less than three (3) nautical miles from the coast, MMEA said. 5 Sep 14 Illegal Fishing / Capiz / Philippines Details: Thirty (30) persons have been arrested for illegal fishing in Capiz. Authorities conducted seaborne operations in coastal areas in the province that resulted in the arrest of 20 from Estancia, Iloilo and 10 from Barangay Libas. 5 Sep 14 Illegal Fishing / Palawan / Philippines Details: Twenty-nine (29) fishermen from Occidental Mindoro were apprehended by the Philippine Coast Guard and the local police in Palawan for illegal fishing activities at the vicinity waters of Agutaya where a Municipal Ordinance bar transient fishermen from fishing at the said area. 6 Sep 14 Illegal Fishing / Taytay- Palawan / Philippines Details: Lumber and equipment believed used in illegal logging and fishing were seized in Palawan province. The Coast Guard said the items were found aboard an abandoned motor boat in Taytay, Palawan, adding the 28 pieces of lumber were worth some P 35,520. 2
8 Sep 14 Illegal Fishing / Malacca Strait / Malaysia Details: A Thai Trawler with three (3) crew members were arrested for suspicion of carrying out the illegal fishing in waters of Langkawi. The fishing boat was arrested by MMEA Patrol Vessel from Langkawi District Maritime 1 at 1.00 a.m when the boat was idly trawling fish about three (3) nautical miles from Tanjung Langgun, Langkawi. 8 Sep 14 Illegal Fishing / Seas off Talaimannar / Sri Lanka Details: Six (6) Indian fishermen found poaching in Sri Lankan waters had been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the seas off Talaimannar. The Indian fishermen and a trawler were taken into custody off the North-Western coast of Talaimannar. Authority said that the fishermen had violated the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and were using illegal methods to catch fish such as bottom-trawling. Smuggling / Trafficking of Contraband 15 Sep 14 Drug Trafficking / Sydney / Australia Details: Two Canadian-Vietnamese dual citizens have been charged with smuggling heroin and methamphetamine worth A$75 million (S$85 million) hidden in a consignment of frozen fish fillets shipped from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney. The men, aged 57 and 55, appeared in a Sydney court on Friday on multiple charges related to the shipment of 88kg of heroin and 21kg of methamphetamine, a joint statement by five law enforcement and border protection agencies said. The 57-year-old was identified as a suspected drug smuggler when he arrived in Sydney early this month, the statement said. He was linked to a shipping container packed with 1.7 metric tons of frozen fish that was intercepted on the Sydney waterfront last week, the statement said. 4 Sep 14 Smuggling / waters off Tanjung / Malaysia Details: A fishing vessel laden with 11,000 litres of subsidised diesel was intercepted by the MMEA Sarawak at about 11 nautical miles off Tanjung Po. The diesel, worth RM13,200, was found inside a modified compartment that was originally meant for storing fish. Three Indonesians manning the boat were detained during the routine patrol check. 5 Sep 14 Drug Trafficking / Mannar / Sri Lanka Details: Navy recovered 19 kilograms of cannabis (Kerala Ganja) which had been dumped by cross-border narcotic smugglers in the seas south of Mannar. 8 Sep 14 Smuggling / Port Klang / Malaysia Details: The MMEA District Maritime of Klang (DM4) has foiled an attempt to bring in some kind of drugs and cosmetic products that are not registered by using barter trade boats at Asia Niaga Pier near Port Klang. The boat registered in Tanjung Balai has a master and 12 crew member. Ship supposed to carry cargo of onions, ginger and dried shrimp which is arranged on the top but after unloading the top, search team found the reliable packaging of medicines and cosmetic products made in Indonesia which are not registered with the Ministry of Health Malaysia and pharmacy. Goods were confiscated and taken to the DM4 for further investigation. 3
12 Sep 14 Vessel burned / Phuket / Thailand Details: 25-meter long diving vessel burned out in Phuket s Chalong Harbour during the night Sep 12. Vessel berthed in the marina caught fire at around 0200 LT, which soon put the whole vessel ablaze. Diving vessel was towed by the police out of marina and sank some 700 meters from the shore 12 Sep 14 Minor Collision / Singapore Strait / Singapore Details: The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore informed that there is a minor collision incident (bow to bow collision) involving two bulk carriers at 121110H Sep. No reported pollution and injury. No assistance required. Both ships were last reported in Keppel Harbour. 13 Sep 14 Ferry mishap / Waters off the central Philippines / Philippines Details: At least twenty-nine (29) people are missing after a ferry lost control of its steering and was hit by huge waves in waters off the central Philippines, the Government s civil defence office said. The ferry, carrying at least 84 people, lost control and was carried away by the current and waves, forcing those on board to abandon ship off the central island of Leyte. 9 Sep 14 Earthquake / Sulawesi Island / Indonesia Details: A strong earthquake hit off the coast of eastern Indonesia's Sulawesi island, causing panic among residents, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. Authorities said there was no threat of a tsunami. The magnitude-6.5 quake struck at a depth of 22.5 kilometers (13 miles) and was centered about 122 Maritime Incidents Natural Events 14 Sep 14 Super Shuttle Ferry sinks / off Manila Bay / Philippines Details: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescued all 15 crewmembers of a Ferry after big waves caused by the typhoon Luis battered the vessel at around 7 p.m., after the ship had been seeking shelter in the port of Manila. The ferry capsized and sank outside the breakwater, leaving only parts of the starboard side visible above water. 14 Sep 14 Boat sinks / Sula Island / Indonesia Details: As many as 14 people have died while 12 others remain missing after their boat sank in Sula Islands regency, North Maluku waters due to bad weather. The North Maluku National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPD) reported that the boat loaded with 35 passengers sank after it was hit by a 2-3 meter wave at about 8:30 a.m. 4 Sep 14 Rescue of Indonesia Seafarers / Java Sea / Indonesia Details: Seven (7) Indonesian seafarers were rescued by Norwegian flagged vessel. The Indonesian crew had spent more than 10 hours in the Java Sea after their ship had sunk the night before. kilometers (76 miles) southeast of Mondayang, a town in northern Sulawesi, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. 14-16 Sep 14 Tropical Storm Kalmaegi / South China Sea / China Details: A tropical storm accompanied by strong winds and rough seas swept through the South China Sea from 14 to 16 Sep 14. 4
IFC Advises: Recommendations 1. All mariners to report any incidents timely to the nearest coastal state and IFC at the earliest possible time. 2. Ships moving at slow speed or choosing to remain at anchor in areas where sea robbery/theft is regularly reported to be vigilant and to adopt necessary security measures. 3. All mariners to take note on the description of the perpetrators and to take photos of the perpetrators if possible. Note: Shippers should remain vigilant especially in areas where the threat level is assessed to be above one in accordance with the IFC Spot Commentary 1/14 and IFC quarterly assessment report. Ships should apply the appropriate security measures (such as BMP4 or Tugs and Barge Guide). Ship masters should also be aware and refer to the Maritime Security Charts Q6112 and Q6113, both published by the UK Hydrographic Office. CONTACT In case of any doubt, incident at sea, suspicious approach or unusual observed activity at sea, please contact IFC: IFC Duty Officer : Email : Tel : IFC_DO@defence.gov.sg or ifc_do@infofusioncentre.gov.sg +65 9626 8965 (Mobile) +65 6594 5728 (Office) Fax : +65 6594 5734 The IFC seeks your observations in the course of your normal business. The IFC would like to remind mariners to be mindful of national and international laws, company and other policy requirements and also health and safety obligations, whilst recording these observations. The reporting of such events to IFC does not absolve you of your obligations towards coastal/ port/ flag authorities. 5