Asia/Pacific News
MMEA Thwart Attempted 90,000 MT Bunker Robbery in Singapore Straits
Aminuddin Abdul Rashid, chief Captain of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's (MMEA's) Johor Baru District Thursday said that the maritime police stopped what could have been the largest bunker robbery of the year on Thursday, local media reports.
The MT Almi Spirit was reported to be carrying 90,000 metric tonnes (mt) of marine fuel oil, worth about $23 million, when it was attacked at about 6:10 am Thursday morning in the Singapore Straits.
"If the robbery had been successful, it would have been the biggest haul so far this year," stated Aminuddin.
It is alleged that six armed robbers boarded the 2007-built tanker, which had a crew of 26 on board at the time of the attempted robbery.
"Two of them entered the master engine room but luckily the chief engineer noticed them and sounded the alarm," said Aminuddin, adding that the suspects fled the scene upon hearing the alarm.
"At the time, the ship was located in Indonesian waters near Karimun Island. Our patrol ship KM Rawa was about eight nautical miles from the vessel."
Following the incident, Aminuddin says that MT Almi Spirit was then escorted by the Aerial Control Centre (ACC) into Malaysian waters, where two ships led the vessel to Tanjung Piai.
Ship & Bunker notes that a separate report has suggested there was only 500 mt of MFO onboard at the time of the attack, an amount said to have been confirmed by Lieutenant Sufin of the MMEA.
However AIS data suggests the 105,571 DWT tanker was fully laden at the time of the incident.
Data from VesselsValue.com shows the vessel is owned by Greece-based Almi Tankers S.A.,
In September, the Indonesian Navy announced it had arrested the alleged mastermind of the MT Orkim Harmony hijacking, Albert Yohanes, in West Jakarta.
