Small tanker crewmen told to beef up anti-piracy security in South China Sea

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 26): Small tanker crewmen told to beef up anti-piracy security in South China Sea

In wake of a series of pirate attacks and hijackings in the South China Sea, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) urged crewmen of small tankers to maintain strict anti-piracy measures in the region.

An estimated 430,000 Filipinos seafarers are serving in the 1.2 million strong crewmen serving the international merchant marine fleet.

The IMB has recorded six cases of coastal tankers that were hijacked for their cargoes of diesel or gas oil since April, a departure from the usual pattern of petty thefts reported to its piracy reporting center (PRC).

It added that the new trend is for armed pirates to seize a small tanker, siphon off its cargo, and then release the hijacked vessel.

Navigational equipment has been destroyed in some cases, but there have been no attacks on crew. These incidents have occurred primarily in the South China Sea waters off Bintan and Bintulu islands.

As well as maintaining strict anti-piracy measures, the IMB advises vessels to report all attacks and suspicious sightings to its PRC.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=657362