Japanese cargo ship attacked in Sulu Sea

From the Mindanao Examiner (Nov 22): Japanese cargo ship attacked in Sulu Sea

Suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels or pirates had attacked a Japanese cargo ship in the Sulu Sea near Tawi-Tawi province in southern Philippines, reports said on Tuesday.

The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia or ReCAAP reported that the bulk carrier Kumiai Shagang thwarted the November 20 attack and continued its voyage from Port Hedland in Australia to Qingdao in China.

The Sulu Sea in the southwestern area of the Philippines is separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan and from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago.

“The Japanese bulk carrier Kumiai Shagang was attacked by pirates or militants on November 20 in Sulu Sea, north of Tawi-Tawi Island, Philippines. The bulk carrier thwarted attack by anti- pirates maneuvering, vessel continued voyage from Port Hedland, Australia to Qingdao, China,” the ReCAAP report said.

The cargo ship is owned by Southern Pacific Holding and managed by Kumiai Senpaku.

According to ReCAAP, the regional piracy watchdog, the crew on the ship took anti-piracy measures and successfully prevented boarding by the perpetrators.

It said since March this year, there have been 11 incidents in the area and most of these were claimed by the Abu Sayyaf.

At least 44 crewmen have been abducted this year off Sabah in Malaysia and the Abu Sayyaf is still holding over a dozen kidnapped Malaysian, Indonesian and Vietnamese sailors, including a German boater Jurgen Kantner.

There was no immediate statement from the military’s Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines.

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