Abduction of Crew Incident by Abu Sayyaf Group

Posted to Hellenic Shipping News (Dec 10): Abduction of Crew Incident by Abu Sayyaf Group

ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre today issued the following Incident Alert on an abduction of crew incident by men believed to be from the Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group. The full Incident Alert is on the ReCAAP ISC website.

Incident Alert : 02/2018

Name and Type of Ship : Name and type of boat not known

Date/Time of incident : 5 Dec 18 at about 0001 hrs (Local Time)

Location of Last Known Position : 5° 38.37’ N 118° 57.44’ E

Area Description : Vicinity waters of Tambisan, Lahad Datu, Sabah

The ReCAAP ISC received report from ReCAAP Focal Point (Philippines) about an abduction incident occurred on a boat (name and type not known) on 5 Dec 18. At about 0001 hrs on 5 Dec 18, about 20 men believed to be from the Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), armed with firearms, boarded the boat from speed boats painted green with grey, and powered with double engine.

It was reported that the group abducted three crew (one Malaysian and two Indonesians) and arrived at Laminusa Island, Siasi Municipality, Sulu Province on 6 Dec 18, before proceeding to So Dumlog, Brgy Likud, Pata, Sulu Province on 7 Dec 18. The Joint Task Force Sulu is exerting an all-out effort to establish the status, condition and location of the alleged kidnapped victims.

Reported by:

ReCAAP Focal Point (Philippines)

Comments:

This is the second actual abduction incident reported in 2018. The first actual incident occurred on board fishing trawler, Sri Dewi 1 on 11 Sep 18 where two crew were abducted in Semporna waters, off Sabah. Of the two abducted crew, one of them was rescued by the Philippine authorities on 5 Dec 18.

As the threat of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off eastern Sabah remains, ReCAAP ISC maintains its advisory issued via the ReCAAP ISC Incident Alert dated 21 November 2016 to all ships to reroute from the area, where possible. Otherwise, ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the Sulu-Celebes Seas and eastern Sabah region, and report immediately to the Centres listed in the Incident Alert.
Source: ReCAAP
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/abduction-of-crew-incident-by-abu-sayyaf-group/