S’pore navy helps foil sea robbery

SINGAPORE — The Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) successfully deployed a Fearless-class patrol vessel, the RSS Resilience, to disrupt a sea robbery on a Malaysian-flagged tugboat, the Permata 1, earlier today (Sept 1). 

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s Port Operations Control Centre had received a report from Permata 1 that robbers had been sighted boarding their barge while transiting the eastern approaches of the Singapore Strait at 9.07am.

The RSN’s MSTF immediately deployed the RSS Resilience, which arrived at the vicinity at 9.21am. Upon sighting the warship, the robbers fled towards Indonesian waters.

Through the description given by RSN’s Information Fusion Centre (IFC) — which shared information on the incident and perpetrators with GUSKAMLABAR, the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) Western Fleet Sea Security Group, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency — the TNI AL successfully apprehended the three robbers and recovered the stolen cargo.

The RSS Resilience accompanied Permata 1 safely to Singapore waters where the Police Coast Guard boarded the tugboat for investigation. All crew on board the tugboat are safe and unharmed.

Speaking about the incident, Rear-Admiral Frederick Chew, commander of the MSTF, said: “I am heartened to see the good cooperation between Singaporean, Indonesian and Malaysian enforcement agencies in disrupting the sea robbery attempt on Permata 1. In particular, the close cooperation between the RSN and TNI AL is a reflection of the strong ties between our navies. We need to continue working closely together to keep up the pressure on sea robbers and to bring sea robbery incidents down.”