Robbery - Tangkil Island Anchorage, Indonesia

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Incident Details

Incident Date & Time:

22 December 2025, 21:08 UTC

Location:

Tangkil Island Anchorage, Indonesia

Latitude/Longitude: 

5° 31' 2.00" S, 105° 17' 3.00" E

Vessel Type, Name, Flag, IMO and Status:

Anchored

Incident Type:

Robbery

Crew status

No injuries reported

Incident Details

Description

During routine rounds, duty crew spotted ropes with hooks attached to the poop deck railings and immediately informed the bridge. The alarm was raised and crew mustered. Four robbers armed with knives were observed escaping with stolen engine spares. The incident was reported to port authorities through the local agent.

Key findings

This incident demonstrates a well-executed boarding operation using grappling hooks and ropes to access the vessel's poop deck, suggesting the attackers had maritime knowledge and proper equipment for ship boarding. The timing during routine crew rounds indicates either coincidental discovery or possible surveillance of crew patterns. The attackers' immediate escape upon detection shows they prioritized speed over confrontation, typical of opportunistic theft rather than organized piracy. The specific targeting of engine spares suggests familiarity with valuable ship components and established markets for such items.

Recommendations

- Implement random timing for crew rounds and vary patrol routes to prevent predictable patterns.
- Install anti-boarding measures such as razor wire on lower deck railings and improve lighting around vulnerable access points.
- Establish immediate communication protocols with port authorities and maintain direct contact numbers rather than relying solely on agents.

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