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Captain warns of pirates around major world ports

MUZAFFAR QURESHI

KARACHI: A Pakistani captain of a Malaysian oil tanker has warned cargo ships of piracy and armed robberies in the ports of Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, African countries and the US coast.

Captain Intizar Mehdi, master of M.T. Bunga Melati Dua, in a fax to Business Recorder from the high seas said that ships calling at Indonesian ports of Samarinda, Jakarta, Tanjong, Priok and Merak had reported numerous pirate attacks while berthed and anchored. Attacks have also been reported at Chittagong, Mongla, Kandla, Tuticorin while at anchor.

Captain Intizar, who has won international recognition for saving Indonesian crew from a sinking ship and for his role in an international educational film on tankers clean-up operations, has advised the ships visiting these ports to take extra precautions and maintain anti-piracy watch.

He has narrated several acts of piracy against cargo ships in international ports which are as follows:

On March 5, 2000 at Samarinda Port of Indonesia, pirates broke into forward deck store and stole a large quantity of goods.

On March 2, 2000 at the port of Newark in USA two intruders armed with guns boarded a bulk carrier and broke into Chief Mate's cabin. They threatened to kill him and stole personal belongings and cash. They also tried to open the master's and chief engineer's cabins, but failed.

On the same day at Tanjong Priok anchorage in Indonesia, pirates in two motor boats using boat hooks tried to board a bulk carrier on two occasions. They fled when the duty watchman fired a shot in the air.

On February 24, 2000, at western anchorage No.2 in Hong Kong while awaiting cargo handling a container vessel was boarded by intruders. Ten containers on deck were forced open. No injuries to the crew were reported.

On the same day a bulk carrier was followed on high seas by a suspicious high speed gun boat craft with a speed of about 25 knots. The bulk carrier switched on all deck lights and crew mustered at the stern with torches and sticks. The craft turned around and abandoned the chase.

On the same day while a bulk carrier was unloading rice in the port of Matadi, Congo, about 100/120 intruders boarded the vessel by pushing the local watchmen and started to take away anything lying loose on the deck. Most intruders tried to get the rice from holds alarm was raised and the crew managed to evict the intruders with great difficulty.