Republic of Singapore Navy Successfully Disrupts Sea Robbery

The RSS Resilience (foreground) escorting Permata 1 (centre) to Singapore waters following the successful disruption of the sea robbery.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) successfully deployed a Fearless-class patrol vessel to disrupt a sea robbery on a Malaysian-flagged tugboat Permata 1 in the eastern approaches of the Singapore Strait today. Through close collaboration with the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), the robbers were apprehended and the RSS Resilience escorted Permata 1 safely to Singapore waters. All crew on board the tugboat are safe and unharmed.

At 9.07am on 1 September 2015, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's Port Operations Control Centre received a report from Permata 1 that robbers had been sighted boarding their barge while transiting the eastern approaches of the Singapore Strait. 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.

The RSN's Information Fusion Centre (IFC) shared information on the incident and perpetrators with GUSKAMLABAR, the TNI AL Western Fleet Sea Security Group, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, which deployed assets to assist in searching for the robbers. Through the description shared by IFC, 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. 

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."

The robbers (circled) fleeing as the RSS Resilience approached Permata 1.