Neither bad nor good but potential to be dangerous
It is a good day for voyage after getting stuck at XiaMen China for exactly 30 days due to client's problem. My vessel Salvigilant towing a semi-submersible barge Posh Giant 1 loaded with 3 STS cranes heading to Pipavav, India.
As soon we passing the Singapore, few skiff will came as usual to sell some smuggle stuffs. We ignore or reject all the way when enter Singapore West bound.
When passing North Nipa light buoy, a skiff came towards my vessel, aid to sell stuffs. My captain who smokes at the port bridge wing lure them away as usual. After few times they attempt for, they just leave our vessel, while my captain came in back to bridge for coffee.
At that moment I feel a strange sense about the skiff, so I goes to bridge aft console there to have a peek on them.
The skiff didn't went back to where they from but heading straight towards our tow! I quickly told captain and get order by captain to hand steering alter course towards to Rasu buoy. As soon captain identify them attempted to board our tow, he sound the general alarm and announced P.A. to alert deck crew to lock down all entrances. We also informed VTIS West for the emergency and also blown ship's whistle continuously to get attention of other vessel in the area.
The skiff notice the actions that we made, they quickly away from barge side and heading to aft of the barge.
Soon after they saw the coast guard fast craft approaching, the heading back to North Nipa Cardinal Buoy and standby there. Smart enough as the Singapore Coast Guard cann't crossover into Indonesia water. Moment later 2 destroyer class Singapore warship came to region to monitoring the perpetrators, while the coast guard escort our vessel and tow until we enter VTIS East region.
We submit all info to coast guard and continue voyage to the destination.
During the voyage, we also deploy work craft to onboard the barge for checking. Luckily no gears on barge gone missing, but the emergency tow wire pick-up buoy (Norwegian buoy) missing.
Voyage after the incident can said so smooth as no similar situation happened again. Although the fishing boat quite annoying and the weather not so favorable.
As soon we passing the Singapore, few skiff will came as usual to sell some smuggle stuffs. We ignore or reject all the way when enter Singapore West bound.
When passing North Nipa light buoy, a skiff came towards my vessel, aid to sell stuffs. My captain who smokes at the port bridge wing lure them away as usual. After few times they attempt for, they just leave our vessel, while my captain came in back to bridge for coffee.
At that moment I feel a strange sense about the skiff, so I goes to bridge aft console there to have a peek on them.
The skiff didn't went back to where they from but heading straight towards our tow! I quickly told captain and get order by captain to hand steering alter course towards to Rasu buoy. As soon captain identify them attempted to board our tow, he sound the general alarm and announced P.A. to alert deck crew to lock down all entrances. We also informed VTIS West for the emergency and also blown ship's whistle continuously to get attention of other vessel in the area.
The skiff notice the actions that we made, they quickly away from barge side and heading to aft of the barge.
Soon after they saw the coast guard fast craft approaching, the heading back to North Nipa Cardinal Buoy and standby there. Smart enough as the Singapore Coast Guard cann't crossover into Indonesia water. Moment later 2 destroyer class Singapore warship came to region to monitoring the perpetrators, while the coast guard escort our vessel and tow until we enter VTIS East region.
We submit all info to coast guard and continue voyage to the destination.
During the voyage, we also deploy work craft to onboard the barge for checking. Luckily no gears on barge gone missing, but the emergency tow wire pick-up buoy (Norwegian buoy) missing.
Voyage after the incident can said so smooth as no similar situation happened again. Although the fishing boat quite annoying and the weather not so favorable.
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