Marines Thwart Biggest Bunker Robbery in Singapore
By Aiswarya Lakshmi
Friday, October 16, 2015
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Johor Baru thwarted the biggest robbery attempt so far this year on marine fuel oil (MFO).
MMEA director-general Admiral (Maritime) Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar said in a Twitter message that the robbers went on board the MT Almi Spirit at 7am and that MMEA boats had intercepted the vessel.
“ALMI SPIRIT was boarded by six robbers in the Straits of Singapore at 7am. It (the vessel) has been intercepted by KM Rawa and a speedboat in Tanjung Pelepas, Johor,” he said in the message.
The MT Almi Spirit was reported to be carrying 90,000 metric tonnes (mt) of marine fuel oil, worth about $23 million. "If the robbery had been successful, it would have been the biggest haul so far this year," stated Aminuddin Abdul Rashid, chief Captain of MMEA's Johor Baru District.
The 2007-built, Liberia-flagged Almi Spirit was carrying 26 crew members.
Following the incident, Aminuddin says that MT Almi Spirit was then escorted by the Aerial Control Centre (ACC) into Malaysian waters, where two ships led the vessel to Tanjung Piai.