Hijacked Singaporean Tug Boat Found In Surigao Del NorteFebruary 26, 2010
http://www.coastguard.gov.ph/News-Feb-10.htm#13The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed today that the Singapore-registered Tug Boat ASTA a.k.a. ROXY 1, which was reported hijacked on February 6, 2010 off Pulau Tioman, Malaysia, was found at Loreto, Surigao del Norte on February 25, 2010 at 7:00 PM.
Reports disclosed that the said tug boat ASTA towing barge CALLISTA departed Singapore for Cambodia on February 5, 2010. On February 6, 2010 at 1:30 AM, the ship agent reported lost communications with the tug boat at coordinates 02° 59.40’ N, 104° 00.60’ E off Pulau Tioman, Malaysia. The tug boat had reportedly deviated from its planned course and was tracked to be heading Northeasterly in the South China Sea.
There were 12 crew members onboard the said tug boat and no cargo onboard the barge. The ASTA was scheduled to arrive at Cambodia on February 9, 2010. The ship owner suspected that the said tug boat had been hijacked and reported the incident to the Singapore Port Operations Control Center (POCC) who had issued a broadcast to all vessels to report sightings of ASTA and CALLISTA to POCC.
Five sightings of the barge, CALLISTA were subsequently received from passing ships from February 10 to 14, 2010. The said barge was located on February 17, 2010 at 1:30 PM (local time) and recovery was in progress at the time of this report. It was assessed that the tug boat ASTA was heading Northeasterly towards the Philippine Area of Responsibility and has been reportedly renamed ROXY 1.
On February 17, 2010, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) vessel spotted a life raft off the Adraiser Reef and rescued 11 of the 12 crew members who were believed to be the crew of the tug boat ASTA. The lone missing crew is believed to be the Chief Engineer. According to the rescued crew, the barge was boarded by eight (8) unidentified persons clad in dark colored clothes while navigating 3 Nautical Miles off Palau Tioman on February 6, 2010 at 1:15 AM (local time). The pirates armed with rifles and “parangs” (knife) blindfolded the crew and locked them inside the cabins of the Master and Chief Engineer. On February 10, 2010 at 9:00 PM, the crew was set adrift in a life raft.
The Philippine Coast Guard upon receipt of the information from the headquarters of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea (RECAAP) in Singapore immediately alerted all maritime law enforcement agencies and commercial ships in Southern Philippines to be on the lookout for the said tug boat which was reportedly heading to the Philippines.
On February 25, 2010 at 2:20 PM, the PNP Maritime Dapa informed Coast Guard Station Surigao that the alleged pirated tug boat ASTA a.k.a. ROXY 1 of 296 Gross Tonnage/88 Net Tonnage was beached at Brgy Pamanaon, Loreto, Surigao del Norte. Personnel of Coast Guard Station Surigao immediately coordinated with the Philippine Navy vessel PG-389 for assistance.
At 3:00 PM of the same date, personnel from Coast Guard Station Surigao onboard PG-389 departed Surigao City and arrived at Loreto, Dinagat province. At 7:00 PM, the Personnel of Coast Guard Station Surigao together with the Philippine Navy and Philippine National Police personnel conducted joint search on ROXY 1 formerly ASTA. The tug boat was found abandoned with only one (1) caretaker onboard in the person of Jonathan Conor, 19 years old and a resident of Surigao City, presently under custody of PNP Loreto.
Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo has directed Coast Guard Northern Mindanao Commander Commodore Ed Gongona to further investigate the incident after the caretaker divulged the alleged owner of the tug boat. He further instructed Commodore Gongona to coordinate with the PNP to file appropriate charges against the alleged owner of the said tugboat