According to an article published in the Jakarta Times, pirates attacked a South Korean-flagged cargo ship in the South China Sea.
What happened?
On July 22, pirates took off with thousands of dollars in cash and even the sailors’ shoes, South Korean authorities said.
The incident took place near the Singapore Strait, a busy sea lane that runs past Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the Yonhap news agency reported.
The dry bulk vessel CK Bluebell set sail from its anchorage off Singapore late on Saturday afternoon, heading northeast for South Korea’s Incheon port, according to Refinitiv Eikon ship tracking data.
Cash and shoes were stolen
Two people sustained minor injuries when seven pirates boarded the CK Bluebell and made off with $13,000 and belongings including mobile phones, clothes, and shoes from the 22-strong crew, officials from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said.
Singapore police, who manage the island nation’s coastguard, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore did not comment immediately on the incident. Korean officials said the ship was sailing normally after the robbery.
New security recommendations
In July, China’s Ministry of Transport raised its security recommendation for Chinese vessels in the nearby Malacca Strait, between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
A Chinese official declined to specify the reason for the new security level, saying only that the decision was the result of comprehensive research taking all factors into account.
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: TheJakartaPost
