Unauthorized Boarding Incident on Chemical Tanker in Singapore Strait

The 49,875 deadweight tonnage chemical tanker Basset, owned by Grace Ocean, was the target of an unauthorized boarding incident in the Singapore Strait around 7 a.m. local time on Friday. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported that one crew member sustained injuries during the event.

Following the incident, the Basset was anchored in Singapore waters, where the Singapore Police Coast Guard and the Singapore Civil Defence Force were deployed to provide assistance. Medical evacuation for the injured crew member is currently in progress, although the MPA has not disclosed the extent of the injuries.

The incident occurred outside Singapore’s territorial waters, but the specific location in the busy waterway remains unclear. This event comes amid rising concerns over maritime security, as the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre reported a series of sea robbery incidents in the eastern lane of the Singapore Strait earlier this year. Between January 1 and February 3, there were 11 reported incidents, with six occurring in a single week.

While armed robberies at sea have seen perpetrators armed with guns or knives, violent attacks and injuries to crew members remain uncommon. In December, a crew member aboard the tanker Proteus Harvonne suffered serious injuries following a confrontation with an intruder.

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