Piracy reporting bodies have said three attempted robberies involving a bulker and a general cargoship off Indonesia have failed.
The 93,000-dwt bulker Elvia (built 2010), operated by H Dauelsberg of Germany, was boarded by 10 people while underway in the eastbound lane of the traffic separation scheme in the Singapore Strait on Thursday.
The raiders had bladed weapons, according to security consultancy Ambrey.
The Singapore Navy is reported to have acted swiftly when the vessel entered its waters, prompting the perpetrators to depart.
A search of the vessel was conducted and no items were reported missing.
The bulker had last called in Singapore and was en route to Lianyungang in China.
On Friday, the 33,500-dwt general cargoship Vantage Wave (built 2011) was boarded by three robbers while underway in the eastbound lane.
Nothing taken
A search of the vessel was later conducted and no items were reported missing.
The cargoship had also called in Singapore and was heading for Caofeidian, China.
The Vantage Wave is operated by Vantage Shipping of Greece.
The attempts on the Elvira and Vantage Wave followed an attempt on Ark Marine's 46,600-dwt bulker Ark Royal (built 2000) on Monday in the same vicinity.
The vessels master reported the sighting of five unauthorised persons in the engine room, but after the alarm was raised and the vessel searched there were no further sightings of the perpetrators and nothing appeared to have been taken.
On Thursday, TradeWinds reported how judges in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia argue that the threat of corporal punishment remains one of the strongest deterrents against committing serious criminal acts.
And it may have worked.
According to ReCAAP data, no vessels have been hijacked in the South China Sea since 2017, when the 2,000-dwt product tanker MGT 1 (built 1991) was seized, although robberies continue.
