The 55,657-dwt Bulk Neptune (built 2009) was reportedly targeted by at least three robbers in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
TradeWinds first reported news of the attack on Tuesday quoting a report by the the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
The pirates were discovered aboard the Doun Kisen-owned ship by the crewmembers who were conducting a security deck patrol.
The crew reported the presence of the men to the duty officer, and approached the men to inquire what they were doing at the forecastle.
One of the men armed with a knife, kicked and punched one of the crewmen who sustained minor injuries on his back, lips and knees.
The robbers also took a wrist watch from one of the crewmen. The general alarm was raised and crew mustered on the bridge.
Subsequent checks by the crew revealed that the three men broke the padlock from the anchor hawse pipe cover to board the bulk carrier.
The ship master reported that prior to arrival at Samarinda, the ship’s security level was raised and the security watch was conducted in accordance with the ship’s security plan.
Details of the incident were disclosed by the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre.
“There has been an increase in the number of incidents off East Kalimantan since January 2012 with five incidents reported there so far,” ReCAAP said.
The other ships attacked in the area comprise the 81,365-dwt Aphrodite L (built 2011), the 70,252-dwt Intrans Tina (built 1996), the 53,621-dwt Greta (built 2007) and the 58,729-dwt Miletus (built 2009).
