A Japanese-owned capesize bulker has been targeted by elements of the Abu Sayyaf Group while sailing off the Philippines.

The attempt against the 179,192-dwt Kumiai Shagang (built 2011) took place on Sunday while it was sailing between the islands of Sabah and Languyan. However, few details of the incident were made public.

Details of the incidents come in an alert by the Singapore-based Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre.

However,