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Piracy situation risk assessment, July 2013, Issue 15
Highlights of the past month:
There was one hijack near Somalia in Gulf of Aden. Luckily the pirates abandoned the
dhow and the crew was released. Within the Indian Ocean and Red Sea there were four
more incidents or suspicious activities reported.
In June there has been five piracy/armed robbery related incidents reported in Nigerian
waters, one hijack near Togo that was later released and an armed robbery near Guinea.
Remarkable is one incident in Lagos anchorage where pirates were in long firefight with
naval security team without fear being caught by the reinforcements. Also the Guinea
attack merged out of ordinary as this area has not seen attacks more than half a year now.
There have been 13 robberies reported near Indonesia and Malaysia. Firearms have been
displayed in some cases and in one case the crew was beaten up and harmed with knifes.
Latest incidents:
NIGERIA: 03.06.2013: 1415 LT: Posn:
04:42.0N – 008:19.8E, Calabar River, Nigeria.
Ten armed robbers in two speed boats
approached and fired upon a chemical tanker
underway with pilot on board. Master raised
alarm, mustered all crew and report to the
Nigerian Authority. The armed robbers aborted
the attack and moved away when the Nigerian
Marine Police arrived at the location. All crew
safe but tanker sustained minor damage due to
the firing.
NIGERIA: On 3 June, a chemical tanker was fired upon at 06:16 N – 003:20 E, at the Lagos
Anchorage. While at anchor, an unknown number of robbers attempted to board the vessel through
the hawse pipe, via chain locker, and exchanged gunshots with the Nigerian naval personnel
onboard. The general alarm was activated and the crew mustered at the designated muster station.
The robbers' boat eventually left after 20 minutes. There was no injury to the crew or items stolen.
2/4
NIGERIA: 04.06.2013: 2300 UTC: Posn:
04:14.9N - 007:45.7E, Usari Field, Nigeria.
Pirates boarded an offshore supply ship
underway, on standby duties. Seeing the pirates
the crew raised the alarm, retreated into the
citadel, alerted other vessels and shore based
office by VHF and waited until the pirates had
left. On investigation it was found that vessel's
and crew belongings were stolen. All crew safe.
On the same day, another underway offshore
supply ship was attacked in the vicinity of 04:14
N – 007:45 E, at the Usari Field. No further
reporting at this time.
GULF OF ADEN: 05.06.2013: 0530 UTC:
Posn: 11:36N - 049:15E, Around 20nm North of
Bosasso, Gulf of Aden. A dhow was reported
hijacked and 14 crew members taken hostage.
Later the pirates left the dhow for unknown
reasons and released the dhow. The crew and
dhow were reported to be safe.
INDIAN OCEAN: On 5 June, an underway oil tanker experienced a suspicious approach at 17:12
N – 066:47 E, approximately 291 nm southwest of Mumbai, India. A boat approached the vessel
closing to 1.5 nm. TAIZAN attempted to increase speed, but only up to 13.8 kts due to prevailing
swells. Master ordered two parachute flares fired against the boat, then an additional four parachute
flares as the boat continued to approach. Finally the boat gave up further approach.
TOGO: On 13 June, the anchored France-flagged chemical tanker was hijacked at 05:41 N –
001:18 E, approximately 30 nm south of Lome. An unknown number of pirates boarded and
hijacked the ship. Fourteen of the 15 crew members were released, one crew member was taken
hostage, to ensure the pirates safe passage back to Nigeria and to potentially ransom for money. On
17 June, the vessel was released and the captive crew member was rescued unharmed, by local
authorities.
NIGERIA: On 13 June, the underway Singapore-flagged offshore supply vessel was boarded and
personnel kidnapped at 04:02 N – 008:02 E, approximately 7 nm southwest of the OFON Oil Field.
Two fiberglass speed- boats, each with 2 outboard engines, each carrying 14 gunmen wearing
casual t-shirts and no masks, launched an attack. The pirates were armed with AK-47s. After
stealing personal items and belongings, four expat crew were kidnapped (Polish (Chief Engineer)
and three Indians (Captain, Chief Officer, and Bosun).
3/4
RED SEA: On 13 June, a merchant vessel experienced suspicious activity at 13:05 N – 043:09 E,
approximately 15 nm southwest of Mocha. Approximately 20 skiffs surrounded the vessel. The
Master ordered the crew into the citadel and the embarked AST fired warning shots. The incident’s
duration lasted 20-30 minutes, before the skiffs moved away. Crew and vessel are safe.
YEMEN: On 14 June, an underway tanker experienced a suspicious approach at 12:36 N – 043:25
E, approximately 2 nm southwest of Birim Island. A single skiff paralleled the tanker’s course, and
then moved toward the vessel at high speed, approaching within 500 meters. The AST displayed
their weapons, resulting in the skiff moving away.
MALAYSIA: 17.06.2013: 1930 LT: Posn:
04:31N – 113:52E, about 8 to 10 pirates armed
with long knives in a speed boat approached
and boarded a product tanker underway. The
pirates were aggressive and beat most of the
crew and tied up their hands. The Master's left
palm was severely cut while the C/O and
C/Eng also suffered minor cuts. The pirates cut
the communication cables and then ransacked
the bridge and accommodation. They stole
crew and ship's properties and cash before
leaving the ship after an hour. Vessel diverted to Miri port to provide medical assistance to the
injured crew. A police report was lodged.
GUINEA: 19.06.2013: 0145-0245 LT: Posn:
09:14.2N - 013:57.3W, Around 25nm SW of
Conakry, Guinea. Five pirates armed with
machine guns boarded a general cargo ship at
anchor. They threatened the crew, stole ship's
cash and crew personal belongings and escaped.
All crew safe.
RED SEA: On 21 June, an underway merchant vessel experienced a suspicious approach at 15:02
N – 041:42 E, approximately 73 nm northwest of Al Hudaydah. Weapons and ladders were
sighted, as multiple skiffs approached at high speed. The embarked AST fired several warning
shots. The skiffs aborted their approach and moved towards another merchant vessel,
approximately 2 nm to their starboard. AST observed the other vessel take evasive action. When
last seen, the skiffs were paralleling the course of the second merchant ship.
4/4
Summary and recommendations:
There has been slight rise of piracy threat signs on Eastern African waters. One successful
hijacking, despite unfinished, has broken the more than a yearlong break in such activity by
Somali pirates. The threat is not gone for sure and it will not be for long time.
Gulf of Guinea has become the champion of piracy activity. According to a report released
by the IMB last week, West Africa has now overtaken Somalia as the world's piracy hot-
spot with 966 sailors attacked last year compared with 851 in Somalia. Meanwhile the
changes are hard to come. The leaders of ECOWAS are meeting currently in Cameroon to
address the problem again. There are intentions to create a joint naval force to patrol the
Gulf. Hopefully the States will come to the conclusion and start really cooperating in this
matter. Meanwhile, and probably for long time to come, shipping industry should stay alert
and use all the means to deter and protect their vessels conducting activities in the area.
South-East Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia will remain a threat as the religious
tensions in Malaysia and violent political protests in Indonesia will create the options for
the criminal element to operate against international shipping. All the vessels should be
extremely alert in those waters and ports and exercise the BMP measures all the time when
possible.
Sources: ICC, NATO, ONI, NGA, Oceanus Live, Maritime Bulletin, Hellenic Shipping News,
Marsecreview, Reuters, CNN
We wish you safe voyages!
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