Piracy situation risk assessment, February 2013, Issue 10 Highlights of the past month
Last month has seen once again low pirate activity around East-Africa. There was two reported incidents nearby Somalia, one of them serious attempt. The maritime agencies keep warning the persisting threat off Somalia and advise not drop the guard. They are still there. Meanwhile there have been already 10 reported incidents of robbery and attempts between India to Philippines.
In contrary the West-African seas have seen some serious rise in piracy and criminal activity. Number of vessels boarded, kidnappings and theft of cargo and vessel’s property has boosted up. Authorities are having concerns that the war in Mali will also fuel the piracy and greater instability in the region.
Latest incidents (ICC Live Piracy Reports and other sources) SOMALIA: 5.01.2013: 1100 UTC: Posn: 03:07.2N 051:51.1E, Around 400nm ENE of Mogadishu, Somalia. Six pirates in a skiff chased and fired upon a container ship using automatic weapons and RPG. Vessel raised alarm, crew mustered in citadel and armed security team fired warning shots resulting in the pirates aborting and moving away. A warship and a naval helicopter were dispatched towards the vessel. Crew and the vessel are safe.
DJIBOUTI: 08.01.2013: 0750 UTC: Posn: 12:40.2N - 043:16.1E, Bab El Mandeb TSS, Red Sea. About 5-6 persons each in two skiffs doing 14 knots approached a gas carrier ship underway. Alarm raised, anti-piracy measures initiated, distress message was transmitted and the armed security team on board fired a warning flare and showed their weapons. One skiff slowed down but the other skiff continued its approach and closed to 200 meters from the tanker. The armed team fired two more warning shots but the skiffs ignored the warning shots and continue to approach the tanker. Further shots were fired across the lead skiff's bow resulting in the skiffs aborting and moving away. 1/4