Risk assessment jul13

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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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 hotspot 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.

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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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