Risk assessment jun12

Piracy situation risk assessment, 2 June 2012, Issue 2 Highlights of the past two weeks 

On 15 May following the decision taken on 23 March 2012 by the Council of the European Union to allow the EU Naval Force to take disruption action against known pirate supplies on the shore, EU forces conducted an operation to destroy pirate equipment on the Somali coastline.

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As the political situation in Egypt has become tense it gives more freedom for opportunistic thieves to commit crimes on board of the vessels passing the Suez Canal.

During the last two weeks robbers have been reported to board three ships in the anchorage areas of Egypt. The primary target is to steal ship’s goods and leave without being noticed but the situation may easily escalade to worse and become life threatening to crewmembers as the robbers are carrying knives (they may even be equipped with firearms).

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Pirate groups are operating more aggressively further and further north in Gulf of Oman.

A rather large group of pirates consisting of 20 + skiffs attacked a cargo ship around 28 NM off the coast of Iran. Only the following of BMP4 and using armed security on board kept the ship and crew safe. Another attack took place in the same area just couple of days earlier.

Latest incidents (according to ICC Live Piracy Reports) 25.05.2012: 0355 LT: El Dekheila Outer Anchorage, Egypt.

A fishing boat was seen drop anchor to the stern of a bulk carrier at anchor. Duty A/B remained near the stern during his watch. Later the C/O noticed two robbers, armed with knives near the forecastle, were lowering the ship stores.

Seeing the robbers with the knives the crew waited until the robbers had departed before going forward to investigate.

24.05.2012: 0020 UTC: Pos: 04:02.9S - 039:38.7E, Berth No. 8, Mombasa Port, Kenya. A robber armed with knife boarded a chemical tanker at berth during cargo operations.

The robber attacked the duty officer on deck rounds, injured him, stole his personal belongings and escaped. Master reported to port police and agent who boarded the vessel for investigation.

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23.05.2012: 1300 UTC: Pos: 12:45N – 043:18E, Bab El Mandeb Straits, Red Sea. Pirates in three skiffs approached a bulk carrier underway. Master raised alarm, informed UKMTO and alerted the armed security team onboard. The armed security team fired warning shots resulting in the pirates aborted the attempted attack and moved away.

23.05.2012: 0900 UTC: Pos: 25:29.6N – 057:16.8E Around 28nm WSW of Bandar-e-Jask, Iran. D/O onboard a general cargo ship underway noticed a group of 10 skiffs at a distance of 2nm from the ship on the starboard side.

The forward skiff broke off from the group and approached the ship at a speed of 20-25 knots. The ship increased speed and commenced maneuvering away from the skiffs. As the skiffs closed to 500 meters the armed security team fired warning shots. The skiffs ignored the warning shots and continued to approach aggressively and weapons were sighted on the skiffs.

As the skiffs closed to 300 meters the security team once again fired at the skiffs and the skiffs returned fire towards the ship. Eleven additional skiffs were sighted on the port side advancing towards the ship. As the security team fired warning shots these skiffs stopped and moved away.

The skiffs on the starboard side continued to chase the ship and then after around 12 minutes from the initial approach the skiffs moved away towards a large dhow in the vicinity. No damages and no injuries to crew.

18.05.2012: 2000 LT: Pos: 25:20.9N – 057:34.6E (Around 25nm South of Ra's-e Jask, Iran. Three skiffs chased a crude tanker underway and approached close to the stern.

Alarm was sounded, authorities and nearby warship contacted. Later the skiffs aborted the boarding and moved away.

15.05.2012: 0100 UTC: Suez anchorage, Egypt. Robbers boarded an anchored tanker, broke into the forecastle store, stole ship's stores and escaped unnoticed. Upon investigation it was learnt that the robbery took place between the deck security’s rounds carried out by the crew.

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Summary and Recommendations 

Following the EU Naval Force airstrike against pirates land stores the Somali pirates threatened to start killing the hostages if those attacks were to continue (http://www.somaliareport.com/index.php/post/3361). According to the ICC the Somali pirates are currently holding 13 vessels and 200 hostages. The threat to the hostages will make the continuous actions against pirates on land extremely difficult. The balance between expected destruction of close to non-existing pirates’ infrastructure and spread equipment is not likely to overweight the safety of imprisoned seafarers.

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In Egypt waters it is highly recommended to keep strengthened watch while passing or staying in anchorage. Early detection of robbers is the best tool against such cases. There is a good chance to scare away robbers that have yet not managed to board the vessel. The incidents are expected to continue and even rise until the newly elected authorities will restore the safe and stable situation in country.

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It also seems that pirates are widening their operational areas towards the Persian Gulf.

The multiple attacks by some 20 skiffs against Maersk Texas on 23 May advise that there is a rising threat in Gulf of Oman. Therefore it is advised not to disembark armed security teams in Muscat but to keep them on board while visiting Persian Gulf. Most Persian Gulf countries will allow the security personnel stay onboard (but their weapons being locked away) while entering into territorial waters. However, depending on the destination and duration of the transit the exact study on the feasibility of the option must be done case by case basis.

Note! We have come to conclusion that for better understanding and analysis the two weeks period is little short. Therefore since now on we keep producing the highlights and estimations monthly basis.

We wish you safe voyages!

Alphard Maritime Security team info@alphardmaritime.eu www.alphardmaritime.eu

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