Piracy situation risk assessment, March 2013, Issue 11 Highlights of the past month
Last month has seen heavy incident number of attacks on West-Africa totaling 9 incidents reported. Most of them happened off Nigeria where the security situation also on land is taking concerning turns.
There was one reported attempt to hijack a vessel off Somalia but onboard security team repelled the attack. Unlucky pirates were apprehended by Navy forces next day in vicinity.
In Indonesian region the robbers with long knives have keeping the same pace as previously. Still no effective policing done to control the situation.
Latest incidents (ICC Live Piracy Reports and other sources) IVORY COAST: 03.02.2013: 0659 LT: 04:07.38N – 003:54.42W, 70nm South of Abidjan port, Ivory Coast. Owners of an oil tanker reported that they had lost contact with their vessel while underway and suspect the vessel may have been hijacked. Further details awaited.
NIGERIA: 04.02.2013: 0024 UTC: 06:19.16N – 003:24.57E, Lagos Anchorage, Nigeria. Armed persons with guns approached and fired upon an anchored chemical tanker carrying out STS operations. The response of the onboard Naval security team resulted in the armed persons moving away. One crew member died during the medical evacuation due to an injury sustained during the firing.
1/5
NIGERIA: 07.02.2013: 0700 LT: Posn: 03:40.48N – 005:53.12E, Around 40nm SSW of Brass, Nigeria. Around 17 pirates armed with AK47 rifles attacked, boarded and hijacked an offshore supply vessel underway and tried to use it as a mother vessel. The vessel was released on the 11.02.2013 with no injury to crew. Ship's stores and equipment were stolen and some communication equipment damaged.
NIGERIA: 07.02.2013: 2125 UTC: Posn: 02:47N - 005:48E, Around 96nm SSW of Brass, Nigeria. Pirates attacked and boarded a general cargo ship underway. They stole crew and ship's property and escaped. Further details awaited.
NIGERIA: 10.02.2013: 1830 LT: Posn: 03:33.35N – 006:35.39E, Around 45nm off Bonny River, Nigeria. Twelve heavily armed pirates approached, fired upon and boarded an offshore supply vessel underway. Alarm raised and most of the crew retreated into the citadel. The pirates caught and kidnapped the C/Engr and Master and escaped with ship's and crew cash and personal effects.
2/5
NIGERIA: 11.02.2013: 0635 LT: Posn: 04:06.68N – 006:52.57E, Around 20nm SW of Bonny, Nigeria. A speed boat approached, fired upon and attempted to board general cargo ship underway. The vessel raised alarm, increased speed, made evasive maneuvers and all crew mustered on the bridge. Due to the anti-piracy measures the pirates aborted the attempted boarding and moved away. All crew safe and vessel sustained minor damage due to the gunfire.
NIGERIA: 17.02.2013: 0615 LT: Posn: 06:27N 003:23E, Berth No.2, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. Robbers in a wooden boat approached a berthed bulk carrier. One robber boarded the ship, broke into the forward store and stole ship's stores. Duty crew noticed the robber and raised the alarm. The robber escaped with the stolen stores.
NIGERIA: 17.02.2013: 0700 UTC: Posn: 03:57.4N - 005:20.8E, Around 55nm WSW of Brass, Nigeria. Armed pirates attacked and boarded an offshore tug underway. They kidnapped six crew members and escaped from the vessel. The remaining 12 crew members were unharmed and were escorted to Port Harcourt. Negotiations took place between the owners and the pirates and on 25.02.2013 the pirates released the six crew members who were reported healthy and unharmed.
3/5
SOMALIA: 18.02.2013: 1645 UTC: Posn: 07:14.4N – 052:17.2E, Around 150nm ESE of Eyl, Somalia. Two white speed boats approached and fired upon a general cargo ship underway. Onboard armed security returned fire resulting in the skiffs moving away. 19.02.2013: 0503Z, two suspicious skiffs matching the description previously, were relocated by a Dutch Frigate. At 0739Z, one skiff was proceeding at high speed, helicopter fired two (2) warning shots and secured the skiff. The suspected pirates taken on board. NIGERIA: 22.02.2013: 1800 UTC: Posn: 03:51N - 005:57E, Around 30nm SSW of Brass, Nigeria. About six pirates armed with automatic rifles in a skiff launched from a mother vessel chased and fired upon a general cargo ship underway. Master raised alarm, activated anti-piracy preventive measures, increased speed, took evasive maneuvers and non-essential crew took shelter in the citadel. The pirates attempted to board the ship several times and then aborted the attempt due to the hardening measures taken by the ship. Incident reported to MRCC Nigeria. No injuries to crew but the ship sustained some damage due to the firing.
NB! Aburgus is now providing armed security services off Conakry, Guinea and Lome, Togo in cooperation with local forces. Other major ports in the region are being negotiated at the moment and more options will be provided by Aburgus very soon.
4/5
Summary and Recommendations
The implications to West African seas will come from the battlefield of Mali from where the some rebel groups are moving away as well the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people are escaping from violence. This will certainly have more implications on situation on nearby seas. In Nigeria allegedly a new extremist group is on rise and is focusing on kidnapping of western workers of the companies. This development will likely have direct impact on the criminal activity on seas as Nigerian forces will be more stretched than ever before. This means less focus and forces on seas. Vessels are strongly advised to use BMP settings as proposed for Indian Ocean and whenever possible hire an armed onboard security team from reputable security company.
Somali pirates have conducted one attempt with one team that also ended with their capture. Despite the activities on sea are almost nonexistent the situation in land is not likely to improve fast. The government’s efforts to control the illegal arms market even in Mogadishu or offers for large amnesty are met with ultimatum – give us other means of living and we would think about it. Until there are no jobs to keep the young men occupied and building the hope for better future there will be no major change. So be aware on seas and do not drop the guard. All it will take now is once the pirate gangs determine that there are enough vessels sailing without protection, it will take them only one day of massive surge to earn their living for the end of the year. They have not gone anywhere and they are not in hurry either. We have watches but they have all the time they need.
Sources: ICC, NATO, AP, Reuters, gCaptain, Aljazeera, Maritime Executive We wish you safe voyages!
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5/5