Risk assessment nov13

Piracy Situation Risk Assessment, November 2013, Issue 19 Highlights of the past month: 

In October the criminal activity against shipping was clearly higher comparing to September. However, the different sources sometimes reveal very different incidents and cases. Even the major official sources like ICC, NSC, ONI, NGA and UKMTO do not seem to have similar opinion or perhaps good cooperation for the sake of safer shipping?

Should not be a case. Maybe there is a time to merge the relevant data obtained from all the different sources into one official joint database that would serve the true purpose to assist the security officers and providers to sense the threats better. It is a good time to give the meaning to the comprehensiveness concept written in doctrines of the all mentioned bodies.

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The official reports reveal two serious hijack attempts in near Somalia by a pirate group.

The pirate group was later apprehended by Naval forces. Meanwhile Iranian Navy has been reporting at least two successful thwarts in Gulf of Aden that does not show up in official reporting for some reason. That all in sum would make at least four serious incidents in October within Indian Ocean region.

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In West Africa possibly three serious incidents have happened, in one case people got kidnapped, in another security personnel killed.

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There has been also significant robbery rate raise near Indonesia and Malaysia (at least 17 incidents reported). In one instances a chemical tanker’s cargo was robbed in West African style near Malaysia. Unusually high rate of theft and robbery happened in Indian ports.

Latest major incidents: WEST AFRICA NIGERIA: During the early hours of 23 October, pirates attacked the U.S.-flagged offshore supply vessel C RETRIEVER near Brass and kidnapped the captain and chief engineer, both U.S. citizens. (Reuters).

The incident might be related of the company’s refusal to hire more local people for the project according to the sources of gCaptain: http://gcaptain.com/edison-chouest-threatenednigerian/ NIGERIA: 23.10.2013. A security boat manned with Joint Task Force (JTF) Nigeria personnel was allegedly attacked by militants off Brass, Nigeria. According to one of the sources, all JTF personnel were killed and their weapons taken by the militants. (gCaptain).

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NIGERIA: 03.10.2013: 0745 LT: 04:12N – 006:56E, Bonny outer anchorage, Nigeria. While at anchor, duty A/B on board a tanker informed the bridge that one skiff with six persons was approaching the vessel. As skiff approached alarm raised, and all crew entered the citadel. The robbers boarded the vessel as their accomplices fired upon the vessel. Bonny signal station informed. After a while when no noise was heard the crew came out of the citadel, inspected the vessel and found the robbers had left the vessel.

Vessel sustained damage due to the gunfire from the robbers. Nothing was stolen and no injuries to crew. Later, a navy patrol boat arrived at location. (IMB, IMO) MEDITERRANEAN SEA No incidents reported.

INDIAN OCEAN, RED SEA, PERSIAN GULF GULF OF ADEN: 29.10.2013 0235LT. A vessel was approached by white color skiff, speed 13+ knots in position 13-18N 049-14E. Further information is missing. Information received by Aburgus Team Leader on operation in vicinity via VHF, conversation between the vessel and Coalition warship. (Aburgus) GULF OF ADEN: On 29 October at 0430Z in position 12 25N 043 52E, a bulker was approached by two skiffs with 8 POB. The skiffs closed to 200m, the AST fired warning shots and the skiffs moved away. No ladders or weapons were sighted. (UKMTO).

RED SEA: 27.10.2013. 1436LT. Bab el Mandeb 13.15N 043.02E. Two skiffs, 5-6 persons per skiff with rifles approached a vessel. Skiffs disengaged after warning shots by security team on board. Information received by Aburgus Team Leader on operation in vicinity via VHF. (Aburgus) Follow-up: On 27 October at 1120Z in position 13 15N 043 01E, a bulker was approached by two skiffs coloured white and blue, with 5-6 2/5

POB in each. Skiffs closed to 100m. Ladders were sighted in the skiffs, described as 10m long, metal and hooked at one end. AST showed weapons and the skiffs moved away. (UKMTO) GULF OF ADEN: 20.10.2013 the Iranian Navy's 27th fleet of warships thwarted a fresh attempt by pirates to hijack an Iranian gas tanker off the coast of Somalia, this time across Bab el-Mandeb strait. An Iranian vessel, carrying liquid natural gas, was crossing the Bab el-Mandeb straight on Sunday morning when it was attacked by eight pirate boats, according to Admiral Siavash Jareh, Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Navy for Operations. (Defence Web, All Africa) SOMALIA: On 14 October at 0640Z in position 04 03N 056 49E, a fishing vessel was approached by the same Pirate Attack Group which attacked the tanker on 11 October. The same tactic of one boat holding back whilst the skiff made an approach was employed. The fishing vessel’s security team fired warning shots. The approaching skiff discontinued its advance for a short time before attempting another approach. Again, warning shots were fired and the skiff moved away to re-join the second boat. (UKMTO, illustration by Maritime Bulletin) SOMALIA: On 11 October at 0918 UTC, pirates in two skiffs fired upon a tanker approximately 237 nm east of Hobyo. The master raised the alarm, sounded the ship’s whistle, increased speed, and mustered the crew. The armed embarked security team took position and fired warning rocket flares as the skiffs closed to 2 and 3 nm. The skiffs ignored the warning flares and continued their approach. The armed security team fired a warning shot when one skiff closed to a distance of about 437 yards; however, the pirates continued their approach the tanker. One of the skiffs stopped and returned fire with an automatic weapon after the team fired a second warning shot at a distance of about 273 yards. The armed team returned fire, which resulted in the skiffs aborting the attack and departing the area. The pirates were also armed with RPGs. (IMB, IMO) GULF OF ADEN: 06.10.2013. Iranian tanker was attacked by a pirate boat, but the pirates fled after the Navy responded. However, they returned with more boats and were once again driven back. (Defence Web, All Africa) SOUTHEAST ASIA INDONESIA: On 19 October, Six robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored bulk carrier via the anchor chain at position 00:14 S - 117.33 E, Muara Berau Anchorage. The robbers took hostage two duty watchmen, tied them up, and stole their personal belongings. After 45 3/5

minutes, the duty officer on routine deck rounds noticed the robbers and raised the alarm. Seeing the crew alertness the robbers escaped with stolen ship’s stores. (IMB) MALAYSIA: On 10 October at 0530 local time, nine hijackers wearing masks and carrying guns boarded underway oil product tanker DANAI 4 with a speedboat 20 nm southeast of Pulau Aur. They hijacked the tanker, took the crew hostage, and destroyed all the communications equipment.

The hijackers disembarked on 15 October; stealing ship’s cargo, cash, crew personal belongings and cash, and portable communications equipment. The master contacted the owners and informed them of the incident. There were no injuries to the crew. The tanker had marine gas oil and 15 crewmembers onboard. (IMB, ReCAAP) INDONESIA: On 10 October at 0315 local time, five robbers with long knives boarded anchored bulk carrier PORT HAINAN near position 01:57 N – 118:05 E, Muara Berau anchorage, Samarinda. They held one crewmember hostage while they broke into storage and stole some ship’s stores. The officer of the watch was alerted, the alarm was raised, and the crew proceeded towards the forecastle. After the robbers saw the alert crew, they jumped overboard and escaped.

There were no injuries to the crew. (IMB, IMO) SINGAPORE STRAITS 30.10.2013: 0345 LT: Posn: 01:21.2N – 104:24.3E: Off Horsburgh Light house, Singapore Straits. Five robbers armed with guns and long knives boarded an asphalt tanker underway, unnoticed. They took hostage the OOW and duty AB and tied up their hands. The robbers took the OOW to his cabin and stole personal belongings and cash and then targeted and stole belongings from four other crew cabins before escaping.

MALAYSIA: On 10 October at 0530 local time, nine hijackers wearing masks and carrying guns boarded underway oil product tanker with a speedboat 20 nm southeast of Pulau Aur. They hijacked the tanker, took the crew hostage, and destroyed all the communications equipment. The hijackers disembarked on 15 October; stealing ship’s cargo, cash, crew personal belongings and cash, and portable communications equipment.

The master contacted the owners and informed them of the incident. There were no injuries to the crew. The tanker had marine gas oil and 15 crewmembers onboard. (IMB, ReCAAP) 4/5

Summary and recommendations: 

The latest activity on Indian Ocean may indicate the rise of attempts for hijack in near future. Somali pirates have been patient for long time and meanwhile there is no improvement on the land regarding their living standards by honest means. Also as the UN is cutting half of the food aid for two Somali refugee camps in Kenya, that are already under the political fire by local communities, may force tens of thousands people to move back to Somalia where they will be exposed to criminal gangs recruiters. Meanwhile the terror movement Al Shabaab is likely gaining power locally and fills the vacuum of governance. More recruits and not improving living conditions in the region are creating the options and need to surge for more sources of financing the organization. This may include some more pirating attempts and possibly with better tactics and heavier weapons than we have seen so far. Meanwhile the reduced security on vessels will attract the surges and tryouts of the pirates thus it will considerably lower their risks.

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The cargo theft from tanker near Malaysia was something new in the pattern. Will it be new a mode of crime in this region, following the trends of the West African criminals, is too early to assume. However, being able to pull off such an operation so boldly (the tanker was boarded just 20nm off the coast and held in captivity for three days) may indicate the growing ability of such crime mode to be introduced in future again. There are likely needed assets (criminal’s tankers, safe harbors, networks) being created and the great investments need to be covered.

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In any risk area where the sea criminals are operating the good armed security teams are still likely the best assets to deter and repel the pirates. However, once the attempts will get more sophisticated, the ad hoc mixed teams of security guards will not likely provide the protection needed. The vessel owners should be careful who they hire for the job. The teams need to be really capable of protecting the vessel not only to produce the image of such capability.

Sources: ICC, NATO, ONI, NGA, UKMTO, Oceanus Live, Maritime Bulletin, Marsecreview, Reuters, CNN, BBC, NYT, Al Jazeera, All Africa, cCaptain, Hellenic Shipping News, Want China Times, DefenceWeb etc.

We wish you safe voyages!

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