Risk assessment sept13

Piracy situation risk assessment, September 2013, Issue 17 Highlights of the past month: 

In August there have been the following numbers of incidents reported and published by various sources: Gulf of Guinea – 7; Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean – 6 (including attack attempt in Suez Canal); Southeast Asian seas – 9.

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Suez Canal authorities have said that a "terrorist" staged an unsuccessful attack on 31.

August on a container ship passing through the canal in an attempt to disrupt the flow of ships through the waterway. According to authorities the attempt failed completely and there was no damage to the ship or the containers it carried. The unconfirmed reports said there were two explosions in vicinity of the vessel at 12:30 GMT.

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There is news that Nigerian Navy has taken stronger action against piracy and has conducted at least two successful fights with armed groups in the Gulf of Guinea. One of the fight allegedly left 12 pirates killed and second one six.

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On 14 August there was a message circling around that since 14 August a vessel might be pirated in Gulf of Oman but no official confirmation on that so far. Information appeared in Linked In forums and was also forwarded by an agent to us: “A vessel has been reported as under attack in position 24°54.40N 057°33.10E in the Gulf of Oman. Master has reported that he is being chased by 11 skiffs with multi coloured hulls. The Master has sighted weapons. The skiffs have been chasing the vessel for the last hour.” However, no updates on this case due date.

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The turmoil in the Middle-East, particularly in Egypt and Syria, has not produced known incidents on shipping exempt the mentioned attempted attack in Suez Canal. However, in the neither place the future developments remain unclear and the risks for shipping are there.

Latest major incidents: WEST AFRICA NIGERIA: On 15 August, the Nigeria-flagged product tanker was boarded in the Gulf of Guinea.

On 17 August, the vessel was reportedly chased by vessels from the Nigerian Navy; to include two Navy ships of destroyer-size, 6 gun boats, and patrol plane from the Nigerian Air Force. The Nigerian forces surrounded the tanker in the Niger Delta region. The pirates attempted to flee the tanker when night fell, but were intercepted. During the ensuing gun battle 12 pirates were killed and 4 were captured. No details on the fate of the crew were given. (Fleetmon.com, News.odin.tc)

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NIGERIA: On 12 August, a Nigeria-flagged offshore support vessel was fired upon approximately 35nm off the Nigerian coast. Two gunboats with approximately 7 - 8 pirates on board fired upon the vessel. A near-by patrol boat responded to the emergency calls. The patrol boat exchanged fire with the pirates, resulting in the pirate boats retreating north at high speed. (OCL) NIGERIA: On 12 August, the anchored Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker was hijacked at 06:19 N – 003:27 E, at the Lagos Anchorage.

Approximately 11 pirates, armed with guns, boarded and hijacked the chemical tanker at anchor.

They stole crew personal belongings and caused minor injuries to the crew members. On the 13 August, the vessel was released and safely arrived at the Lagos Anchorage. (IMB, IMO, reuters.com, gcaptain.com) NIGERIA: On 11 August, robbers in a small skiff attempted to board the anchored Liberiaflagged product tanker at 06:18 N – 003:26 E, at the Lagos Anchorage. Master raised the alarm and mustered the crew, while embarked armed guards fired warning shots, resulting in the skiff moving away. (IMB, OCL) NIGERIA: On 30 July, the underway Hong Kongflagged chemical tanker was fired upon at 03:31 N 006:05 E, approximately 45nm south of Brass. A gunboat claiming to be a Nigerian navy boat called a chemical tanker on VHF and asked details of vessel, cargo, last and next ports. This information was passed to the gun boat. After approximately 15 minutes, the gun boat approached the vessel at high speed and demanded that the vessel be stopped and boarding permitted. The Master informed them that he would not be stopping due to the areas high risk for piracy attacks. The gun boat threatened them and followed the vessel for 20 minutes and then fired two shots in the air. The Master immediately raised the alarm over VHF and requested ships in the vicinity relay its message to port control, which was not responding to its calls. Upon hearing the VHF alarm, the gun boat moved away. (IMB, IMO) MEDITERRANEAN SEA No incidents reported.

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INDIAN OCEAN, RED SEA, PERSIAN GULF BANGLADESH: On 27 August 2025 LT: Posn: 22:11N – 091:42E, Chittagong Anchorage, 16 robbers in two boats approached an anchored container ship. Five robbers armed with long knives boarded the ship and began to lower ship’s stores into their boats. Duty officer noticed the robbers, raised the alarm and crew mustered. Seeing crew alertness the robbers escaped with stolen ship stores.

Incident reported to the coast guard.

SOUTHEAST ASIA INDONESIA: On 10 August, the anchored Isle of Man-flagged bulk carrier was boarded at 00:16 S – 117:36 E, at the Samarinda Anchorage. Three robbers in boiler suits boarded the anchored bulk carrier which was waiting to link up with a cargo barge. The robbers seized the third officer who was on routine rounds at the forecastle. They hit him and threatened him with a knife, while five other robbers boarded the ship, broke the hatch cover with pipes and crowbars, and began to steal ship’s stores. When seeing duty crew approach the forecastle, the robbers disembarked the vessel and escaped in a speed boat with the stolen stores. Upon investigation, it was found that the robbers boarded the ship by breaking the hawse pipe security steel grill/cover bolt and nut lock.

(IMB, IMO, OCL, Tradewinds) INDONESIA: On 2 August, the underway Thailand-flagged product tanker was boarded at 01:23 N – 104:30 E, approximately 9nm north of Bintan Island. Six pirates, armed with knives and guns, boarded the vessel. The pirates fired at the glass panel of the door of the bridge, where they entered and took control of the ship and all 14 Thai crew. They tied up the crew in the mess room and stole navigational equipment and crew's cash and personal belongings. During the incident, two crew members were injured and there was slight damage to the accommodation due to gun fire. The pirates left the ship after approximately 45 minutes.

(IMO).

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Summary and recommendations: 

The recent alert on possible terror attack in the Suez Canal is a concern. Egypt authorities will probably do whatever they can to keep the Canal safe. All vessels transiting through are highly advised to maintain good communication with Canal Authorities and report any suspicious activity immediately. Needless to say that strengthened watch must be maintained all the time while passing the Canal.

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While Syria is staying away from the major shipping lines the indirect implications of the current and near future situation are likely there. Despite the international attack is not decided yet the threat for shipping will likely lift even more if the US decides not to attack.

Disappointed insurgents may easily channel their frustration to the civilian shipping for the revenge. Yemen remains one of the likely platforms from where the attacks as statements can be done.

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In Egypt the situation remains like a fire under ashes. The ousted rulers have changed their tactics: instead of major rallies they will evoke smaller ones in many cities. This poses more threat as the Egyptian Army and Police will get overstretched and will likely lack of reserves to react fast in case of coordinated events. Therefore it is advised to avoid travels through Egypt if ever possible. The risk of getting between the protestors and law enforcement is high. Also the risk of getting kidnapped cannot be ruled out.

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Somali piracy is not over yet. The desire and capability are still there. In the near term (early September) the overall forecast for small boat / skiff operations is unfavorable along the East Coast of Somalia extending from the tip of the Horn of Africa down through the Somali Basin. Looking to the future, the transition to the inter-monsoon season around midSeptember, will provide more favorable conditions for small boats and fishing activities in the Somali Basin / West Coast of Somalia. These conditions will last until the North East Monsoon begins, historically around Mid-November. Small boat activity may be observed earlier than this in the more prominent fishing areas and Coastal waters.

Sources: ICC, NATO, ONI, NGA, Oceanus Live, Maritime Bulletin, Marsecreview, Reuters, CNN, BBC, NYT, Al Jazeera, All Africa, cCaptain, etc.

We wish you safe voyages!

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