Weekly Shipping Threat Report

IM B/PRC/Alert – 046-2020 – Malaysian Authorities Advisory REF: M SIA-GOV/SECURITY/ SAT01/0420. This is a follow-up advisory from 24 April 2020. This advisory is valid until June  2020. To all ships transiting the Andaman Sea and northern part of Straits of Malacca including coastal areas off Bangladesh/off Myanmar. For the safety of human life at sea, ships are requested to look out for human trafficking syndicates taking advantage of migrants where the migrant s are put onto overcrowded and unseaworthy boats. These illegal boats are also easy target for pirates/robbers and pose great danger to migrant lives. These boats are said to  en  route  to  Malaysia. These illegal smuggling boats are usually modified fishing boats with a tarpaulin at the center of the boats for cover to avoid detection by sea and air. Each of these boats can carry between 200 to 500 people. While in these waters, ships are requested to look out for any suspicious-looking small/ fishing boats with the above descriptions. Your informat ion can stop these illegal trafficking and save lives at sea. Please report these sightings immediately to the 1MB piracy reporting Centre at: + 60320310014 / Email: IM BKL@ICC-CCS.ORG.

MALTA/ITALY: On 4 May, the crew of the Antigua and Barbuda -flagged container ship MARINA rescued 78 migrants in the Mediterranean.

GABON/ EQUATORIAL GUINEA: On 3 May, pirates kidnapped six individuals from the fishing trawlers AM ERGER II and AMERGER VII northeast of Libreville, Gabon.

INDONESIA: On 3 May, robbers boarded a product tanker approximately 29 NM northeast of Pulau Bintan.

ECUADOR: On 2 May, men in a skiff chased and fired upon an underway container vessel 4 NM south of Posoria.

ANGOLA: On 1 May, a robber boarded a Singapore supply vessel anchored off Luanda.

NIGERIA: On 30 April, pirates kidnapped 10 crew members from the Panama-flagged product tanker VEMAHOPE 150 NM southwest of Brass.

GHANA: On 30 Ap ril, robbers attempt to climb on to an anchored tanker at Takoradi anchorage.

INDONESIA: On 30 April, robbers boarded the Marshall Islands tanker CHEM RANGER in the Singapore Strait approximately 6.2 NM northwest of Tanjung Tondong, Pulau Bintan,

NORTH AMERICA:

MEXICO: On the evening of 14 April at 2230LT, approximately six robbers boarded the anchored Gibraltar -flagged offshore accommodation barge TELFORD 28 approximately 12 NM north of Ciudad Del Carmen at 18:51N – 091:52W. The robbers, armed with automatic weapons and pistols, attempted to enter the accommodation area and then opened fire toward the superstructure. The robbers managed to steal high -value project equipment from the vessel before escaping. One crew member was injured during this incident and was transferred to a hospital. The Mexican Navy responded and assisted TELFORD 28 following the incident. (Clearwater Dynamics, 1MB, Maritime Bulletin, Marine Link)

MEXICO: On 12 April, robbers boarded the Denmark-flagged offshore supply vessel MAERSK TRANSPORTER approximately 7 NM north of Ciudad Del Carmen at 18:46N – 091:49W. The robbers took crew members hostage while ransacking the vessel and stealing valuables. The robbers released the hostages when they disembarked. (Clearwater Dynamics, Marine Link, Fleetmon)

MEXICO: On 9 April at 2230LT, eight pirates boarded the drifting Italy-flagged offshore supply vessel REMAS in the Gulf of Mexico, 13 NM northwest of Puerto Dos Bocas near 18:36N – 093:19W. The pirates took a number of crew members hostage and used them as “human shields.” The pirates ransacked the vessel, stealing personal belongings and ship’s equipment before releasing the hostages and escaping. The robbers fired several shots during the incident, but no one was injured. (1MB, Clearwater Dynamics, Fleetmon, Maritime Bulletin)

CENTRAL AMERICA – CARIBBEAN – SOUTH AMERICA

ECUADOR: On 2 May at 2315LT, seven men in a skiff chased and fired upon an underway container vessel 4 NM south of Posoria at 02:46S – 080:14W. The crew mustered and directed the searchlight towards the skiff. When Coast Guard officials onboard the vessel fired four warning shots, the skiff departed. {1MB, Clearwater Dynamics)

ECUADOR: On 11 April at 0035LT, six armed robbers boarded a container ship under pilotage at 02:52S – 080:23W, approximately 7 NM west of Isla Puna. They took two crew members hostage and tied them up. When the master spotted the robbers, he raised the alarm and notified the coast guard. Upon seeing the crew response, the robbers fired warning shots and fled. A subsequent search of the vessel revealed some containers were broken into. (1MB, Clearwater Dynamics)

ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA: No current incidents to report

NORTHERN EUROPE – BALTIC: No current incidents to report.

MEDITERRANEAN – BLACK SEA:

MALTA/ITALY: On 4 May, the crew of the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged container ship MARINA rescued 78 migrants in the Mediterranean. The vessel was “waiting for instructions” on where to drop off the migrants who allegedly are from Bangladesh, Morocco, Chad, Libya, and Sudan. The crew has reported that food and freshwater supplies are running low. Reports indicate the ship also suffered an engine failure on 6 May and was adrift on 7 May. (Maritime Bulletin, FleetMon)

WEST AFRICA:

GABON/EQUATORIAL GUINEA: On 3 May, 13 pirates in a skiff with three engines boarded the fishing trawlers AMERGER II and AM ERGER VII northwest of Libreville, Gabon at 00:30N – 009:06E and 00:55N – 009:0BE. The pirates kidnapped six fishermen, three from each trawler. Three of the hostages are reportedly Indonesian,  two are Senegalese, and one is South Korean. (Dryad Globa l, Clearwater Dynamics)

ANGOLA: On 1 May at 0015, the watch duty officer discovered a robber on the main deck of his supply vessel which was anchored in the outer anchorage of Port Luanda at 08:44S – 013:1?E. The robber was holding a sharp object and at one point rushed toward the duty officer before fleeing in a small motorboat with three other individuals. According to the crew, no one was injured and nothing was stolen. (ReCAAP)

NIGERIA: On 30 April at 1940UTC, pirates in a speedboat approached and boarded the Panama-flagged product tanker VEMAHOPE 150 NM southwest of Brass at 03:30N – 003:49E. The pirates kidnapped 10 of the 14 crew members before escaping. A Nigerian Navy Security Vessel responded and provided assistance to the tanker. (Clearwater Dynamics, Maritime Bulletin, Dryad Global, 1MB)

GHANA: On 30 Apr il at 001SLT, a crew member spotted six robbers in a wooden boat approach and attempt to board anchored Malta-flagged LPG tanker EPIC BERMUDA at Takoradi anchorage at 04:54N – 001:42W. When the crew sounded the alarm, started the engines, and commenced maneuvers to prevent the boarding, the robbers departed the area. The crew notified the Port Authority who dispatched a patrol boat and apprehended six suspects. (Clearwater Dynamics, Dryad Global)

BENIN: On 19 April, armed men in a speedboat approached and boarded the Portug al-flagged container ship TOMMI RITSCHER in Cotonou Anchorage at 06:16N – 002:32E. Eleven of the 19 crewmembers managed to secure themselves in the citadel; the armed men kidnapped the other eight crew members. On 20 April, Nigerian Special Forces conducted an unopposed boarding and freed the 11 crew members in the citadel. Reports indicate the  TOMMI  RITSCHER had Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, and Filipino crew members. (MDAT-GoG, Clearwater Dynamics, 1M B, Dryad Global)

NIGERIA: On 18 April at 0850LT, armed men attacked a passenger boat while underway in Bayelsa State along Okoroma Creek in the Niger Delta. The attackers injured one passenger, but the other passengers and boat driver managed to escape. Authorities rescued the injured passenger approximately 45 minutes later and took him to a hospital in Yenagoa with two gunshot wounds. (Nigerian Pilot)

GHANA: On 16 April at 0105 UTC, seven individuals in a canoe came alongside an anchored supply vessel in the Takoradi Anchorage at 04:52N – 001:41W. Two of the men managed to board the vessel and were subsequently discovered by the deck officer in the paint store. When the crew raised the alarm, the two robbers jumped overboard and fled in the canoe. Five buckets of paint were stolen during the boarding. The crew notified the local authorities, who dispatched two patrol boats to secure the area. (MDAT-GoG, Clearwater Dynamics)

GHANA: On 15 Apri l at 0527LT, six robbers in a fishing boat came alongside and attempted to climb onto an anchored tanker within the Takoradi Anchorage at 04:54N – 001:41W. The robbers attempted to board at the forecastle using a grappling hook. When the crew noticed the robbers attempting board, they sounded the tanker ‘ s whistle. The robbers subsequently abandoned their attempted boarding and fled empty-handed. (Clearwater Dynamics)

GHANA: On 10 April at 0717 UTC, seven individuals onboard a red and white 15-met er-long skiff approached an underway tanker 57 NM south of Takoradi at 03:56N – 001:45W. The crew activated the fire hoses and undertook evasive maneuvers. The skiff continued to follow the tanker for 30 minutes and approached to within 50 meters at one point. The crew observed no weapons or ladders on the skiff during the incident. (Clearwater Dynamics, MDAT-GoG)

ARABIAN GULF:

IRAQ: On 27 April at 0200LT, robbers disguised as stevedores boarded a container ship berthed at Umm Qasr Port at 30:03N – 047:56E. The robbers broke into the forepeak store and started stealing ship’s properties by passing them to their accomplices on the jetty. The robbers fled after the crew spotted the robber’s activities and raised the alarm.  The crew notified the port authorities who were able to recover the stolen items. (Clearwater Dynamics, 1MB)

INDIAN OCEAN – EAST AFRICA – RED SEA:

YEMEN: On 23 April, skiffs approached two tankers southwest of Aden. The first incident occurred at 0804 GMT when a skiff traveling at 19 knots approached a Hong Kong-flagged LPG carrier transiting eastbound in the Gulf of Aden at 13.5 knots. The embarked security team fired several warning shots causing the skiff to distance itself from the tanker. A short time later, a skiff approached a Panama-flagged medium range tanker approximately 12 NM  from the first incident and had a similar encounter. (LSS, Dryad Global)

EAST ASIA – SOUTHEAST ASIA:

INDONESIA: On 5 May at 1950 UTC, four robbers in a wooden boat came alongside an anchored product tanker approximately 29 NM northeast of Pulau Bintan at 01:36N – 104:52E. Two of the robbers armed with knives managed to board the tanker using a hook attached with a rope. When the Duty AB on routine rounds encountered the robbers, he immediately informed the bridge. The crew raised the alarm and mustered. The robbers stole the crew members’ UHF radio and fled. When the crew subsequently searched the vessel, they discovered padlocks to four storerooms were broken, but nothing was stolen. (1MB, Clearwater Dynamics)

INDONESIA: On 30 April at 0515, the crew of a Marshall Islands tanker CHEM RANGER detected three robbers in the engine room. The tanker was en route from Singapore to Ulsan, the Republic of Korea in the Singapore Strait approximately

NM northwest of Tanjung Tondong, Pulau Bintan at 01:16N – 104:16E. Upon detecting the robbers, the crew raised the alarm, mustered, and reported the incident to Singapore VTIS. The master deviated the ship back to the port of Singapore and requested assistance from the authorities to conduct a search onboard for the robbers. Upon the tanker’s arrival in Singapore, the Singapore PCG officers boarded the ship and conducted an unsuccessful search to locate the robbers. The crew determined nothing had been stolen during the boarding. (ReCAAP, 1MB)

INDONESIA: On 22 April at 2310LT, crew members on the Panama-flagged bulk carrier HORIZON II detected two robbers armed with knives on their vessel. At the time, the vessel was approximately 20 NM east southeast of Singapore at 01:15N – 104:04E.The vessel was transiting in the eastbound lane of the traffic separation scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait at the time. The captain altered course and began to return to Singapore and request assistance. The Singapore Coast Guard responded, carried out a search of the vessel, and determined the robbers had fled empty-handed. (Clearwater Dynamics)

VIETNAM: On 20 April at 0145LT, four robbers in a wooden boat approached and boarded the anchored Bermuda­ flagged tanker MASAGANA in Vung Tau Anchorage at 10:21N – 107:02E. When the robbers were detected, the crew raised the alarm and sounded the ship’s whistle. The robbers then jumped overboard and escaped in their wooden boat. The crew subsequently searched the tanker and discovered the robbers had managed to steal 80 liters of red deck paint from the forward store. The crew reported the incident to Vung Tau Port Control. (Clearwater Dynamics, 1MB)

INDONESIA: On 16 Apri l at 0800LT, the crew of Belgium -flagged VLCC ARAFURA discovered padlocks to restricted spaces had been cut. At the time, the tanker was approximately 40 NM southwest of the Anambas Island at 02:29N – 105:SOE en route from the port of Sungai Linggi, M Malaysia, to Qingdao, China. The robbers sometime earlier had managed to board the tanker undetected and steal a breathing apparatus air compressor unit and various spare parts. The master subsequently notified ReCAAP and other regional authorities. The exact location of the robbery remains unknown. (ReCAAP)

INDONESIA: On 16 April at 0100LT, the crew of the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier PALAIS detected three robbers on the stern of the vessel. At the time, the vessel was approximately 3.2 NM north of Nongsa Point, Pulau Batam in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait at 01:14N – 104:06E. The master raised the alarm and a search of the vessel was conducted to locate the robbers. No robbers were found, but some engine spares were discovered stolen. The crew notified the Singaporean and Indonesian authorities. (ReCAAP)

PHILIPPINES: On 14 April at 0310LT, two robbers in an unlit boat pulled alongside and boarded anchored Singapore -flagged cargo vessel NYK JOANNA in the Manila Anchorage at 14:36N – 120:52E. A duty crew member carrying out routine inspections noticed the boat and raised the alarm. Seeing the crew’s response, the robbers fled with some of the ship’s property. The crew reported the incident to the Vessel Traffic Management System. (ReCAAP, Clearwater Dynamics, IFC MARSEC Weekly)

INDONESIA – UPDATE: On 12 April 2020, a duty crew member on routine rounds onboard a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier JASMINE anchored in Taboneo Anchorage at 03:41S – 114:27E noticed the forecastle storeroom door security padlock broken. The crew determined mooring ropes were stolen. The master reported the incident to the local authorities. The local port control, Navy, and Police boarded the ship for investigation. (ReCAAP, IM B, Clearwater Dynamics)

MALAYSIA: On 11 April at 1030LT, the master of the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker LEYLA K discovered items had been stolen from his ship while anchored at Tanjung Kelesa, Johar, Malaysia at 01:42N – 104:28E. The robbers had managed to board the vessel undetected and steal a breathing apparatus air charging compressor and an M4 Weldon pump. The captain subsequently informed the regional authorities of the robbery. (Clearwater Dynamics, 1MB, IFC MARSEC Weekly)

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT:

IN DIA: On 18 April at 2354LT, robbers using a dinghy boarded the unmanned Liberia-flagged tanker SEAFROST in­ tow by the tugboat ATLANTIS off Alang Anchorage at 21:25N – 072:19E. SEAFROST was awaiting dismantling. The crew informed the local Vessel Traffic Service at Khambhat, who in turn relayed the incident to the Indian Coast Guard. Coast Guard Station Pipavav requested the Marine Police Alang and Customs Bhavnagar to investig ate. The robbers managed to steal some ship’s property. (1MB)

• AUSTRALIA – NEW ZEALAND – PACIFIC OCEAN AREA: No current incidents to report.

CREDITS: https://www.oni.navy.mil/