Piracy Report PIRACY REPORT JANUARY Piracy and Acts of Armed Robbery of Ships

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1 Piracy Report Independent Global Incident Analysis PIRACY REPORT JANUARY 2016 Piracy and Acts of Armed Robbery of Ships For Monthly Reports Please contact Lydelle Joubert Copyright L. Joubert 1

2 Analysis Four robberies against ships were recorded in Southeast Asia in January Five incidents were reported at Kandla, India and an upsurge of piracy and robbery of vessels were reported in West Africa, with eight incidents recorded in Nigeria alone. The situation in the Niger Delta is fragile with several oil installations blown up in January This instability was reflected in the maritime domain. The tanker Leon Dias was hijacked and five crew members were kidnapping from the vessel. Crew from a fishing trawler and a passenger boat were kidnapped and violent attacks on other vessels were also reported. Both the Movement for the Actualization of a Sovereign State of Biafra (Massob) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOD) denied involvement in the hijacking of the tanker, Leon Dias. Although it is possible that a group sympathetic to the organizations is involved, it is more than likely that the motive was financial. Incidents 2016 Incidents The owner of the Kharisma 9 (the vessel allegedly used to hijack the MT Joaquim), Eva Nobensia, filed a petition at the South Jakarta District Court against her arrest. Her petition was denied. No new information has been received on the four victims kidnapped from the Samal Resort in September. Government authorities warned against further kidnappings in Mindanao. A patrol boat was assigned to the area near Samal to ensure the safety of tourists Another robbery of a Bulk Carrier was reported at Tianjin Anchorage, China in January It seems that oil was once again the target in the theft. January 2016 Incidents The attack on a dhow on the Iranian Qatari water border with Bahrain, led to the death of an Indian fishermen. In the Americas, a robbery on a general cargo ship at the Guanta Anchorage, Venezuela and a yacht in Belize were reported in January Copyright L. Joubert 2

3 Incidents of Piracy and Robbery of Vessels: 2014 to SE Asia Linear () Linear (2016) JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC West Africa Linear (2014) Linear () 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Indian Sub-Continent JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Linear (2014) Linear () Copyright L. Joubert 3

4 Incidents by Region January to January JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC EAST AFRICA/HRZ WEST AFRICA INDIAN SUB CONT SE ASIA SOUTH AMERICA JAN 2016 Copyright L. Joubert 4

5 Incidents 2016: Type of Ship Attacked Type Vessel Code 4 Barge Bulk Carrier Cargo ship Coast Guard/ Patrol Boat Container Dhow Ferry Fishing Boat Fishing Trawler Offshore Supply Vessel Passenger Boat Roll-on-Roll-off Cargo Ship Tanker Tug Yacht B BC CS PB C D F FB FV OSV PMB Ro-Ro MT TB SY B BC CS PB C D F FB FV OSV PMB Ro- Ro MT TB SY Unkn own Americas 1 1 Indian Sub Continent SE Asia 0 West Africa East Africa/Arabian Gulf 1 Copyright L. Joubert 5

6 Southeast Asia Four incidents of piracy and robbery of ships were reported in Southeast Asia in January Two robberies took place in Hon Gai Anchorage, Vietnam. Update MT Joaquim Hijacking The owner of the Kharisma 9, Eva Nobensia, the vessel allegedly used to hijack the MT Joaquim filed a petition at the South Jakarta District Court against her arrest on the grounds that only the police and not the navy had the authority to investigate maritime crime. The court ruled in favour of the navy. 1 The Product Tanker, MT Joaquim was hijacked on 8 August around 13.4nm ENE of Pulau Rupat, Indonesia in International waters tonnes of light crude oil (LCO) was allegedly syphoned to the Kharisma 9. Copyright L. Joubert 6

7 Update Kidnappings Philippines The Philippine Coast Guard warned against further kidnappings in Mindanao. A patrol boat was assigned to the area near Samal to ensure the safety of tourists. No reliable information regarding the Samal hostages were reported in January The Far East 1/01/2016. Nord Power, Bulk Carrier. Robbed. One incident of robbery was reported at Tianjin Anchorage, China in January Once again oil was the target in this robbery. 1 January 2016 The Bulk Carrier, Nord Power was boarded and fuel was stolen at Tianjin Outer Anchorage, China. The robbery was not noticed until a crewmember noticed that the manhole cover was open. 3 Explosions at the container storage facility at the Port of Tianjin on 12 August killed more than 160 people. Hazardous materials in shipping containers at a warehouse were the cause of these explosions. The explosions led to disruptions in vessel traffic to the port. 4 Copyright L. Joubert 7

8 Indian Sub-Continent Five robberies and one attempted robbery on vessels were reported in India in January Five incidents were reported at Kandla. West Africa Twelve incidents were reported in West Africa in January A robbery and an attempted robbery took place at Pointe Noire Anchorage, Congo. A robbery took place on a anchored product tanker at Ango Ango Anchorage, Democratic Republic of the Congo and another on a vessel at Abidjan Anchorage, Ivory Coast. Eight incidents of piracy and robbery of vessels were reported in Nigeria. These incidents were mostly of a more serious nature with higher levels of violence. Copyright L. Joubert 8

9 20/01/2016. MV Kulak IX. Fishing Trawler. Two kidnapped 9/01/2016. MV Sunshine. Security Vessel. Attack on oil platform. 15/01/2016. Ajemisan. OSV. Fired on and boarded. 19/01/2016. Silver Sky. Ro ro. Fired on. 29/01/2016. Leon Dias. Tanker. Hijacked. 18/01/2016. Passenger Boat. 12 kidnapped. 24/01/2016. Passenger Boat. One killed during robbery. 9 January 2016 A security vessel assigned to the area, MV Sunshine, exchanged fire with five men in a speed boat that attacked the oil platform, Auntie Julie in the Coinoil Oil Field, Nigeria January 2016 Ten pirates approaching in a speed boat fired on and boarded the OSV, Ajemisa, 30nm SW of Bayelsa, Nigeria. The crew locked themselves in a safe area. The pirates damaged navigation equipment and stole crews properties and cash January 2016 Gunmen attacked two speed boats in Nembe, Bayelsa, Nigeria and hijacked the boats with 12 passengers onboard January 2016 Pirates in two speed boats fired on and attempted to board the vehicle carrier, Silver Sky, approximately 37nm SW of Bayelsa, Nigeria. The Master activated the SSAS and hoses. The pirates abandoned the chase after three hours January 2016 The Captain and Chief engineer of the fishing trawler MV Kulak IX were kidnapped off Dodo River, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. 9 Copyright L. Joubert 9

10 24 January 2016 A person on a passenger boat travelling to the Abonnema headquarters of the Akuku-Tora local government in Rivers, Nigeria.was killed during an attack January 2016 The tanker, Leon Dias was hijacked 90 nm South of Edumanom National Park, Nigeria. More than ten men approached in two speed boats and boarded the vessel. They changed course to Cotonou, Benin. 11 Conflicting reports were received regarding this incident. It is reported that the hijackers disembarked on 31 January 2016 taking five hostages with them. 12 In other unconfirmed reports it was indicated that Biafra separates hijacked the vessel and threatened to blow it up if the director of Radio Biafra accused for terrorism, Nnamdi Kanu, is not released by authorities. Both Massob and IPOD denied involvement in the Leon Dias hijacking. Biafra was a secessionist state in Southeastern Nigeria between 1967 and 1970 and consisted of a majority of Igbo people. 13 Biafra had a small navy at the time. 14 A civil war with the Federal Nigerian Government led to the surrender of Biafra and its integration into Nigeria. No maritime attacks were connected to Biafran groups in the last decade. Niger Delta militants sympathetic to their cause might be behind the hijacking, but financial motives are the most likely scenario. The Leon Dias suffered a previous attack on 13 April 2013 approximately 30nm SE of Brass, Nigeria. They sounded a distress signal at the time, but no details of the attack was given. Several oil installations in the Niger Delta were attacked by militants in January The military increased patrols in this area. Gas and oil pipelines from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Chevron and Agip were affected. Explosions caused financial losses, polluted the waterways and affected fishing grounds in this area. 15 According to Captain Kemewerigha, a consultant to the International Labour Organization (ILO) seven fishing boats were attacked off the coast of Bayelsa and Rivers State. This include Middleton rivers, Kulama rivers, Fish town rivers, Akassa rivers, Pennington rivers and Brass river offshore shores. 16 A similar situation is reported in Akwa Ibom. 17 East Africa and Arabian Gulf 16 January 2016 A dhow was attacked on the Iranian Qatari water border with Bahrain by three masked men. The crew were assaulted which led to the death of one of the Indian fishermen. The fish catch was also stolen. The navigation equipment and radios were taken leaving the crew unable to find their way. They were left 16 hours on sea. 18 Copyright L. Joubert 10

11 16/01/2016. Dhow. Fisherman killed during robbery Pirate kingpin, Mohamed Osman Mohamud Galool alias Mohamed Garfanje surrendered his militias consisting of 300 men and weapons to Somali authorities in January He was responsible for the 2012 kidnapping of the American journalist Michael Scott More. 19 He was previously captured by Somali security forces during an assault on his house in August Weapons and ammunition were seized at the house. He was released in September He is connected to the hijackings of the Samho Dream in April 2010 and the FV Aride in October Americas A robbery on a general cargo ship at the Guanta Anchorage, Venezuela and a yacht in Belize were reported in January Copyright L. Joubert 11

12 13/01/2016. Yachtman s Dream. Yacht. Robbery and assault. 13 January 2016 The yacht, Yachtman s Dream was boarded by four robbers at night near Middle Long Caye, Belize. The robbers terrorized the crew at gunpoint and stole electronic equipment, a outboard motor, jewelry and other items. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the crime. 20 Copyright L. Joubert 12

13 End Notes 1. viewed 20/01/ viewed 26/01/ viewed 11/01/ viewed 25/01/ viewed 2/02/ viewed 20/01/ viewed 21/01/ viewed 25/01/ viewed 28/01/ wounde/ viewed 2/02/2016; viewed 2/02/201; viewed 2/02/ viewed 8/02/ viewed 25/01/2016; viewed 2/02/ viewed 28/01/ MORIZUR FRANCOIS, Maritime Security Expert viewed 25/01/2016; viewed 25/01/ viewed 25/01/2016; viewed 25/01/2016 Article 1. Aditya Aji M, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (Ict s) IMPLEMENTATION IN PORT / TERMINAL SECURITY SYSTEM (Case Study Ujung Baru Terminal Port Of Belawan Indonesia) 2. Google Earth Copyright L. Joubert 13