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

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1 Piracy Report Independent Global Incident Analysis PIRACY REPORT DECEMBER Piracy and Acts of Armed Robbery of Ships For Monthly Reports Please contact Lydelle Joubert 1

2 Analysis Nigeria, the Singapore Straits, Indonesia and the Philippines are currently the countries worst affected by piracy and maritime robbery worldwide. Venezuela and Bangladesh also recorded high incidents in Incidents 85 crew members and passengers of vessels were kidnapped on the Benin River, Nigeria (one incident) and off the coast of Nigeria during 13 reported incidents in. Two kidnapping incidents were reported in Nigeria in December, one off Lagos and one off Brass, resulting in the kidnapping of 14 crew members. Maritime kidnap risk off Nigeria remains high. Piracy and robbery of vessels are still in a downward trend in Southeast Asia, although the decline in incidents has slowed down from preceding years. In Indonesia was the country with the most reported incidents of piracy and robbery of vessels worldwide. Incidents Sixteen crew members were kidnapped during four incidents in the Sulu and Celebes Seas off Malaysia and the Philippines in. At least 31 fishermen were kidnapped from fishing boats in the Sundarbans and Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh in. The figure is likely to be much higher than reported. Three hijackings were reported off Malaysia in of which two were against tankers (MGT1 & C.P. 41) and one against a fishing vessel. A tug, Ever Prosper towing the barge, Ever Omega was hijacked off Indonesia in. Five vessels were hijacked off Somalia in of which four were fishing dhows (Salama 1, Casayr II No 30, Aslin & Al-Kausar), and one a bunker tanker (Aris 13). December Incidents More than half reported incidents worldwide occur while vessels are at anchor. In most cases the incidents can be classified as petty theft. The following anchorages and terminals reported high incidents in : Puerto La Cruz anchorages, Venezuela (12) Manila, Philippines (10) Pulau Bintan, Indonesia (9) Muara Berau Anchorages, Samarinda, Indonesia (8) Batangas, Philippines (7) Dumai, Indonesia (6) Lagos, Nigeria (6) 2

3 Piracy and Robbery of Vessels 1994 to SE Asia Far East Indian Sub Continent Americas West and Central Africa East Africa/High Risk Zone Rest of World 0 Incidents by Country Indonesia and Nigeria were the countries most affected by incidents of piracy and robbery of vessels, followed by the Philippines. Both Venezuela and Bangladesh also reported high incidents in. 3

4 Incidents of Piracy and Robbery of Vessels: 2015 to Southeast Asia JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC West Africa JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC East Africa, Red Sea & Gulf of Aden Linear (2015) Linear (2016) Linear () 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 4

5 16 Incidents by Region December 2016 to December DEC 2016 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC EAST AFRICA AND ARABIAN GULF WEST AFRICA INDIAN SUB CONT SE ASIA SOUTH AMERICA 5

6 Incidents : Type of Ship Attacked Type Vessel 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 Code B BC CS PB C D F FB FV OSV PMB Ro-Ro MT TB SY BC CS C D FB OSV PMB MT TB SY FV Other Americas Indian Sub Continent SE Asia West Africa East Africa/Arabian Gulf

7 Southeast Asia 7

8 Fourteen incidents of piracy and robbery of vessels were reported in Southeast Asia in December. All of these incidents could be classified as petty theft. Vessels were at anchor during twelve of these incidents. Four robberies were reported at Manila Anchorages, Philippines. Container Ships were targeted in all four incidents. Robbers board via the anchor chain and hawse pipe. Survival and safety equipment are mostly targeted during the thefts. Life rafts, immersion suits, breathing apparatus and cylinders and fire fighting outfits were stolen. Six incidents were recorded in the Malacca and Singapore Straits. Three robberies and one attempted robbery were reported in the Singapore Straits of which only two occurred while the vessels were underway. In most cases crew s possessions and ship s stores were stolen. A robbery and an attempted robbery were reported at Galang Anchorage, Indonesia. Ship s stores were stolen. On 21 December a robbery and an attempted robbery were reported on the Bulk Carrier, GH Northern Dancer at Muara Berau Anchorage, Samarinda, Indonesia. During the first incident at 00:05LT mooring ropes were stolen while the robbers were sighted on the second boarding at 22:15LT and they had to flee empty handed. 1 A robbery was reported at Gilacap Anchorage, Indonesia. On 16 December the Bulk Carrier, Tron Legacy was boarded at Hon Net Anchorage, Cam Pha, Viet Nam. 882 litres of paint were stolen during the robbery. 2 Far East On 30 December diesel oil was stolen with a hose from the tanks of the Bulk Carrier, Berge Atlas at Caofeidian Anchorage, China. 3 8

9 Indian Subcontinent 23/12/. Fishing Trawlers. Five fishermen kidnapped for ransom. 5/12/. Fishing Trawler. Eight fishermen kidnapped for ransom. 6/12/. Tug, Crest Gold towing barge, Crest 258C. Robbery. 16/12/ & 31/12/. Tug, Crest Spartan towing barge, Crest 252. Robbery. 9

10 Five incidents were reported in Bangladesh in December. Thirteen fishermen were kidnapped for ransom during two incidents in the Sunderbans, Bangladesh. Two tugs towing barges belonging to the same company were robbed off Bangladesh. One of these tugs towing a barge was attacked twice. A tug towing a barge was also boarded and robbed at the same anchorage in November. Kidnapping of Fishermen Fishermen were kidnapped during two incidents on the Meghna River, Sundarbans, Bangladesh. 5 December Eight fishermen were kidnapped from Bhola Majherchar in Sadar Upazila. Their boat was also taken. The kidnappers demanded Tk 3 lakh (US$3600) as ransom from their families December Five fishermen were kidnapped from Lakshimipur in the Char Gajaria area in Ramgati Upazila. Ten to twelve people attacked five trawlers as they were fishing. They also looted fish, nets, a solar panel and oil. The kidnappers demanded Tk 5 lakh (US$6000) as ransom. The next morning the kidnappers went to Motirhat fish quay to sell the fish. The kidnapped fishermen called for help from the trawlers and locals caught four of the kidnappers. Police from Kamalnagar Police Station arrested the kidnappers and rescued the victims. Shah Alam, Jamal, Tarek and Shipon, all residents of Char Ramni Village, were arrested. 5 Attacks on Pacific Crest PTE LTD Tugs and Barges Three robbery incidents were reported involving two of Pacific Crest s tugs towing barges. 6 December The barge, Crest 258C under tow by the tug, Crest Gold was boarded by robbers approaching in four speed boats 4.47nm west of Kutubia, Bangladesh. The officer of the watch (OOW) shone the searchlights on the barge. The robbers escaped with a chaffing chain, PP rope, navigation light, etc. The master placed a security watch on board the barge December The barge, Crest 252 under tow by the tug, Crest Spartan was boarded by eight to ten robbers in two fishing boats 14nm west of Nidania, Bangladesh. The OOW directed the searchlights towards the barge. A chaffing chain, PP rope and life buoy, were amongst some of the things stolen. The master was unable to raise Chittagong Port Control 7 31 December The barge, Crest 252 was once again boarded west of Kutubia. The master spotted a small boat approaching the barge. He attempted to raise local authorities without success. The small boat followed the barge for about half an hour before departing. The emergency chaffing chain, emergency pennant wire and manhole covers were amongst some of the things missing from the barge. 8 10

11 East Africa and the HRA 7/12/. Catamaran. Non piracy related Attack. In December a group of three Polish flagged catamarans were on their way to the Seychelles when one of the catamarans damaged the mainsail. They decided to stop for repairs at Hodeidah, Yemen. They left port on 7 December. They were approached by two skiffs with armed men onboard approximately 20nm south west of Hodeidah. The men fired at one of the catamarans. The catamaran s onboard security team returned fire and the boats withdrew. The transit was not registered with UKMTO or MSCHOA. 9 This incident is likely related to the conflict in Yemen. 11

12 West Africa 14/12/. Fishing Trawler. Four kidnapped. 14/12/. Passenger Boat. Fatality during robbery. 14/12/. MV Skylight. Bulk Carrier. Ten kidnapped for ransom. 24/12/. MV Kota Sejarah. Container Ship. Fired on. 7/12/. MV Kota Sempena. Container Ship. Fired on. Nine incidents of piracy and robbery of vessels were reported off West Africa of which eight were recorded off the Nigerian coast. Five incidents were reported off Bonny island, Brass and the Brass internal waterways. Three incidents were recorded off Lagos of which two were attempted robberies while vessels were anchored off Lagos. Two incidents, one off Lagos and one off Brass, resulted in the kidnapping of 14 crew members. A robbery on a OSV took place at Baie du Bango, Abidjan Port, Ivory Coast. Kidnappings In December two kidnapping incidents were reported off Nigeria: 14 December Six pirates attacked the Bulk Carrier, MV Skylight from a boat approximately 32nm South of Brass. Ten crew members were kidnapped from the vessel. 10 The crew members were release in January December Four Chinese men were kidnapped from a fishing trawler near Lagos, Nigeria. According to the Nigerian Navy the kidnappers took the hostages to their camp in Igbokoda, Ondo state approximately 150km east of Lagos. Naval forces sighted the kidnappers as they entered Igbokoda. The kidnappers fired on the naval gunboat and the they returned fire. The hostages were rescued, but not without sustaining injuries. Navy sources reported that one suspect was arrested during the rescue operation. According to other naval sources one kidnapper, only identified as General, was killed during the rescue operation. 12 In 2013 a suspect in the MV Crow hijacking, Adekunle Adeboye, connected an individual named General from Igbokoda as the kingpin in the MV Crow and MV Notre hijackings in

13 Attack MV Kota Sempena Source Video: v=t8tfob_nwzo&feature=youtu. be

14 Attacks on Pacific International Lines (PIL) Vessels Two PIL managed/owned container ships were attacked off Nigeria 7 December MV Kota Sempena was chase and fired on by masked men armed with automatic weapons approximately 40nm south of Onne Port Fairway Buoy, Nigeria. The crew of MV Kota Sempena took evasive manoeuvres and fired on the speed boat with three flares after which the speedboat broke the chase off December MV Kota Sejarah was attacked by seven pirates 39nm SW of Bonny Island, Nigeria. One pirate boarded with the help of a ladder and fired towards the bridge. The master contacted the Nigerian Navy and headed towards the security boat. The pirates aborted the attack on approach of the security boat. 15 Ferry Operator Killed during Robbery 24 December A ferry operator was killed during a robbery at Okobotuo, Nigeria when the robbers discharged their weapons in the air. The perpetrators left without stealing anything after they noticed that they had killed someone. 16 South America Two incidents were reported in South America. The General Cargo Vessel, Jacqueline C was robbed at Cartagena Inner Anchorage, Colombia and a yacht at Santos, Brazil. 21 December The yacht, SV Moya was rammed by two small boats on approach of port Santos, Brazil. The robbers were armed with handguns and rifles. They boarded the yacht and robbed the solo sailor. The robbers warned him not to call the Navy. He reported the incident once he reached Santos

15 End Notes 1. ReCAAP ISC Weekly Report December /12/; ReCAAP ISC Weekly Report December viewed 8/12/ 5. viewed 8/01/ viewed 8/12/; viewed 11/12/; ReCAAP ISC Weekly Report December 7. viewed 19/12/; ReCAAP ISC Weekly Report December 8. ReCAAP ISC Weekly Report 2 to 8 January UKMTO Weekly Report 2-8 Dec 17; viewed 8/01/ Steve Phelps, Regional Risk and Security Manager, 14/12/; viewed 15/12/ 11. Ken Johnson, Senior Maritime Analyst, Dryad viewed 21/08/2013; viewed 13/03/; Steve Phelps, Regional Risk and Security Manager viewed 8/012/; Lulezim Gjergji, Security Consultant at SEPTU GROUP viewed 12/12/; ReCAAP ISC Weekly Report December viewed 31/12/ viewed 15/12/ viewed 8/01/