Piracy Report PIRACY REPORT JULY Piracy and Acts of Armed Robbery of Ships: Vol XXVI

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

2 Analysis No hijackings were reported in Southeast Asia in July. This is the first month in with no recorded hijackings in this region. The arrests of the hijackers of Orkim Harmony and the prosecution of the hijackers of Sun Birdie in June disrupted hijacking networks in this area in the short term. Reported incidents of petty theft are also lower than normal in July, but this can be the result of late reporting. Incidents Tankers, Bulk Carriers and Container Ships are preferred targets in Southeast Asia. Robberies on Ships at the port and anchorages of Vung Tau have been increasing in with nine incidents reported for the year so far. There has been a surge on attacks on naval patrols and navy facilities in Nigeria in recent months. In June militants attacked navy and police patrol boats. Armed men in two speed boats also stole two gun boats and weapons from the Nigerian Marine Police Armoury in Calabar in June. Another patrol boat was attacked in July, but this time it was coincidental as the main target was an Addax supply vessel. According to an unconfirmed source it is likely that the weapons used in this attack are weapons stolen from the Calabar armoury. Incidents Robberies at anchorages off Nigeria were low in the last three months although kidnappings of crew from supply vessels and passenger boats still continue and are likely to continue in coming months. On 16 July the militant group Wilayat al-sinai claimed responsibility on social media for a missile attack on an Egyptian Swiftships Patrol Boat near Rafah on the border with Gaza. This is the first maritime attack by this group. This attack highlights the danger of maritime terrorist attacks in this region as Egypt is responsible for securing the Suez Canal. An estimated seven to eight percent of global marine traffic transits the Suez canal each year. Oil tankers and foreign naval vessels including nuclear powered aircraft carriers pass through the canal. July Incidents Three incidents were reported in India and one in Bangladesh in July Fishermen were once again kidnapped from boats in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. Copyright L. Joubert 2

3 300 Incidents of Piracy and Robbery of Vessels: 2000 to SE Asia Far East Indian Sub Continent Americas West and Central Africa East Africa/High Risk Zone Rest of World Copyright L. Joubert 3

4 Incidents by Region July to July JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR May June EAST AFRICA/HRZ WEST AFRICA INDIAN SUB CONT SE ASIA SOUTH AMERICA MED July Copyright L. Joubert 4

5 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 B BC CS PB C D F FB FV OSV PMB Ro- Ro MT TB SY Americas Indian Sub Continent SE Asia West Africa East Africa Copyright L. Joubert 5

6 Southeast Asia 26/07/. Fishing Trawler. Maju Jaya. Robbed by gunmen. Nine incidents were reported in Southeast Asia in July. These were concentrated in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. Most incidents in this area can be classified as petty theft. Engine spares are often the target. No hijackings were reported in Southeast Asia over this period. This is in all probability as result of the arrest of the hijackers of Orkim Harmony and the sentencing of hijackers of Sun Birdie in June which disrupted hijacking networks in this area on the short term. Reported incidents of petty theft are also lower than normal, but this can be the result of late reporting. 26 July The Fishing Trawler, Maju Jaya was underway when she was boarded by two robbers armed with firearms in the Strait of Malacca in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The armed men locked the crew in the bridge and stole jewelry, mobile phones and other electronics. They left the trawler in a fast boat. 1 Copyright L. Joubert 6

7 26 July A Crude Tanker, was approached by an unlit boat while underway 5.1nm SW of Pulau Nipah, Indonesia. The boat turned away at 20m as a result of actions of the anti-piracy crew. 2 West Africa 07/. Fishing boats. Attacked by gunmen. 9/07/. MV Tari, Passenger Boat. Attacked by gunmen. One person killed and two kidnapped. 24/07/. Supply Vessel, Wellmanned 3 & Navy Patrol boat. Naval officer killed in failed kidnapping. Three Incidents were reported in Nigeria in July. There has been a surge of attacks on naval patrols and navy facilities in recent months. Another patrol boat was attacked in July, but this time it was coincidental as the main target was an Addax supply vessel. Copyright L. Joubert 7

8 July According to unconfirmed reports a large group of gunmen opened fire on five crayfish boats in Effiat in the Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria in early July. They also took the fishermen s money and allegedly threw a seven month baby overboard 3 when they found the money the mother hid in the baby s nappy. 9 July Seven gunmen in a speedboat fired on a passenger boat traveling from Port Harcourt to Okpoama Community in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. One person was killed and two people, including the master, were kidnapped July A Naval officer, Lt Cmdr Femi Fakiyesi, was killed during a failed kidnapping attempt on a Supply Vessel, Wellmanned 3 near Parrot Island in the Calabar waterways. The officer was on a navy patrol boat escorting the supply vessel with expats working for Addax Petroleum. 5 Indian Sub-continent 07/. FV Nurjahan & FV Faruque. Fishing boats. Attacked by gang. Boats and 16 fishermen taken. Three incidents were reported in India and one in Bangladesh in July. In India one robbery and one attempted robbery were reported in Kandla Port Anchorage and one robbery in Vishakhapatnam, The incident in Bangladesh was more serious. 13 July A gang attacked 12 trawlers in the Jahajmara area of the River Meghna, Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. They took two trawlers, FV Nurjahan and FV Faruque, and kidnapped 16 fishermen. They also stole fish, nets and cash from the fishermen. 6 Copyright L. Joubert 8

9 East Africa 21/07/. Yachts. Ceilydh and 2Fast4you. Robbed 23/07/. SY Imagine. Yacht. Robbed and owner s wife assaulted. Robbers attempted to rob a product tanker at the Mbaraki Terminal, Mombasa Port, Kenya on 20 July. 7 Three yachts were also robbed in the Seychelles, two at the Inner Yacht Basin in Victoria Harbour and another off Eden. The owners wife of the yacht SY Imagine was assaulted when he resisted the robbers. 8 The Port of Aden reopened after it was shut down in April after the Houthis captured Aden. Infrastructure at the port is severely damaged. The World Food Program relief ship, MV Han Zhi docked in the Port of Burega, in Aden on 21 July carrying 3000 tons of relief food. Copyright L. Joubert 9

10 The Med 16/07/. Egyptian Navy Patrol Boat. Missile attack Wilayat Sinai. On 16 July the militant group Wilayat al-sinai claimed responsibility on social media 9 for a missile attack on a Egyptian Navy/Coastguard Swiftships Patrol Boat near Rafah on the border with Gaza. According to unconfirmed reports a Russian-made 9K129 Kornet anti-tank guided missile system was used in the attack. This weapon was not previously used in attacks by the organization. 10 Wilayat Sinai (Province of Sinai) was formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-maqdis (ABM) (Supporters of Jerusalem).ABM was formed in 2011.The group swore allegiance to ISIL on 10 November and changed their name to Wilayat al-sinai. Attacks by Wilayat Sinai are directed against Egypt and Israel and the majority of attacks have taken place in North Sinai against military targets. It is estimated that they have 1000 members and are well equipped. 11 They are in possession of man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) - Igla (SA-18 )12, rocket-propelled grenades, Grad rockets, and mortars. Copyright L. Joubert 10

11 Photos posted on social media of the missile attack on Egyptian Navy Patrol Vessel 13 Copyright L. Joubert 11

12 Major attacks by Wilayat al-sinai and Ansar Bait al-maqdis In October the Egyptian military directed several successful operations against ABM with the result that ABM turned to attacks via remote targeting and booby traps. 14 In December ABM planted 21 roadside bombs in Northern Sinai. Four Egyptian security members were killed and 24 wounded in these attacks. This attack highlights the danger of maritime terrorist attacks in this region as Egypt is responsible for securing the Suez Canal. An estimated seven to eight percent of global marine traffic transits the Suez canal each year. Oil tankers and foreign naval vessels including nuclear powered aircraft carriers pass through the canal. 15 Copyright L. Joubert 12

13 End Notes 1. viewed 30/07/ 2. viewed 4/08/ 3. viewed 13/07/ 4. viewed 27/07/ unb.com.bd/fishermen-abduction viewed 30/07/ 7. viewed 24/07/ 8. viewed 28/07/ 9. viewed 27/07/ ttps://twitter.com viewed 11/08/ Copyright L. Joubert 13