Piracy Report Independent Global Incident Analysis PIRACY REPORT MAY Piracy and Acts of Armed Robbery of Ships For Monthly Reports Please contact Lydelle Joubert info@piracyreport.co.za 1
Analysis Currently the Gulf of Guinea has the highest concentration of piracy and maritime robbery incidents globally. In the first five months of high incidents were also reported in the Malacca and Singapore Straits; at Samarinda Anchorages, Indonesia; Chittagong Anchorages, Bangladesh; and anchorages around Barcelona, Venezuela. Incidents Eight incidents of piracy and robbery of vessels were reported in the Gulf of Guinea in May. Four crew members were kidnapped from the Offshore Supply Vessel, Brone Explorer off Brass, Nigeria. It is likely that kidnapping of crew will continue in the next few months in the Gulf of Guinea, affecting any of the countries in the area, but with a higher risk off Brass and Bonny, Nigeria. High incidents of petty theft around Lagos Anchorages and Port facilities were also reported in. Incidents A high risk of kidnapping by Abu Sayyaf on vessels transiting waters in the Sulu and Celebes Seas off Sabah, Malaysia still remains. An attempted robbery was reported at Muara Berau Anchorage, Samarinda, Indonesia in May, bringing the total incident since January to ten. The Turkish flagged Bulk Carrier, Ince Inebolu was hit by a missile off Yemen. This incident is not related to piracy, but to the conflict in Yemen. Although the risk to vessels transiting the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden remains low to vessels not affiliated with any of the warring parties in Yemen, it is possible that vessels could be caught in the cross fire. Vessels should refrain from loitering around islands in the area. Vessels with a military profile or with a sailing pattern associated with logistical support to either party in the conflict are more likely to be targeted. Beware of operations or routes that could be interpreted as involvement or support in the conflict. May Incidents Another violent attack on a fishing vessel was reported in Suriname. Robbery does not seem to be the main motive for the attack, but a local feud between fishermen. Suspects have been arrested for the brutal attack in April. Fifteen fishermen were killed in the April attack. 2
Incidents of Piracy and Robbery of Vessels: 2016 to 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Southeast Asia JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 West Africa JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Americas & Caribbean JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 2016 Linear (2016) Linear () Linear () 3
18 Incidents by Region May to May 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY EAST AFRICA AND ARABIAN GULF WEST AFRICA INDIAN SUB CONT SE ASIA SOUTH AMERICA 4
Incidents : Type of Ship Attacked 25 36 63 1 15 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 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 BC B CS C D FB OSV PMB MT TB SY FB FV PB Ro-Ro Other Americas 7 1 9 7 1 Indian Sub Continent 5 2 2 2 1 1 SE Asia 17 2 1 6 6 2 1 1 West Africa 9 1 5 4 4 2 26 4 3 1 3 East Africa/Arabian Gulf 1 5
Southeast Asia 6
Seven incidents of piracy and robbery of vessels were reported in Southeast Asia in May. Five robberies and attempted robberies were recorded while vessels were at anchor. An attempted robbery was reported at Muara Berau Anchorage, Samarinda. This was the tenth incident reported at the anchorage in. Four robberies and attempted robberies were reported in and on approach of the Singapore Straits. Indian Subcontinent Seven robbers attempted to board the Bulk Carrier, Vela Ocean at Chittagong Alpha Anchorage, Bangladesh. Six incidents were reported at Chittagong anchorages since January. 1 7
East Africa, Gulf of Oman and the HRA No piracy related incidents were reported off East Africa or the Arabian Sea in May. 11 May The Turkish flagged Bulk Carrier, Ince Inebolu was hit by a missile 70nm off the Yemeni coast at 23:15LT. The missile penetrated the hull on port side and exploded inside no 3 tank. At the time of the attack the vessel was at anchor but not in the Coalition Holding Area. The missile was most likely launched from land. It is not clear if the vessel was the intended target. The Ince Inebolu was onroute from Novorossikst, Russia to the Port of Saleef, 30nm north of Al Hudaydah Yemen with a cargo of wheat. The vessel was searched and received a United Nation certificate of approval in Djibouti on 4 May. 2 8
Damage to Ince Inebolu Sources: www.denizhaber.com; DNK IOC; West Africa Eight incidents of piracy and robbery of vessels were reported off the Gulf of Guinea in May, of which six were off the Nigerian coast, one off Togo and one off Ghana. Four incidents were reported at Lagos Anchorage and the Lagos Port Complex, Nigeria. Four crew members were kidnapped off Brass. Attacks off Brass, Nigeria 16 May Four crew members were kidnapped from the Offshore Supply Vessel, Brone Explorer. The Brone Explorer was attacked 40nm SE off Brass, Nigeria. Navigational equipment was vandalized and crew s possessions and communication equipment were also stolen. The vessel proceeded to Lagos after the attack. 3 9
West Africa 10
Update Kidnapped Crew Eleven crew members were kidnapped from the General Cargo Ship, FWN Rapide on 21 April, while underway from Takoradi, Ghana to Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The crew were releases on 23 May. The vessel is owned by Dutch company, ForestWave. Six of the crew released are Ukrainian. None of the crew kidnapped are Dutch. 4 South America 11
Three incidents of piracy and robbery on vessels were reported in South and Central America in May. Incidents were reported in Suriname, Peru and Venezuela. Another fishing boat was attacked in Suriname. An attempted boarding of a Tanker was reported at Puerto Jose Anchorage, Venezuela. This was the eight incident reported at anchorages off Barcelona from January to May. These incidents can be considered as petty theft. Attack on Fishermen Suriname 2 May Another attack on a fishing vessel was reported in Suriname on the Matapica Canal leading to the sea. The captain, Hardeo Beechan was killed during the attack and crew members remain missing. Feedback 27 April Suriname Attack Twenty fishermen in four fishing boats were attacked at Wia Wia Bank, New Amsterdam, Suriname on 27 April. Fifteen fishermen were killed during the attack. The owner of the suspect vessel, Nakool Manohar alias Fyah was arrested on 2 May in East Berbice, Corentyne. He appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates Court in May for prior offences in terms of Section Three of the Hijacking and Piracy Act Chapter 10:08. In the first charge against him it is alleged that he and others robbed the fishing vessel Sir Navin between April 1 and April 30, 2015, in the territorial waters of Guyana in the Corentyne Magisterial District. A 248 horsepower engine was also stolen. The vessel is the property of Daneshwar Reddy. According to the second charge it is alleged that Manohar robbed fishing vessel Captain Vickesh owned by Vickesh Balkissoon between the dates of August 1 and August 30 2016, in the territorial waters of Guyana in the Corentyne Magisterial District, while in the company of others and armed with guns and cutlasses. 5 Ron Drepaul was also arrested. He is the captain of Christina-1 SK1221. His boat matched the description of the vessel responsible for the attack on the fishermen. Drepaul is allegedly employed by Manohar, which owns several fishing vessels. 6 12
End Notes 1. https://icc-ccs.org/index.php/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-report/details/172/1618 viewed 9/05/; https://gisis.imo.org/public/par/incident.aspx?action=view&id=7794 viewed 22/05/ 2. http://www.denizhaber.com/deniz-kazalari/ince-denizcilik-fuze-saldirisina-iliskin-basin-aciklamasi-yapti-h74939.html ; DNK IOC INTELLIGENCE REPORT (INTREP) SOUTH RED SEA, Oslo, 14.05. 3. Independent Source 4. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/253433/forestwave-11-kidnapped-crew-members-released/ viewed 24/05/; https://ukropnews24.com/ukrainian-sailors-released-from-captivity-of-pirates/ viewed 25/05/ 5. https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com//05/12/suspect-in-recent-deadly-pirate-attack-remanded/ viewed 10/05/ 6. https://guyanatimesgy.com/killer-man-nabbed-for-fishermans-execution-in-suriname/ viewed 30/05/ 13