How Can Potential Victims Mitigate the Threat of Piracy Attacks; GOA and Somalia Captain Duncan McKelvie F.N.I. NYK Line Area Marine Representative Dubai Office ITP Conference Grosvenor House, Dubai, 31 March2009
Dubai Office (Marine) Tel + 9714 8059795 Fax +9714 8810082 nyklineg@emirates.net.ae
GOA and East Somalia Piracy Statistics Date Hijack Number of Attack Attempted an attack Made a narrow escape WARSHIP protected 03/12/2008 2 1 1 * 06/12/2008 1 1 10/12/2008 2 12/12/2008 3 * 3 * 13/12/2008 2 * 2 * 16/12/2008 4 1 1 17/12/2008 1 1 18/12/2008 1 1 22/12/2008 1 1 25/12/2008 1 1 27/12/2008 1 1 31/12/2008 2 1 1 01/01/2009 1 4 2 2 Experienced suspicious activity 01/01/2009 1 1 * 1 * 02/01/2009 3 2 1 03/01/2009 1 1 * 04/01/2009 2 2 08/01/2009 1 1 13/01/2009 1 1 14/01/2009 2 1 1 20/01/2009 1 Total 19/8/08-20/1/09 36 118 79 39 24
HIJACKED VESSEL LIST (GULF OF ADEN) Date Time Name Type Owner Management Position Flag Crew DWT GRT LOA Freeboard in Laden condition 18/11/2008 0300UTC EKAWATNAVA 5 (Sunk by Warship in selfdefence) Fishing Vessel Unknown 14-17.2N, 050-15.7E Kiribath Unknown (12 onboard) Unknown Unknown Unknown 21/11/2008 ----- ADINA GENERAL CARGO Unknown Unknown Unknown Somali x 3 Yemenis x 2 Panamanian x 2 373DWT Unknown Unknown 28/11/2008 0447UTC BISCAGUA CHEMICAL TANKER Ishima Private Ltd Ishima Private Ltd 13-49N, 049-44E LIBERIA Indian x 25 Bangladeshis x 2 27,350DW T 16,282GRT 170m 3.96m 10/12/2008 ----- Al-Qana'a / Faluja (2 Yemeni boats) Fishing Vessel Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown 16/12/2008 0415UTC MASINDRA 7 TUG Mashindra Shipping (M) Sendirian Berhad 13-54N, 049-39E MALAYSIA Indonesian x 11 192DWT 262GRT 27.9m 0.76m 16/12/2008 0904UTC Bosphorus Prodigy GENERAL CARGO Iskomarine Shipping Co. 13-20N, 047-57E Antigua & Barbuda Turkish x 3 Ukrainian x 8 3,840DWT 3,062GRT 99m 2.80m 16/12/2008 ----- Unknown (Chinese fishing vessel) Fishing Vessel Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown 16/12/2008 ----- Unknown (yacht) YACHT Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown 01/01/2009 0447UTC Blue Star GENERAL CARGO Novstar Shipping & Marine Services Co. LLC 13-55N, 047-58E St. Kitts - Nevis 28 CREW 7,923DWT 6,168GRT 121.8m 2.18m 03/01/2009 0500LT YEMENI coastal ship PRODUCT TANKER Unknown 12-55N, 045-10E Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
date Location Position Time status Description 01/03/09 Gulf of Aden 12-55N, 045-10E 0500LT Hijacked A YEMENI coastal ship has reportedly been hijacked by pirates. Details are very sketchy, but the vessel was carrying 2,000 tonnes of diesel from Aden to Mukalla when it was taken. (The Hindustan Times) Armed pirates in four boats attacked and hijacked a product tanker underway. Information indicates the vessel has been taken to Eyl. 15 crewmembers taken hostage. Further details are awaited. (IMB) 01/04/09 Gulf of Aden 13-03N, 048-42.5E 0540UTC Attempted (Fired) Bulk carrier M/V Vulturnus was attacked by pirates, one speed boat length about 10 mtrs, white hull, open type, doing about 18 kts, 6 people were there in the baot, 3 people standing holding machine guns, other were sitting. The people were covered their face,wearing dark clothes. 3 attempts were made to board and opened fire 2 times. Evasive manouvers were carried out and their attempts failed. Coalition war ship was contacted at the first point of sighting the small baot. Within 15 minutes coalition war ship sent a helicopter to assist the ship.on seeing the helicopter, the small boat moved away. No injuries to the crew or damages to the ship. (UK MTO) 01/04/09 Gulf of Aden 13-24N, 048-15E 0335UTC Attempted The French frigate was on patrol in the Gulf of Aden, when it received a distress call from the Croatian crude oil tanker Donat (166,188DWT / 84,315GRT / LOA: 281.2m). The French frigate sent its helicopter in response and the two pirate skiffs involved broke off their attack. They were tracked by the helicopter, which directed the frigate to them. The skiffs were intercepted by French Navy commandos who found the skiffs were carrying six assault rifles, a rocket launcher and two rockets, a scaling ladder and more than 1,000 liters of gasoline. Ten pirates were captured. (Marinelog) 01/13/09 Gulf of Aden 12-24.5N, 044-57.7E 0810UTC Attempted (Fired) Container vessel "Nedlloyd Barentsz" (67,785DWT / 66,526GRT / LOA: 277m) reported coming under fire while underway.the approximately position is 21 NM SSW of Aden, Yemen. Attack skiff was described as black zodiac-type approximately 6 meters in length with 6 persons onboard. Two rocket propelled grenades were fired at the vessel. Vessel increased to maximum speed and took evasive maneuvers. Attack skiff followed for 30 minutes without further shots fired before moving away. Assistance was offered by two warships who were last reported in pursuit of the pirates. (UK MTO) 01/14/09 Gulf of Aden 13-02.2N, 046-41.1E 1245UTC Attempted Eight pirates armed with guns in two boats attempted to attack a VLCC "DAYLAM" 296,977DWT / 160,576GRT / LOA: 333.5m) underway. Master raised alarm, sent distress message, contacted coalition warships and took evasive manoeuvres. A coalition warship responded and was ready to dispatch a helicopter. Pirate boats slowed down and aborted the attempt upon noticing the British security team at the bridge wings armed with axes. (IMB) 01/14/09 Gulf of Aden Unknown Unknown Attempted Chinese container vessel while underway, two speedboats approached from stern. Master raised alarm and contacted chinese warship in the vicinity. The warship closest to the container vessel, to head towards the pirates at full speed. The pirates gave up the chase when they spotted the warship over the horizon. (Searchine) 01/20/09 Gulf of Aden 12-24.9N, 044-34.5E (Unconfirmed information) 1622LT (Unknown) Suspicious activity A LNG carrier while underway, observed white coloured one small craft. The small craft increased speed and started to approach the bow of vessel. Master raised alarm and took evasive manoeuvers. As the 2 vessel came closer to each other the small craft turned around and increased its speed to about 15kts. The craft then started to steer a nearly reciprocal course and was soon cleared and away.
Pirates were found to be; Very aggressive on boarding Thieves - cabins will be ransacked Not Mariners Young and uneducated Easily disoriented
Pirates were also found to be; Very excitable and unpredictable On Khat throughout Ready to victimise some crew Ready to bond with others Illiterate - could not read ship s name
Crew can prepare by; Destroying crew lists and emergency contact lists Disabling lift and locking doors Hiding food and water Leaving only bait money in safe Keeping a/c in accommodation very cold
Crew can also; Hide a mobile phone - and charger Establish relationship boundaries Be prepared to stop pirates smoking on deck Be prepared to stop pirates using cellphones on deck Crew need to have faith in the company
Companies should expect; Aggressive and exaggerated demands Elaborate threats Demand to speak to only one man Inability to comprehend corporate response Contact from unwanted sources
Experience shows that; Average hijack time is 60 days This is a cash transaction This is not terrorism Any ship can be taken Communication is King
Housekeeping Points; Vessel may be down to 10 kts, bottom cleaning needed All crew will need counseling Release planning should start immediately Contingency will probably be useless Essential that Personnel Dept. keeps constant contact with families.
Points learned from recent incidents; Very important to allow crew to sail vessel to port after release. Completion/closure. Professional help is needed ASAP. Legal and then negotiation Media training should extend to junior staff Stakeholders should be involved ASAP. Having a phone only the Master knows about is invaluable
Thank You Captain Duncan McKelvie F.N.I. NYK Line Area Marine Representative Dubai Office ITP Conference Dubai 31 March 2009 Jan