Vintage

The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast by the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre to ships in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions on the SafetyNET service of Inmarsat-C from 29 January to 4 February 2008.

ALERT

Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh
The number of attacks has reduced since 2006. However, the area is still listed as a high risk area and mariners are advised to be cautious especially while approaching the anchorage and while at anchor at Chittagong

Nigeria
Violent attacks carried out by pirates on board vessels at anchor and vessel carrying out STS operations. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution in these waters.

Suspicious crafts

Recently reported incidents

01.02.2008: 0315 UTC: Berth Tin Can No.4, Lagos port, Nigeria. Three robbers boarded a container ship at berth. Robbers broke into forward paint locker. Duty officer raised alarm and the robbers escaped in a waiting boat. Nothing stolen.

31.01.2008: 1955 LT: 12:01.8S - 077:11.8W Callao anchorage, Peru. Four robbers armed with long knives boarded a bulk carrier at anchor. The robbers tied up the duty crew, stole their personal belongings, broke into the bosun store, stole ship's stores and escaped. Master tried to contact port authority via VHF, no response.

31.01.2008: 0615 LT: 03:12N – 008:36E, 15 NM SW Off Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. 10-armed persons in military clothing boarded a cement carrier underway. The intruders identified themselves as Nigerian rebels and only demand food. After nearly six hours onboard, the intruders disembarked into speedboats where another five accomplice were waiting. No injury to crew or any damage to the ship.

30.01.2008: 0145 LT: Abidjan inner anchorage, Ivory Coast. Two robbers boarded a bulk carrier at anchor. They stole ship's stores and escaped. Port authorities informed.

27.01.2008: 2105 LT: Agadir port, Morocco. Three persons in divers’ suites, without cylinders, swam to a container ship at berth. Ship’s watchmen saw the divers and raised the alarm. The suspected robbers swam to another berth and escaped. Master informed port control. The port police arrived one hour after reporting.

02.02.2008: 0030 LT: 05:09N – 106:51E, South China Sea. Two unlit white-hull speedboats about five meters long approached a bulk carrier underway. Master raised alarm, crew alerted, fire hoses activated, and zig-zag course commenced. Fortunately, the sea swell conditions prevented the boarding. After seven hours of following, the pirates aborted the attempt

01.02.2008: 1510 LT 12:55N - 051: 23.6E, 65 nm North Northeast of Somali coast (Cape Raas Caseyr), Gulf of Aden. The officer on watch on a tanker, underway, sighted a small wooden with four men on board approaching the ship. Master informed, alarm raised, accommodation locked down, fire hoses rigged and fire pump started. The boat approached on the port side at a distance of 60 meters and signalled the ship to stop. Master started taking evasive action by commencing a zig - zag course. The pirates started firing at the vessel's accommodation. The ship continued zigzagging and activated the fire hoses. Pirate boat followed the ship for about 6 miles and aborted the attempt at 1530 hrs. No damage to the ship expect for bullet marks. Informed ships in the vicinity via VHF

01.02.2008: 1400 UTC: 12:57N – 051 24E Gulf of Aden. An unknown number of Somali pirates have attacked and hijacked a tug and take its six crew as hostage. Owners are in contact with the crew. All the crew are safe. Negotiations for their safe release are in progress. Further details are awaited.

01.02.2008: 0140 UTC: 04:00N – 099:35E, Malacca straits. Six small craft were in close vicinity of an oil tanker underway. Master took evasive manoeuvres to avoid the closing boats. The heavy rain and bad weather may have prevented the boats closing onto the vessel. Ship activated anti-piracy measures and continued on her voyage without further incident.

29.01.2008: 0415 LT: Pulau Laut anchorage, Indonesia. Four robbers, armed with knives, boarded a bulk carrier at anchor. Duty crew confronted them but that did not stop the robbers from stealing stores. 2/O raised alarm, ship's whistle sounded and crew mustered. 14 crewmembers went forward. Seeing the crew, the robbers jumped into the water and escaped in a 30m long speedboat. Port authorities asked to be called after one hour when contacted by the ship.

29.01.2008: 0830 UTC: 06:00.8N - 082:01.9E, Sri Lanka. Pirates approached a yacht underway. Crew fired shots in the air and the pirates aborted the attempt. The pirates attempted to attack the yacht twice, at 0830 and 1100 UTC.

Piracy prone areas and warnings

Mariners are warned to be extra cautious and to take necessary precautionary measures when transiting the following areas:

S E Asia and the Indian Sub Continent

• Bangladesh : Sixty two incidents have been reported since January 2006. Pirates are targeting ships preparing to anchor. Most attacks reported at Chittagong anchorages and approaches. Although the number of attacks has fallen recently, the area is still listed as very high risk.
• Indonesia : Balongan, Balikpapan, Belawan. Generally be vigilant in other areas. Many attacks may have gone unreported.
• Malacca straits : Although the number of attacks has dropped due to the increase and constant patrols by the littoral states relevant Authorities since July 2005, ships are advised to continue maintaining a strict anti piracy watch when transiting the straits.
• Philippines : Manila - Pirates target ships at anchor.
• Singapore Straits : Pirates seen attacking ships while at anchor but in the past several ships were attacked while underway.

Africa and Red Sea

• Lagos (Nigeria) : Pirates are violent and have attacked and robbed vessels/kidnapped crews along the coast and river, at anchorages and ports. A total of 42 incidents have been reported in Nigeria since 08.01.2007. Twenty five attacks alone for Lagos and seven for Bonny River. Generally be vigilant in other areas in Nigeria.
• Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) : Twenty incidents have been reported since 05.06.2006. Pirates are targeting ships in port and anchorages.
• Mombasa (Kenya):
• Gulf of Aden / Red Sea : Numerous pirate attacks have been reported by ships and yachts in the Gulf of Aden/Red sea. In the past, some of the vessels were fired upon.
• Somalian waters : The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre has received 31 actual and attempted attacks in 2007. Many more attacks may have gone unreported. Some pirates are dangerous and would fire their automatic weapons at ships to stop them. Occasionally, they would use their RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) launchers at ships. Pirates are believed to be using “mother vessels” to launch attacks at very far distance from coast. These “mother vessel” is able to proceed to very far out to sea to launch smaller boats to attack and hijack passing ships. Eastern and Northeastern coasts are high risk areas for attacks and hijackings. Vessels not making scheduled calls to ports in Somalia should keep as far away as possible from the Somali coast, ideally more than 200 nautical miles. Mariners are also advised to report any suspicious boats to the Centre.

South and Central America and the Caribbean waters

• Brazil : Though the number of attacks has dropped in Santos, ships are advised to continue to be vigilant.
• Peru : Callao

Rest of the World

• Arabian Sea : Sightings and calls from suspicious small boats. In some cases, boats pursued the ships with unknown intent.