Weekly Maritime Crime and Piracy Update – Week of 3 March 2011

Maritime Crime and Piracy Summary (source: Office of Naval Intelligence)

PERU:

• Trawler was robbed 7 Mar while at anchor off Callao.

NIGERIA:

• Fishing trawler was boarded 7 Mar near the ExxonMobil Ubit field.
• Security vessel was fired upon 4 Mar while underway around the Agbani Barge/Parrot Island area.
• A chemical tanker was suspiciously approached 3 March approximately 3NM south of the Lagos fairway buoy.

BENIN:

• A chemical tanker was boarded approximately 12.5NM off Cotonou, Benin.

INDIAN OCEAN:

• Tug (KMC RHINO) was fired upon 6 Mar approximately 130NM east of Eyl, Somalia.
• Bulk carrier (CHARIOT) was fired upon 5 Mar approximately 450NM northwest of Minicoy Island, India.
• Crude oil tanker (GUANABARA) was boarded 5 Mar approximately 328 NM SE of Duqm, Oman.
• Container ship (CMA CGM MUSSET) was fired upon 4 Mar approximately 600NM SE of Socotra Island, Yemen.
• Oil products tanker (AEGEA) was fired upon 4 Mar approximately 300NM SE of Masirah Island, Oman.
• Crude oil tanker (FRONT PRIDE) was fired upon 3 Mar approximately 600NM ESE of Socotra Island, Yemen.
• Chemical tanker (VOGE DIGNITY) was fired upon 3 Mar approximately 200NM east of Socotra Island, Yemen.

GULF OF ADEN:

• Multi-purpose vessel (BRATTINGSBORG) was fired upon 3 Mar approximately 160NM SW of Salalah, Oman.

INDONESIA:

• Product tanker was boarded 9 Mar at Tanjung Priok anchorage, Indonesia.

MALAYSIA:

• Chemical tanker was boarded 8 Mar off of Pulau Mungging, Malaysia.

VIETNAM:

• Wood chip carrier was boarded and robbed 7 Mar near the Cai Lan Pilot Station.

Piracy Forcast Summary

Weather conditions are conducive to small boat operations throughout the piracy operating areas. Mariners are advised the Arabian Sea, Somali Basin, Gulf of Aden, and Mozambique Channel are high risk areas for piracy.  When transiting the region, mariners are encouraged to contact UKMTO and all appropriate authorities.

Source : http://gcaptain.com

U.S. Forces Respond to Gunfire Aboard S/V Quest

TAMPA, Fla. (NNS) — At approximately 1 a.m. EST today, while negotiations were ongoing to secure the release of four American hostages, U.S. forces responded to gunfire aboard the pirated vessel (S/V) Quest.

As they responded to the gunfire, reaching and boarding the Quest, the forces discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors. Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds.

“We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest,” said Gen James N. Mattis, U.S. Central Command Commander.

During the boarding of the Quest, the reaction force was engaged by pirates on board the vessel. Two pirates died during the confrontation and 13 were captured and detained along with two pirates already in US Forces custody. The US Forces also found the remains of two other pirates already dead aboard the Quest. In total, it is believed 19 pirates were involved in the hijacking of the S/V Quest.

US Forces have been closely monitoring the S/V Quest for approximately 3 days, once it became known to be pirated. Four U.S. Navy warships comprised the response force dedicated to recovering the S/V Quest: the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), the guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Bulkeley (DDG 84). The ships are deployed to the region to conduct maritime security operations and to provide support to operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.

Weekly Piracy and Maritime Crime Update – 27 Jan – 2 Feb

Courtesy of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Maritime OPINTEL Report, 3 February 2011

Summary of worldwide maritime crime developments and incidents

A.  NIGERIA:

• Tug was boarded 27 Jan approximately 3NM SW of the Bonny Fairway buoy.

B.  GULF OF ADEN:

• Tanker (MAERSK PHOENIX) was fired upon 2 Feb approximately 105NM south of Salalah, Oman

C.  INDIAN OCEAN:

• Products tanker (PORT STEWART) was fired upon 2 Feb approximately 515NM SE of Duqm, Oman.
• VLCC (DUQM) was attacked 02 approximately 60NM south of Pasni, Pakistan.
• Bulk carrier (JIA NING SHAN) was fired upon 1 Feb approximately 295NM NW of Male, Maldives.
• Livestock carrier (MAYSORA) was fired upon 30 Jan approximately 375NM west of Male Island, Maldives.
• Bulk carrier (STAR OF ABU DHABI) was fired upon 30 Jan approximately 20NM south of Chah Bahar, Iran.
• Container ship (CMA CGM VERDI) was approached 28 approximately 60NM north of Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep Islands, India.
• Tanker (NEW YORK STAR) was boarded 28 Jan approximately 560 NM east of Socotra Island, Yemen.

D.  INDONESIA:

• Tanker was robbed 27 Jan at anchorage in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Piracy Threat Forecast – Week of 3 Feb – 9 Feb 2011

Summary:
Weather conditions are expected to remain relatively calm despite the current monsoon season, creating conditions conducive to small boat activity throughout the piracy operating area.
Mariners are advised that the Gulf of Aden, Somali basin, Arabian Sea, Mozambique Channel, and the area around Comoros are currently high risk.  When transiting the region, mariners are encouraged to contact UKMTO and all appropriate authorities.

Source Here

Global Maritime Crime Update: 6 – 14 January 2011

PERU:

• Vehicle carrier was robbed 9 Jan at Callao anchorage, Peru.

NIGERIA:

• Chemical tanker robbed and hijacked 11 Jan 15NM off  Lagos, Nigeria.
• Two fishing trawlers were attacked and boarded on 10 Jan 11 while at the Fairway Buoy off of Bonny, Nigeria
• Chemical tanker was boarded and robbed 9 Jan while at anchorage 7NM off Lagos, Nigeria.

RED SEA:

• Bulk carrier (ORIENT CRUSADER) was fired upon 10 Jan approximately 31NM NE of Al Hudaydah, Yemen.

INDIAN OCEAN:

• Vessel (LEOPARD) was fired upon and boarded 12 Jan approximately 263NM ESE of Salalah, Oman
• Tanker (ALPINE PERSEFONE) was attacked 11 Jan approximately 380NM west of Goa, India
• Tanker (BARBAROSA) was fired upon 11 Jan approximately 290NM east of Salalah, Oman.
• Bulk carrier (HONG OCEAN) was chased 8 approximately 115NM SE of Salalah, Oman
• Tanker (BW BAUHINIA) was attacked 7 Jan approximately 180NM ESE of Ras al Hadd, Oman
• Bulk carrier (ACHILLEAS) was fired upon 6 Jan approximately 220NM ESE of Ras Al Hadd, Oman.
• LPG Carrier (BW AUSTRIA) was fired upon 6 Jan at approximately 205NM ESE of Ras Al Hadd, Oman.
• Tanker (FRONT WARRIOR) was fired upon 6 Jan approximately 503NM NE of Mumbai, India.

GULF OF ADEN:

• Oil supply ship (BOURBON HESTIA) was chased 12 Jan approximately 50NM SW of Aden, Yemen
• Oil supply ship (BOURBON HECTOR) was chased 12 Jan approximately 50NM SW of Aden, Yemen

Further details can be found in the ONI Report posted in the Forum.