Recent pirate activity in the Mozambique Channel has prompted Neptune Maritime Security to issue the following Advisory Notice to shipping partners transiting the area and maritime media outlets, in order to raise awareness of a potential hotspot in the region.
Press Release via Neptune Maritime Security
The International Maritime Bureau had previously warned of potential activity in the area and, ironically, on the day of
the first attempted attack (as described by the IMB’s Live Piracy Reporting Centre), September 21, Defence analyst
Helmeod-Römer Heitman told a security seminar in Pretoria that: “Both sides [of the channel] are not particularly
densely populated, are seriously under-policed and there is a lot of shipping going through.” - iol.co.za.
The two incidents we draw attention to took place on September 21 and 22 in the area of the Glorioso Islands in
the Northern Mozambique Channel, off the coast of Madagascar.
In the attempted attack on September 21, the IMB report stated that the crew of a [Cyprus-flagged] container ship underway at position 12:46.6S-046:18.5E spotted two skiffs at 0643 UTC, with three to four people aboard each skiff at a distance of approximately 1.5nm. The skiffs increased speed to around 18 knots and approached the container ship from different sides. The vessel carried out evasive manoeuvres and enforced anti-piracy measures which led to the skiffs breaking off their pursuit after around 25 minutes.
The second attempted attack (IMB), on September 22, took place at 0850 UTC, when a [Norway-flagged] bulk carrier underway at position 12:16.1S-043:19.5E noticed two blue-coloured skiffs at a distance of approximately 1nm. The Master raised the alarm and alerted the armed security team onboard the carrier.
The skiffs approached at a speed of 20 knots and the IMB report notes that the occupants were armed with RPG-7s. As the skiffs came to within 300 metres of the bulk carrier, they spotted the armed security team, reduced their approach speed and circled the vessel for a few minutes before moving away. No shots were reportedly fired by the armed Vessel Protection Team.
Although the attempted attacks occurred approximately 177 nautical miles apart, two attempts in the area in a matter
of days must raise concerns. The move of pirates further South along the coast of Kenya was reinforced by the attack
on the Greek-owned MV Pacific Express at 04:47S-044:35E on September 20 (IMB). Whether this was conducted by the
same Pirate Attack Group (PAG) who then moved further South is unknown at this time.
Helmoed-Römer Heitman stated during his presentation that Madagascar, with more than 4,000 kilometres of
coastline, had one patrol craft and one landing craft. Whilst the South African Navy Valour-class frigate SAS Mendi
(F148) is heading for Pemba port in Northern Mozambique to take up her second anti-piracy patrol in the Northern
Channel - DefenceWeb - we would remind everyone that this is a large area of water to patrol, and that all precautions should be
taken during transit in the area. NATO’s Shipping Centre has itself warned of the dangers to shipping in the area,
suggesting that there are two or three PAGs in the area and that they may move towards the Mozambique Channel as
well as Eastwards.
Whilst two attempted attacks in the region are not statistically significant, they did occur further South than many
security experts might have predicted, while their separation in terms of time and location should be noted by any
companies with vessels in transit in the area. As ever, Neptune Maritime Security will monitor the situation for further
developments and will update the maritime community should it become necessary.
About Neptune Maritime Security:
Founded by decorated, former members of Her Majesty’s elite Special Boat Service (SBS) and supported by a team of international maritime legal experts, Neptune Maritime Security offers the kind of capabilities only the world’s most elite commercial maritime security specialist can provide. With over 30 years of experience in the field of amphibious counter-terrorism, Neptune Maritime Security’s team of highly trained, highly motivated specialists are supremely qualified in the area that concerns shipping companies most: safeguarding crew, cargo and corporate reputations For further details, please visit www.neptunemaritimesecurity.com.
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