Weekly Piracy Report

10 February 2012

Back with a vengeance: MVs hijacked in Arabian Sea and off Nigeria; attacks in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean whilst Iran thwarts attack. Study shows where piracy has influenced shipping, insurance and security industry costs. Somali region jails eight. Pirates kill fishermen in S America and Danube pirates are debunked. Maersk paying the price of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Somalia asks for help from Sri Lanka. Armed guards said to be keeping ship reporting quiet and standardised contract gets ever closer to publication as insurance and liability is debated. Gearing up to the London Conference on Somalia. EU sets up security training in Somalia. Ship owners urge government to be heavier handed with captured pirates as notorious pirate, 'Six-Toe Joe' is handed over in Seychelles. Trilateral agreement signed between S Africa, Tanzania and Mozambique. A university is to provide the first Maritime Security degree course.

East Africa

Early reports state that a product tanker was hijacked by pirates offshore Lagos, Nigeria in position 04:57.7N - 002:16.7E at approximately 1402 UTC on Feb 10. The vessel was sailed to an unknown location. Further details have yet to be provided. IMB Piracy Reporting Centre is monitoring the situation. 

Nigerian ship owners have kicked against the Federal Government attempt to award a N16 billion contract to a private firm, Messrs Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited (GWVSNL) for the security and surveillance of the nation’s maritime domain - This Day Live. 

The Nigerian ship owners, under the aegis of Indigenous Ship owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), said they would not subject their vessels to inspection to the officials of GWVSNL. 

They maintained that none of them would allow any of their ships to be intercepted, stopped, boarded, searched or regulated by officials or agents of the private firm. 

The firm allegedly signed a contract with the Federal Ministry of Transport to undertake the policing of the waterways due to what sources said was the huge financial requirements for the job that could not be mustered by a government agency. 

South America

A four-person fishing boat that traveled to aid one of the fishing crews victimized by this weekend’s pirate attacks capsized on Saturday night, with just one of the four fishermen aboard returning to shore thus far.

The vessel had gone to bring an outboard motor to one of the boats attacked on Friday, but capsized due to heavy rain and rough waters, according to a release from the Guyana Police Force, reports MARSECReview.

All of the fishermen who suffered the 24-hour pirate attack, according to the government. 

Meanwhile, Guyana is planning to tighten security measures on its waterways following the spate of attacks on the country’s Pomeroon River. 

A team including members of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and the Guyana Defence Force and Coast Guard will be meeting with the fishermen who were attacked this weekend. 

While no lives were lost and 15 fishermen were rescued, according to the government, two boats were badly wrecked in the attack. 

Guyana’s government is considering implanting a Global Positioning System on fishing boats in order to be able to identify the location of fishing boats in the event of an attack. 

Battered by years of piracy, Meadowbank Wharf fishermen yesterday picketed the Office of the President and were moments later summoned to a meeting with President Donald Ramotar who they said listened to their pleas for coast guard patrolling and the overall security of Guyana’s fishing zone - Stabroek News. 

Their dramatic action followed a piracy blitz on Friday off the Essequibo coast in which as many as 15 boats were attacked and their crews beaten and robbed. At one point a large number of fishermen were locked into the hold of one of the vessels. Around 19 fishermen had to be rescued from the sea on Friday and Saturday after being left by the pirates to drift. There was further tragedy when a boat going to the aid of the battered fishermen capsized off of Suddie. Two men died and several others are missing. There was one survivor.

Pro-government militants, Ahlu Suna Waljamaca (ASWJ) sentenced 8 pirates to jail on Thursday in Galagaduud region of central Somali, according to Somalia Report. 

The 8 pirates were seized by ASKa week ago and appear in court in the region. Of the eight pirates, five were sentenced to 6-months  prison terms and banished from areas under ASWJ's control. The other three were each sentenced to 2-months jail terms, said a witness at the hearing. 

ASWJ officials promised that they will continue to do all they can to handle security issues including piracy. Read more.

Private armed guards placed on merchant vessels to protect them against Somali pirates are under-reporting attacks, according to the European Union naval force patrol-ling in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, writes the Edmonton Journal.

Security teams are concealing details even though industry practice is to alert armed forces about any attacks or pirate sightings, Simon Church, EU NAVFOR's industry liaison officer, said Wednesday at a piracy forum in London.

"Security teams are shaping this on-board decision-making for reasons of liability, because of the action they may have taken to defend ships against attack," said Church, who works at a counter-piracy base in Northwood, England.

The number of armed guards stationed on ships travelling through the region jumped this year as pirate attacks soared to a record and countries including the U.K. changed laws to allow weapons on board. Somali pirates cost the shipping industry and governments as much as $6.9 billion last year, according to a One Earth Future Foundation report. Read more.

Work on the drafting of an industry standard contract for the employment of security guards on ships has now reached phase two of its development. The GUARDCON Sub-committee has completed its initial drafting of the contract and has now entered into a consultation process with private maritime security companies and marine underwriters. While BIMCO would like to be able to involve every company interested in this highly topical project, it is simply not practical to do so - Safety4Sea.

Instead, the Sub-committee has contacted a small selection of reputable international maritime security firms directly to solicit their views on the basic principles addressed in the contract. Likewise, it is important to involve those who will write insurance cover for security providers when using GUARDCON and a similar consultation process has been implemented with a small group of major underwriters who are known to have already written cover for security guards.

As to when GUARDCON will be published, according to BIMCO's Chief Officer Contractual and Legal Affairs, Grant Hunter "We cannot, at this stage, know what the volume of feedback from the consultation process will be, or indeed what the feedback from members of the Documentary Committee will be - so it is difficult to place a precise timetable for the publication of GUARDCON at present. However, BIMCO has set aside the next two weeks for the process, so all going well GUARDCON should appear before the end of February".

Worldwide communities have shown an increased awareness of the importance of providing an outlook for ending piracy. While reflecting on challenges and learning from failures, communities are taking part in the socio-technological dialogue in which good practice becomes the intellectual backbone for defeating piracy - World Maritime News.

The French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) is putting down a new marker for the maritime industry by piloting an anti-pirate attack project. The 12-million-euro project was presented last week to approximately 400 delegates attending MARISK, a forum on shipping security held in Nantes, France.

A French military training vessel Partisan will be equipped with a range of traps and non-lethal defense devices. Sophisticated radar systems and infrared cameras will contribute to detecting the impending danger at an early point, allowing the crew to prepare for imminent risks and inform the authorities of all possible threats. Read more.

A paper recently released through Academia.eu covers the issue of Armed Guards on Vessels: Insurance and Liability. Read the article here.

The University of Greenwich has launched what is claimed to be the world’s first MSc in Maritime Security - Tanker Operator.

The course is designed to help the shipping industry tackle threats, such as piracy and terrorism. It will also deal with new issues affecting environmental and energy security and aims to equip graduates, security personnel, serving and former members of the armed services with the professional skills they need to succeed in senior management roles in this growing professional sector.

The university’s Greenwich Maritime Institute (GMI) has teamed up with its School of Engineering and Natural Resources Institute (NRI), with Marine Insurance and Maritime Crime Consultants and with the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI), to develop the course.

The course starts this September and students can study full-time for one year, or part-time over two years. Read more.

The UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague, spoke at Chatham House of the new effort by the British Government to help Somalia, writes FCO.gov. The speech began, " I am very grateful to Robin Niblett and to Chatham House for hosting this event. Chatham House’s Africa programme is highly regarded internationally, especially for their work with Diaspora communities, so this is a very appropriate place to hold today’s consultation. And I am extremely grateful to all of you for coming today, and to anyone who is watching us via live stream over the Internet.

In just over two weeks’ time London will host a major international conference on Somalia, attended by heads of government and senior representatives from more than 50 countries and organisations, including the President and Prime Minister of Somalia itself.

We want to consult you about this, as members of the Somali community here in Britain. I am joined by our Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham, who will take your questions later. Together, we want to explain to you what the London Conference aims to do; we want to hear your views; and we hope to inspire you to use your connections in Somalia to amplify the message that we care about Somalia and that now is the time for them to make their voices heard. The result of our discussions will be published on our Foreign Office website and will feed into the conference.

The London Conference on Somalia is an initiative launched by our Prime Minister David Cameron. The Prime Minister is convinced, as I am, that we need a better international strategy to address Somalia’s problems and to help its people; and that conditions in Somalia mean that the time is right for a determined new effort to help the country get on its feet.

A more stable Somalia is vital to our national security here in Britain; it is essential for the stability of the Horn of Africa; and it is long overdue for the people of Somalia who have endured twenty years of desperate suffering." Read full speech here.

Garowe Online reports on the speech by H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole) at the 21st Meeting of the International Contact Group on Somalia held in Djibouti City, Djibouti on 5-6 February 2012.

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Honorable Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen: 

I am pleased to address this 21st Meeting of the International Contact Group (ICG) on Somalia. Our people and country has been in turmoil two decades and it is encouraging to see growing international attention towards Somalia. I am very hopeful that this  renewed attention and engagement will bear positive results in advancing peace,  security, stability, development, and democracy for the people of Somalia, the region  and the wider international community.

Today, I would like to briefly touch on three key issues: 1) security and stabilization efforts; 2) political developments; and 3) humanitarian issues. Read more.

EU Training in Mogadishu (Photo: EUNAVFOR.eu)

For the first time, General Håkan Syrén, Chairman of the EU Military Committee, Rear Admiral Duncan Potts, Operation Commander of the EU NAVFOR – Operation Atalanta, and Colonel Michael Beary, Commander of the EU Training Mission for Somalia (EUTM), paid a joint visit to the Somali authorities in Mogadishu.

They reiterated with the members of the Joint Security Committee, which includes senior representatives from the Transitional Federal Government and regions including Puntland and Galmudug, the EU’s intention to enhance peace and security and to counter piracy in Somalia, reports EUNAVFOR.eu.

The meetings confirmed the need for closer cooperation with the Somali authorities to further strengthen Somali security forces and to improve law and order, with a view to improve the daily lives of the Somali people. The EU officials also stressed that security gains can only be sustainable when the political process moves forward as well.

“The Somali security concerns are our concerns as well and we need to tackle them together” said Rear Admiral Potts.

The possible upcoming EU civilian mission – augmented with military expertise – to strengthen maritime capacities in the Horn of Africa was also discussed with the Somali partners. Complementing the successful EU NAVFOR Atalanta operation at sea, this mission would, inter alia, assist Somali and regional efforts to counter piracy on land.

A team of 12 troops from Uganda, part of the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), received vessel protection training from French and Ukrainian specialists in Mombasa - EUNAVFOR.

EU Trains AMISOM VPD - eunavfor.eu

The training is the second in an ongoing scheme and part of the comprehensive approach to improve AMISOM capabilities, in this case with enhanced and specialised drills to respond to a potential pirate attack.

The EU NAVFOR trained AMISOM Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) will form a group of troops who may embark on the ships providing logistic support for AMISOM shipping en-route to Mogadishu.

Training in the pirates’ modus operandi, tactics, rules of engagement, unarmed combat and detention of suspects were carried out before moving to the AMISOM ship for practical drills.

More than two decades after it unilaterally asserted its independence from the rest of Somalia, Somaliland plans to lobby hard at a major conference in London in February for something it has sorely lacked since its inception: international recognition of its sovereignty. 

"Somaliland will attend because 44 nations will be there and those are the ones we need to lobby and explain why Somaliland should be recognized; we see it as an opportunity," Abdillahi Jama Geeljire, Somaliland's Minister of Fisheries and Ports, said.

The London Conference, hosted by the UK government, is expected to bring together "senior representatives from over 40 governments and multi-lateral organizations... with the aim of delivering a new international approach to Somalia", according to a statement posted on the website of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office - IRIN .

Geeljire said: "Somaliland was invited on equal terms with those nations that will participate; it is a golden opportunity for our country and will give us the exposure we need to present our case. It will provide Somaliland with the opportunity to share with our Somali brothers our experience and how we achieved the peace and stability we enjoy today and they are searching for." 

South Africa signed a maritime agreement with Tanzania and Mozambique on Tuesday to join forces against pirate attacks along the east coast of Africa.

The trilateral agreement followed a surge in attacks by Somali pirates - IOL.co.za.

“The agreement will see the three countries working together in securing territorial waters of each respective country,” the department of defence said.

“This includes the three parties sending members to participate in the combined maritime operations aimed at searching and interdicting bases of pirates and any other illegal activities in the territorial waters.”

At the signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Tanzanian President Jokaya Kikwete thanked President Jacob Zuma and his Mozambican counterpart Armando Guebuza for working together to fight piracy in the southern part of the Indian Ocean.

“We will do everything possible to support our forces in combating piracy effectively... we have to keep our seas safe,” Kikwete said in comments quoted by the department of international relations.

Sisulu said the three countries had “taken a lead in implementing the maritime strategy endorsed by Southern African Developing Community”.

The agreement gave rights to the three forces to, among other things, patrol, search, arrest, seize and undertake pursuit operations on any maritime crime suspect or pirate.

The South African frigate, SAS Mendi, is deployed along the Mozambican channel to combat piracy.

The signing ceremony was attended by navy chief Vice Admiral Johannes Mudimu and the Tanzanian and Mozambican military commands.

Mayor Alfredo S. Lim extended his utmost thanks, gratitude and appreciation to the Russian government for rescuing and helping Filipino sailors who get victimized by Somalian pirates - Neptune Maritime Security.

Lim made the pronouncements as he welcomed a Russian delegation that brought to the country the flagship of Admiral Panteleyev and two other ships, “Boris Botuma,” a large sea tanker, and “Fotiy Krylov,” a rescue tug.

The vessels arrived in Manila for a visit to promote friendly ties between the Philippines and Russia.   City officials led by Lim and chief of staff and media bureau chief Ric de Guzman visited the huge anti-submarine ship “Admiral Panteleyev” which docked at Pier 15 of the Manila South Harbor for a guided tour, which was followed by cocktails with the Russian Federation Ambassador, H.E. Nikolay Kudashev and the ship officers.  Subsequently, Lim presented the symbolic keys to the city to Kudashev and Captain Andrey Saprikin, senior commanding officer, during the Russian delegation’s courtesy call on the mayor.

There, the mayor reiterated the country’s gratitude for the help being extended to Filipinosailors against Somali pirates.  The incidents were unreported to the Philippine authorities by the ship owners.

With the need to prepare an international action plan to curb piracy on the high seas, Somalia has sought inputs from Sri Lanka on how it curbed the Sea Tiger menace, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said in Parliament today, reports Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).

The minister read out the letter written by the Puntland State Government in Somalia to the Defence Minister. In the letter Counter Piracy Directorate’s Director General Abdrrizak M. Ahamed said Somalia was hit by an increase in acts of piracy on its waters and beyond its economic zones despite the presence of a well-trained police service. He said a large number of international war ships patrol Somalia’s waters, but this appears to be a temporary solution.

As a result, Mr. Ahamed had proposed to set up a permanent mechanism to address this issue as early as possible.

Mr. Ahamed had said that Somalia had proposed to present a comprehensive plan acceptable not only to the international community but also to the people of Somalia and had decided to discuss the matter with the Sri Lanka government on confidential basis.

Having read out the letter the minister said he had taken steps to secure the release of six Sri Lankan fishermen held by Somali pirates who had demanded a ransom for the fishermen’s release.

The minister said it would be impossible to secure their release by approaching the problem only through diplomatic channels.

“I have taken all possible steps through diplomatic channels. We have informed the relevant authorities,” he said.

Since 2005, Somali pirates started to move around the Yemeni waters to hijack ships and kidnap crews, asking for millions of dollars as ransoms and causing an ever-increasing problem for Yemen. Somali piracy in the 20th century began with the collapse of the state in 1991. As the security situation deteriorated, the smuggling of illegal immigrants as well as the smuggling weapons began to flourish, comments Yemen Times.

Of the 752 pirates currently facing prosecution in 11 countries, Yemen has arrested 120 pirates since 2005. During 2008 and 2009, Yemen detained 62 pirates.

However, due to the high cost of keeping pirates in detention while they await prosecution, Yemen stopped detaining and trying Somali pirates submitted by international forces since 2009. These pirates were attacking ships in non-Yemeni regional waters, according to the CGA.

At present, five Yemeni fishermen from Mukala, Hadramout, remain in jail in India after the authorities assumed they were Somali pirates in May. Two months ago another boat in Yemeni waters was attacked by an Indian ship – the fishermen’s belongings, along with their fish, were thrown overboard. The men were also beaten according to Al-Mahdi. Read more.

The Board of Directors of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), whose member national shipowners’ associations represent all sectors and trades and more than 80% of the world merchant fleet, met in London on 6 February - BYM News.

ICS members reviewed the continuing threat to shipping from Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean.  Noting that the capability of Somali pirates is actually higher than it has ever been, ICS believes that effective compliance with Best Management Practices by shipping, and sustained military intervention with a more aggressive stance, has reduced the pirates’ rate of success.  However, the current situation remains totally unacceptable, with about 200 seafarers still being held hostage in the most appalling conditions, with thousands more still having to transit the danger area in constant fear of their lives.

ICS national associations agreed to work to ensure that the problem of piracy retains sufficient political and public attention so that the crisis might be properly and decisively addressed during the year ahead. Read more.

Shipowners urged governments to take a heavier hand to captured Somali pirates and their financiers, as the threat to trade and seafarers increases, says JOC.com.

The International Chamber of Shipping, whose membership makes up more than 80 percent of the world merchant fleet, said more aggressive military intervention was needed in the Indian Ocean.

“The current situation remains totally unacceptable, with about 200 seafarers still being held hostage in the most appalling conditions, with thousands more still having to transit the danger area in constant fear of their lives,” said the ICS’s board of directors in a statement.

Although better shipping practices and military co-ordination had reduced the chances of pirates being successful, the threat had not diminished.

ICS Chairman Spyros Polemis said shipowners need to persuade the government to directly attack pirates while keeping merchant ships safe. He said every captured pirates should be tried and imprisoned if found guilty.

“Thirdly, governments must break the financial chain through legal action against criminal financiers investing in piracy wherever in the world they are identified,” Polemis said.

Oceans Beyond Piracy released a report that raises concerns about the cost of Somali Piracy to the world economy. Approximately 80% of all costs are borne by the shipping industry, while governments account for 20% of the expenditures associated with countering piracy attacks. The report estimates the 2011 economic cost of piracy was between $6.6 and $6.9 billion. Read more.

A research document, entitled "Treasure Mapped: Using Satellite Imagery to Track the Developmental Effects of Somali Piracy,” was published by UK-based Chatham House website, in January 2012, comments Garowe Online.

This report, written by Dr. Anja Shortland of Brunel University, aimed to analyze how piracy  proceeds were used, between 2001-2009. While the aim of the research is academic, the content is full of contradictions, uses faulty evidence, biased research methodology, street-  talk, hearsay, and was clearly prepared by a person(s) with a clear political agenda in Somalia. It is noteworthy to mention that the researcher has failed to meet her research interests, namely the “interaction between political conditions, institutions, and economic outcomes.”

The researcher’s contradictions are embarrassing by any measure. While claiming throughout the 28-page report that piracy proceeds are spent locally, the researcher goes on to say: “…a  significant proportion of the proceeds is invested in foreign goods or channelled to foreign  financiers.” In another example on page 4, the researcher says: “…because much of the money generated is moved aboard.” Read more.

Safeguarding new African shipping routes against pirates has turned into a costly affair for shipper Maersk, says The Copenhagen Post.

Exporters and shipping companies are not the only ones profiting from growing business and trade between Nigeria and the rest of the world.

Pirate entrepreneurs have also discovered the increased opportunities and have revved up their activities in and around the Gulf of Guinea.

That increase in activity cost container shipping giant Maersk Line 1.1 billion kroner last year as it spent more on training and equipment designed to deter pirate attacks. That is double the amount the company spent on anti-piracy in 2010.

In 2011, there were 64 reported incidents of piracy in the West African region versus 46 the year before, according to the UN. The international organisation notes, however, that many incidents and thwarted attempts go unreported.

The rising market in piracy is one trend that Maersk executives are following with rapt attention.

Pulled by a tugboat puffing plumes of smoke, a convoy of barges moves slowly on the Danube, somewhere in south-eastern Romania - Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty.

Although it’s winter, there’s been little snow or rain and the water level is low. The tugboat stops, unhooks the barges, then begins pulling them in pairs across a stretch of the river that is particularly shallow.

Several barges, filled with ore or coal, wait for hours for their turn. Some pull by the bank, guarded only by a couple of crew members.

This is a scene repeated daily on the Romanian sector of the lower Danube and involves ships from various nations, as the Danube is one of Europe’s main transport routes.

It was a Ukrainian barge convoy that performed this drill on January 4. What happened next is still under investigation by Romanian authorities.

The Ukrainian owner of the convoy, the Danube Shipping Company, said one of its barges -- UDP-1724 -- isolated by the rest of the convoy while waiting to be tugged, was robbed after being boarded by a group of knife-wielding men.

The company said the attackers stole money, fuel, alcohol, and cigarettes and threatened to throw the skipper overboard. No crew members were harmed.

The company filed a complaint with the Romanian River Police, saying it had been the victim of a “pirate attack,” leading the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to summon Romania’s ambassador in Kyiv.

Speaking to RFE/RL, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dikusarov stopped short of calling the incident an act of piracy.

"We confirm these facts, these events, that occurred on January 4. We don’t say that they are pirates," Dikusarov said. "They are criminals who attack ships, including Ukrainian ones. Read more.

The notorious Somali gangster — dubbed Six Toe Joe in defence circles — also has ten fingers plus two thumbs due to a rare condition, The Sun says in a report "Yo-Ho-Toe".

A jubilant source said last night: "We have finally captured the pirate with 12 toes and 12 fingers! This is a massive scalp for the Royal Navy.

"He's the modern day Long John Silver. When you think of pirates you think of peg-legs, not excessive fingers and toes, but the rumours proved to be true."

His bizarre condition is called polydactyly, which affects sufferers from birth.

It is easily remedied in most advanced countries by simple operations to remove the extra digit.

But health care in war-torn Somalia is extremely basic and it appears Six Toe Joe grew up unaffected by his deformity.

The Navy ship RFA Fort Victoria — on a four-month mission with NATO's counter-piracy task force codenamed Operation Ocean Shield — picked up the pirates from a hijacked Yemeni fishing boat.

 

Hijack:

• Arabian Sea - Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, MV Free Goddess, came under attack and was reported Hijacked by pirates in position 16:03N - 062:26E 1500 UTC, approximately 520nm Northeast of Socotra Island, Yemen. The vessel last reported in position 11:59N - 058:09E, approximately 110nm E of Socotra on Feb 9. Originally reported 7 Feb (See above report).

• Gulf of Guinea - Pirates boarded and hijacked a product tanker drifting whilst awaiting orders at 1402 UTC: 04:57.7N - 002:16.7E, Offshore Lagos, Nigeria, and sailed the vessel to an unknown location. Awaiting further details. Reported (via IMB) 9 Feb.

Unsuccessful Attacks (All Regions):

• Indian Ocean - (Late report) German-flagged Ro-Ro cargo ship, OXL Lotus, whilst at anchor at 2215 LT in position 22:11.9N - 091:42.25E was boarded by 5 robbers in 2 small boats and escaped with three mooring ropes. No crew injuries were sustained. Port authorities and Bangladesh CG informed. Reported (via ReCAAP) 21 Jan. CG ship Shetgang conducted extensive search near outer anchorage but no items or robbers traced. After further extensive search, CG recovered the stolen ropes on Kutubdia Island on 25 Jan. The ropes were handed to customs for legal action.

• Red Sea - Pirates in two skiffs chased a Singapore-flagged, Norway-owned LPG Tanker, MT Norgas Sonoma, underway and approached within 0.2nm at 1445 LT in position 12:43.8N - 043:17.5E, Bab El Mandeb, Red Sea. The tanker enforced anti piracy measures, altered course and managed to evade the attack. Reported (via IMB) 6 Feb.

• West Africa - Duty watch onboard an anchored Liberia-flagged container ship, Gallia, noticed wet footprints on the deck and the padlock to the bowthruster room broken at 0110 UTC: in position 04:46S - 011:47E, Point Noire anchorage, The Congo. He informed the OOW who noticed a small boat alongside the vessel near the starboard midship. OOW raised the alarm and crew mustered. Upon inspection a number of stores were found broken into and ship stores and equipment stolen. Master contacted port control but did not receive any response. Reported (via IMB) 4 Feb.

• Indian Ocean - Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker, Ping An, reported being approached by 2 skiffs in position 05:03S - 066:07E, approx 445nm W of Maldives (400nm off Diego Garcia) at 0442 UTC. The 2 white skiffs came within 1.2nm of the ship with ladders observed. The OOW informed the Master, who raised the alarm, sent a distress message, and activated anti piracy measures. As the skiffs approached, the onboard armed team fired warning shots which were ignored by the skiffs. As the skiffs continued to approach the vessel at high speed, the armed team again fired warning shots, which resulted in the skiffs moving away. Reported (via ONI/IMB) 6 Feb.

• Red Sea - About 6 - 7 pirates each in three skiffs chased a Panama-flagged general cargo ship, MV Fanja with 15 Filipino crew, and approached within 200m with intent to board at 1435 LT in position 12:44.3N - 043:19.1E, Bab El Mandeb, Red Sea. The vessel enforced anti piracy measures and contacted warship on VHF. The skiffs aborted the attack. Reported (via IMB) 6 Feb.

• Red Sea - While underway 8 pirates in a skiff chased a Panama-flagged chemical tanker, MV Rabigh Sunrise,(correction) underway and approached her within 0.05nm at 1438 LT in position 12.48.7N - 043:17.9E, Bab El Mandeb Straits. Red Sea. The tanker enforced anti piracy measures, made evasive manoeuvres and all non-essential crew mustered in citadel. Pirates aborted the attack and moved away. Reported (via IMB) 6 Feb.

• Gulf of Aden - Turkey-flagged offshore tug and supply ship, MT Yasra Dogu 1, was attacked by armed pirates using 8 skiffs whilst she was towing a barge in position 12:32N - 043:40E. The pirates aborted the attack after onboard security made their presence known. Reported (via Somalia Report) 6 Feb.

• South China Sea - India-flagged product tanker, Swarna Godavari, was boarded by 3 robbers armed with rods at 0545 LT in position 01:06.20N - 103:28.70E, Karimun STS Anchorage, Indonesia. The Duty crew on rounds sighted the robbers at poop deck and immediately raised the alarm. Seeing the alerted crew, robbers escaped empty handed. The incident was reported to the Port Authorities. Reported (via IMB relayed message to Bakorkamla, Indonesian Navy HQ, Indonesian Marine Police HQ) 7 Feb.

• Indian Ocean - Panama-flagged chemical tanker, Saturn Glory, reported being approached 240nm east of the Seychelles in position 04:18S - 059:59E around 0745 UTC. Five armed people on board a white skiff with blue stripes. The vessel is SAFE. Reported (via NSC) 8 Feb.

• West Africa - Four robbers armed with long knives boarded Liberia-flagged offshore tug, Hellespont Drive, at berth in Takoradi Port, Ghana. Robbers stole ship's stores. Robbers threatened duty watchmen with long knives and escaped in a canoe. All crew safe and no casualties.

• South China Sea - Robbers boarded an anchored General Cargo Ship at 0400 LT: 07:06.5S - 112:39.8E, Gresik Port Inner Anchorage, Indonesia. Robbers stole ship stores and escaped unnoticed. Incident was reported to the local authorities. Reported (via IMB) 10 Feb.

EUNAVFOR figures state 6 vessels and an estimated 176 hostages held captive (Updated Feb 9). Somalia Report indicates 233 hostages held from captured vessels with a further 26 land based hostages, bringing to a total of 259 hostages. See the latest report. UKMTO figures state 10 ships and 194 hostages in captivity.

Vessels are reminded that the coalition forces' warships may not be in the vicinity of a pirate attack, subsequently, it is emphasised that seafarers can greatly reduce their chances of being pirated if they follow precautions as recommended in the Best Management Practices, increasing speed and carrying out evasive manoeuvres is a proven deterrent to piracy attacks. BMP version 4 is available at the link above; a high resolution version can be downloaded here.

Vessels are advised to exercise extreme caution when navigating in the vicinity of any reported positions of attacks and maintain maximum CPA with any ship acting suspiciously. Additionally, registration of vessel movement with MSC(HOA) prior to transiting the region is recommended.

Horn of Africa Pirate Activity

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Any suspicious activity should be reported to UKMTO in Dubai in the first instance (Email UKMTO or Telephone+971 50 552 3215) and on entering the UKMTO Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) bound by Suez, 78E and 10S

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