Maritime Incident Report: August 2023
Our monthly Maritime Incident Report: August 2023 covers maritime security and incidents throughout the Indian Ocean, the Black Sea, West Africa, South East Asia and South America for the period 01/08/23 – 31/08/23.
Executive Summary
In our monthly regional overview of significant maritime events, we cover security incidents affecting shipping operations from around the globe.
• Gulf of Guinea. The coup d’état in Gabon has affected port operations in Libreville and Owendo, while there have been 2 boarding attempts within the anchorages off Ghana.
• Black Sea. There was further military activity in the Black Sea and Danube ports which could potentially impact the security of commercial vessels and crews operating in those regions.
• Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. A suspicious approach occurred on a commercial vessel near the Bab el Mandeb Strait which serves as a reminder that ships operating in this area face indirect and direct security threats caused by regional instability and conflicts.
• Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. There were no significant incidents to report.
• South East Asia. The threat to commercial shipping from boarding and theft in this region is
ever present and this month was no exception with a total of 5 ships involved in such incidents.
• South America. There were no significant incidents to report.
1. Regional Report: West Africa and Gulf of Guinea
Monthly Activity
August was a quiet month for maritime security incidents in the Gulf of Guinea with only 2 significant events taking place. A firefighting vessel was approached by unknown persons at Ghana’s Takoradi-Sekondi Anchorage and another attempted boarding of the same vessel was foiled 48 hours later. In Gabon, a military coup is likely to affect port operations in the short term.
Maritime Incidents
1. Ghana. 05 August 2023 – Attempted Boarding (Psn 04° 50’ N 01° 43’ W):
Around five unauthorised people in a canoe approached and attempted to board an anchored firefighting vessel twice within 48 hours at Sekondi. On the first occasion, the crew was alerted and raised the alarm resulting in the persons aborting the boarding and moving away. The incident was reported to local authorities via VHF.
2. Ghana. 07 August 2023 – Vessel Approached (Psn 04° 50’ N 01° 43’ W):
The same firefighting vessel was approached by a local canoe with up to 5 persons on board. The crew raised the alarm and the suspected robbers left the scene. The local port authorities were informed.
3. Gabon. 30 August 2023 – Coup d’Etat:
The military took control of the country and overturned the recent general election result in which long-term President, Ali Bongo was declared the winner. The military coup resulted in a closure of the country’s borders and a general curfew was enforced. This action is likely to have consequences for ship operations in the main ports of Owenda and Libreville.
Situational Analysis
There has been a total of 6 boarding events reported this year in the Takoradi – Sekondi anchorages which is already more than in the whole of last year. This is indicative of an increase in such incidents in general across the Gulf of Guinea, up 25% from last year. Gabon is the eighth country since 2020 within West and Central Africa to be the subject of a coup d’état. Ghana and elsewhere in the region have seen a significant drop in the number of piracy incidents in its waters in the last 24 months but as previously mentioned, petty crime against vessels at anchor has increased. This is likely attributable to the socioeconomic situation not only in Ghana but across West Africa in general. Gabon is one of Africa’s major oil producers and derives much of its income from oil exports, therefore any interruption to oil terminal activity is likely to be short-term. Due to the current instability in the country, we advise any ships operating in Gabon to liaise closely with local shipping agents before departure.
2. Regional Report: Black Sea and Sea of Azov
Monthly Activity
Following the announcement in July by the Russian Federation that the Black Sea Grain Initiative was terminated, there have been several attacks against Ukrainian port grain export infrastructure. The grain silos at the Danube port of Izmail in particular, coming under attack from suicide drones. Russia has said it will treat any ships approaching Ukrainian ports as potential military vessels and their flag countries as combatants on the Ukrainian side. In response, Ukraine formally announced all Russian ports and ships are now justifiable targets in the Black Sea. To illustrate the threat to commercial vessels, the Palau-flagged cargo ship Sukru Okan was boarded by Russian troops after it failed to stop when ordered to do so by Russian naval units, while off the Crimean coast, the Russian tanker SIG was damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack which struck the vessel in the engine room just above the waterline.
Maritime Incidents
No incidents to report.
Situational Analysis
With the decision to terminate the Black Sea Initiative, the Russian Federation also terminated its commitment to “facilitate the unimpeded passage of vessels entering Ukrainian territorial waters. However, commercial shipping has been arriving and departing Ukraine’s ports seemingly unimpeded. Following the establishment by Ukraine of a ‘Humanitarian Corridor’ for ships leaving/entering the country, the German-Chinese owned container vessel Joseph Schulte reached Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait some 18 months after being stranded in Odesa for nearly a year and a half. The removal of the right of safe passage offered by the Black Sea initiative agreement and the announcement by both sides in the conflict to legitimise all ‘enemy’ ships as potential targets, has heightened the possibility of commercial vessels becoming the victim of attacks from both sides of the conflict.
Operational Status of Ukraine’s Black Sea Ports
•The Danube ports of Reni, Izmail and Ust-Dunaisk are open with some restrictions.
• Belgorod Dniestrovskiy is open with some restrictions.
• Odesa Port is open.
• Skadovsk port is closed.
• Chornomorsk is reported to be open. Grain export only.
• Pivdenny is open.
• The port of Berdyansk is closed.
• Mykolaiv (Olvia) Port is closed. Cargo operations are suspended for commercial operations.
• Mariupol Port is closed. The city is controlled by Russian forces, and the port is reported by the Russian military to be operational but it remains closed according to Ukraine’s Maritime Administration.
• Kherson Port is closed. Cargo operations are suspended for commercial operations.
3. Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea
Monthly Activity
Despite a relatively quiet phase in the war in Yemen, a suspicious approach on a commercial vessel last month near the Bab el Mandeb Strait serves as a reminder of the risks to commercial vessels posed by the conflict. Threats include missiles, rockets, mines, WBIED and small arms and although they may not be the intended target, the risk from collateral damage is a real one. Vessels are still advised to register transits of the area including the Greater Indian Ocean Voluntary Report Area (VRA) with the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Office (UKMTO).
Maritime Incidents
1. Southern Red Sea. 27 August 2023 – Suspicious Approach (Psn 13° 04’ 59″ N 43° 05’ 49″ E):
UKMTO reported that a cargo vessel was approached to 0.4nm by 1 fast craft, that closed in at 25kts then maintained station keeping the same course as the cargo vessel. The craft had 6 persons on board. When the ship’s embarked Armed Security Team revealed their weapons, the approaching craft changed direction to the west. The skiff was 8 – 12m long and 1m wide with a black/grey hull. There was no indication of a direct threat to the vessel.
Situational Analysis
Although piracy is suppressed, regional conflict, military activity and political tensions continue to pose threats to ships operating in this region. There have been 5 incidents this year in this region in which commercial ships have been approached and in 2 cases, fired upon by unidentified craft that are thought likely to be regional maritime coastguard vessels. Ships are reminded to remain vigilant and cognisant of the risks when transiting this area. Both sides in the Yemen conflict have a maritime capability and both claim to operate the legitimate coastguard service, Eritrea also has a maritime patrol capability. There have been similar incidents recently where ships have been approached by suspicious craft which have sometimes resulted in exchanges of fire with the ship’s armed security teams. Although it cannot be confirmed, we assess this latest incident is likely to be linked to Yemen or Eritrean coastguard operations.
4. Regional Report: Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea
Monthly Activity
Nothing significant to report.
Maritime Incidents
No incidents to report.
Situational Analysis
Nothing significant to report.
5. Regional Report: South East Asia
Monthly Activity
Boarding and robbery from vessels in Southeast Asia is an ever-present threat to commercial ships whether at sea or at anchor. This month is no exception with 5 ships being boarded across all areas of the region.
Maritime Incidents
1. Belawan Port, Indonesia. 29 August 2023 0900 UTC (Psn 03° 47’ 24″ N 98° 41’ 36″ E):
The crew onboard a berthed bulk carrier noticed three robbers armed with knives on the forecastle. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. Upon hearing the alarm, the robbers escaped with ship’s stores. The incident was reported to the local authorities through the local agent.
2. Manilla Anchorage, Philippines. 10 August 2023 1559 UTC (Psn 14° 35’ 34″ N 120° 50’ 31″ E):
8 robbers armed with guns boarded an anchored container ship. They took the duty crew hostage, tied him up and stole his cell phone. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. Seeing the crew had been alerted, the robbers escaped. The incident was reported to VTMS and the Philippines Coast Guard boarded the vessel for investigation.
3. Singapore Strait. 08 August 2023 2215 UTC (Psn 01° 02’ 54″ N 103° 30’ 00″ E):
10 robbers armed with knives and steel bars boarded an underway bulk carrier and entered the engine room. They took hostages and tied up the 3rd Engineer (3/E) in the Engine Control Room. Prior to escaping the robbers stole engine spares. On activation of the dead man alarm the Chief Engineer found the 3/E tied up and immediately informed the Master. The General alarm was raised and the incident was reported to the Singapore Coast Guard who boarded the vessel for investigation.
4. Singapore Strait. 08 August 2023 2215 UTC (Psn 01° 03’ 56″ N 103° 41’ 13″ E):
The duty oiler onboard an underway bulk carrier noticed 3 robbers in the engine room and immediately notified the bridge. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. A search was carried out and ship’s engine spares were reported stolen. After dropping anchor, the Coast Guard boarded the ship for investigation.
5. Singapore Strait. 06 August 2023 1925 UTC (Psn 01° 16’ 30″ N 104° 15’ 06″ E):
The duty 2/E onboard an underway bulk carrier noticed several unauthorized persons in the engine room store and notified the C/E and 2/O. The General alarm was raised, the crew mustered and a search was carried out. No unauthorized persons were found onboard, but some ship’s engine spares were found missing.
Situational Analysis
Although maritime piracy and maritime terrorism have generally disappeared as a threat in this region, robbery at sea remains the most common risk to the maritime industry. There were 90 such incidents recorded last year by the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), Although the perpetrators are sometimes armed, they board vessels to steal ships’ stores and equipment and rarely injure or harm the crew. Piracy and robbery are historic activities in SE Asia and despite regional military interventions there appears to be little they can do to stop it. Most events are carried out at night. According to ReCAAP, the reasons behind the increase in boarding and theft in the region are most likely driven by a socioeconomic situation worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, lower fish catches due to climate change and the prevailing Southwest monsoon forcing some locals living along the strait to turn to sea robbery and petty crimes to make ends meet.
6. Regional Monthly Report: South America and Caribbean
Monthly Activity
Nothing significant to report.
Maritime Incidents:
No incidents to report.
Situational Analysis
Nothing significant to report.