Maritime Incident Report: December 2020
Our monthly Maritime Incident Report: December 2020, covering maritime security and incidents throughout the Indian Ocean, West Africa, South East Asia and South America, for the period 01/12/20-31/12/20.
Indian Ocean Overview
In terms of Piracy, the Indian Ocean region has been slightly more active throughout December with two incidents reported. It remains the case that lower-risk opportunities in other criminal enterprises such as the smuggling of people, narcotics, weapons and charcoal have likely reduced the appetite and desire for local actors to conduct piracy. However, there is cause for a reminder that the threat from piracy is only suppressed, not eliminated.
1. BOARDED
Date: 12/12/20
Location: 10nm West of Matarbari, Bangladesh
Details: Ten robbers armed with knives in two small boats approached and boarded a tug towing a ship, stole ships properties and spare parts before escaping. Ship master informed coast guard and local agents.
2. POTENTIAL ATTACK
Date: 14th December 2020
Location: HRA near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Description: A Tanker suffered an explosion whilst alongside Jeddah. The explosion was reportedly external, causing an internal fire which was extinguished within the hour and no casualties have been reported. A survey for underwater damage is ongoing.
West Africa Overview
This reporting period has seen a large increase in maritime crime and piracy, with a marked increase in violent armed attacks against vessels over 50NM offshore with some attacks occurring over 200NM offshore. Attacks are also increasing further west from the usual hotspots around Nigerian waters. There has been a total of 16 incidents reported.
Vessels are advised to exercise extreme caution when transiting in and around West Africa.
1. BOARDED
Date: 01/12/20
Location: Luanda Anchorage
Details: The crew found two intruders on board. The alarm was raised and both intruders fled. Vessel and crew were reported safe.
2. SUSPICIOUS APPROACH
Date: 02/12/2020
Location: 85NM South West of Brass, Nigeria
Details: A tanker was approached and fired upon by pirates in two skiffs. The alarm was raised and evasive manoeuvres were conducted. The pirates gave up and the vessel was reported safe.
3.ATTEMPTED BOARDING
Date: 03/12/20
Location: 120NM South West of Brass, Nigeria
Details: Watchman noticed two Speedboats each with 6 people on board, approaching at a distance of 3nm. Shots were fired at the tanker, however, security teams responded, and the approach was aborted.
4. ATTEMPTED BOARDING
Date: 04/12/20
Location: 200NM South West of Bayelsa, Nigeria
Details: Aa tanker was approached and fired upon by pirates in a skiff. The general alarm was sounded, fire pumps were activated, speed increased, and evasive manoeuvres conducted. Due to hardening measures and evasive manoeuvres, the skiff aborted the attack and moved away. Crew and tanker were reported safe.
5. BOARDED
Date: 05/12/20
Location: 198NM Southwest of Lagos, Nigeria
Details: Ten pirates armed with rifles boarded a tanker. Ships horn and alarm sounded, and all crew were mustered in the citadel. The pirates left without stealing anything. All crew reported safe.
6. BOARDED
Date: 05/12/20
Location: Luanda Anchorage
Details: MV reported theft whilst at anchor. Two intruders were found onboard by the duty officer who raised the alarm immediately. The intruders fled and crew were reported safe.
7. SUSPICIOUS APPROACH
Date: 06/12/20
Location: Around 100nm South of Brass, Nigeria
Details: Four pirates boarded a tanker. The crew raised the alarm and mustered in the citadel. Unable to reach the crew the pirates left, and all crew are reported safe.
8. BOARDED
Date: 08/12/20
Location: Carena Shipyard Mooring Buoy, Ivory Coast
Details: Robbers boarded a supply vessel moored to a buoy, stole ship’s stores, and escaped unnoticed. Local Authorities informed.
9. BOARDED
Date: 10/12/20
Location: 51NM of Bayelsa, Nigeria
Details: An unknown number of pirates attacked and boarded the ship. They kidnapped 5 crew and escaped. The remaining crew sailed the ship to safe port.
10. BOARDED
Date: 15/12/20
Location: 165NM South West of Brass, Nigeria
Details: Pirates boarded a tanker, but duty officers raised the alarm. After a short period, pirates left, and the crew and tanker were reported safe.
11. BOARDED
Date: 16/12/20
Location: 27NM South West of Brass, Nigeria
Details: Armed persons attacked and boarded a ship, kidnapping 8 crew and escaping. Nigerian authorities notified and accompanied by a Nigerian Navy patrol boat, they were escorted to a safe port.
12. BOARDED
Date: 19/12/20
Location: 85NM South of Brass Terminal
Details: A container ship underway was attacked and boarded by armed pirates. SSAS activated, CSO informed and crew retreated into the citadel. A Nigerian Navy patrol boat was dispatched, and Navy personnel boarded the ship. Investigations showed the pirates had fired towards the bridge and accommodation, damaged ship’s property and equipment, and stole cash and belongings before escaping. All crew reported safe. The patrol boat escorted the ship to a safe port.
13. BOARDED
Date: 21/12/2020
Location: Around 107nm SSW of Brass, Nigeria.
Details: An unknown number of pirates attacked and boarded a container ship underway. Crew mustered in the citadel. After a few hours, the vessel and crew were reported safe.
14. BOARDED
Date: 24/12/20
Location: Luanda Anchorage
Details: Reported Theft. An unknown number of intruders boarded the vessel and stole 2 mooring ropes and 3 heaving lines. The intruders fled without being caught.
15. BOARDED
Date: 26/12/2020
Location: Takoradi Anchorage, Ghana
Details: Duty OOW onboard an anchored general cargo ship noticed one robber on the forecastle, stealing ship’s stores and properties. Alarm raised and crew mustered. Seeing the alerted crew, the robber escaped with the stolen items in a boat.
16. SUSPICIOUS APPROACH
Date: 29/12/20
Location: Around 94nm South of Brass, Nigeria.
Details: MT reported being approached by one small fast craft with 5 armed persons on board, ladder sighted. Master carried out evasive manoeuvres, the approach was aborted. Crew and vessel are safe.
South-East Asia Overview
This reporting period has seen a similar outlook to last month, with six incidents of maritime crime reported. These incidents generally use the same modus operandi whereby persons armed with knives or more rarely guns, board a vessel, either underway or at anchor and steal ship stores or engine spares before making their escape. If they are caught in the act they will generally attempt to escape or more rarely they will confront and subdue the crew before escaping.
1. BOARDED
Date: 14/12/20
Location: Lubuk Gaung Port, Indonesia
Details: During routine rounds, duty officer on board the ship was taken hostage and tied up by four robbers armed with knives. The robbers stole ships stores and spare parts and released the duty officer before escaping.
2. BOARDED
Date: 19/12/20
Location: Singapore straits
Details: An unknown number of perpetrators boarded a bulk carrier. A search on board the ship was conducted and there was no sighting of the perpetrators. The crew remained safe and there was nothing stolen from the vessel.
3. BOARDED
Date: 19/12/20
Location: Singapore straits
Details: Six perpetrators armed with knives boarded a tanker. Some crew were injured and had personal items stolen. The tanker sailed to Singapore to ensure crew were safe, prior to continuing their voyage.
4. BOARDED
Date: 19/12/20
Location: Singapore straits
Details: Five armed perpetrators were sighted in the engine room of a bulk carrier. The alarm was raised and upon hearing the alarm, the perpetrators confronted three crew in the engine room. The perpetrators managed to escape the vessel stealing engine and generator spares in a small skiff.
5. BOARDED
Date: 23/12/20
Location: Singapore straits
Details: Chief Engineer and the duty engineer sighted three perpetrators in the engine room, one being armed with a knife, onboard a vessel. They immediately raised the alarm, but the perpetrators escaped. Later on, the men were found tied up by the perpetrators.
6. BOARDED
Date: 23/12/20
Location: Singapore straits
Details: Bulk carrier crew spotted 6 perpetrators on board the ship and raised the alarm. After the alarm, the perpetrators escaped; Yet, prior to their leave, they managed to confront and tie up two crew in the engine room, who later managed to untie themselves.
South America Overview
This reporting period has seen a slight increase with two incidents of theft.
1. ATTEMPTED BOARDING
Date: 05/12/20
Location: Callao anchorage, Peru
Details: Two unauthorised persons attempted to board an anchored ship via the anchor chain. Alert duty watchmen heard and noticed. Crew were alerted and the assailants escaped in a boat. Incident was reported to authorities.
2. BOARDED
Date: 08.12.20
Location: Macapa anchorage, Brazil
Details: Unnoticed, robber boarded an anchored ship, stole ships properties and escaped. Incident was later reported to local authorities.
For More Information
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