Maritime Incident Report: January 2023
Executive Summary
• Global Maritime Security incident figures for 2022 released.
• Vessel Boarded at Takoradi anchorage.
• Chinese Fishing vessel fires shots at suspected pirates in the Gulf of Guinea.
• Vessels boarded in Indonesian anchorages.
Global Outlook and Incident Summary 2022
The International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau (ICC IMB) annual report recorded 115 global incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2022, compared to 132 in 2021, with half of them occurring in Southeast Asian waters, particularly in the Singapore Straits, where incidents continue to rise.
In the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), piracy-related incidents dropped overall from 35 in 2021, to 19 in 2022. While maritime kidnappings in the GOG dropped from 57 in 2021 to just 2 in 2023, overall figures for all maritime crime events (including unarmed robbery and attempted robbery) fell from 52 to 32 overall. Interestingly, some of the cases of “pirated vessels” reported in 2022 are not following the usual modus operandi of pirate groups in the Gulf of Guinea as they turn to oil-related criminal activities such as theft, illegal refining and smuggling.
In East Africa, Somali piracy remains suppressed with no incidents recorded in 2022, the decline in piracy events in the region prompted the International Shipping Industry to remove the High-Risk Area (HRA) for Piracy in the Indian Ocean. It remains to be seen how this will affect the security of shipping in the area. The complex threats that have emerged over the last 5 years in the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea and Yemen continue to cause concern, with further Drone attack incidents taking place against ships in the Gulf of Oman and Eastern Yemeni oil terminals, last year. There has also been an increase in the number of aggressive approaches by military vessels against pleasure craft in the Southern Red Sea.
In the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, regional tensions continue with Iranian forces maintaining pressure on International Maritime Forces engaged in operations to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels. In SE Asia, boarding and robbery incidents in the Singapore Strait rose from 35 in 2021 to 38 in 2022, elsewhere in the region there was an overall drop in incidents compared with 2021. In the Black Sea, mines and military activity continue to pose a threat to commercial shipping.
Maritime crime incidents in the Americas and the Caribbean Arc reduced slightly from 131 in 2021 to 121 in 2022. Ports in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, plus Mexico and Haiti in the Caribbean, were all affected by incidents of boarding and robbery, most of these events were from vessels at anchor. Callao anchorage in Peru remains the hotspot for robbery at anchor with 12 reported incidents, although that is down slightly on 2021 figures.
1. Regional Monthly Report: West Africa and Gulf of Guinea
Monthly Activity
Two maritime security events took place in the Gulf of Guinea region in January. See the incidents reported below.
Maritime Incidents
1. Attack – 31 Jan 2023 0245 UTC: Psn 4 13 00N – 08 50 00E:
The MDAT-GOG reported that a Chinese fishing vessel was approached whilst operating off Idenau, Cameroon. An unconfirmed number of people onboard two speedboats approached the fishing vessel. The armed security guards onboard fired shots towards the two speedboats, which resulted in them aborting the approach and moving away from the area. The vessel, crew and military guards have all been reported as safe.
2. Boarding – 23 Jan 2023 0050 UTC: Psn 4 51 37N – 01 46 09W: Takoradi Anchorage, Ghana:
The duty officer onboard an anchored tanker spotted three unauthorised persons on the forecastle area. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. On hearing the alarm and seeing the crew were alerted, the assailants escaped without stealing anything. A patrol boat was dispatched to the location and an investigation was conducted.
2. Regional Monthly Report: Black Sea and Sea of Azov
Monthly Activity
The risk of collateral damage from drifting mines in the Northwest, West, and Southwest areas of the Black Sea is still current. Russia reaffirmed its commitment to the Turkish-led grain export agreement. The operational status of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports is as follows:
•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 closed.
• Yuzzhny Port is open.
• The port of Berdyansk is closed.
• Olbia (Mykolaiv) 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.
Maritime Incidents
1. Conflict Incident – 23 Jan 2023:
The Bulgarian navy carried out a controlled explosion of a naval mine that had drifted close to the country’s Black Sea coast. Mines began floating in the Black Sea after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Special diving teams in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey have been defusing those drifting in their waters.
3. Regional Monthly Report: Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean
Monthly Activity
At 0001 UTC on 1 January 2023 the Indian Ocean High-Risk Area (HRA) for piracy was removed. The removal of the HRA reflects a significantly improved piracy situation in the region. However, voyage preparation, threat and risk assessments are essential as is the implementation of Best Management Practice 5 (BMP5). The Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) administered by UKMTO has not changed. Ships entering the VRA are still encouraged to report to the UKMTO and register with the Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) in accordance with industry BMP (Best Management Practices).
Maritime Incidents
No Incidents to Report.
4. Regional Monthly Report: Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz
Monthly Activity
There were no significant maritime security incidents reported in this region, in January.
Maritime Incidents
No Incidents to Report.
5. Regional Monthly Report: Yemen and Southern Red Sea
Monthly Activity
There have been no reported maritime security incidents in the region this month.
Maritime Incidents
No Incidents to Report.
6. Regional Monthly Report: South East Asia
Monthly Activity
There were a number of reports of boardings of vessels both at anchor and while underway throughout the region this month. See incident reports below.
Maritime Incidents
1. Boarding – 28 Jan 2023 2140 UTC: Psn: 05 30 0S – 105 172E: Panjang Anchorage, Indonesia:
The second engineer onboard an anchored bulk carrier noticed four unauthorized persons in the engine room. He shouted at them, and the persons ran inside the steering flat, which the 2/E managed to secure. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. The incident was reported to the local agent and port authorities who boarded the ship. No unauthorized persons were found, and nothing was reported stolen.
2. Boarding – 25 Jan 2023 1915 UTC: Psn: 06 14 32S – 108 2533E: Balongan Anchorage, Indonesia:
Around five persons in a small boat approached an anchored tanker. The crew on rounds noticed one unauthorised person standing on the poop deck assisting another one to board. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. Seeing that the crew were alerted, the unauthorised persons escaped with their accomplices in their boat. The incident was reported to port control. All the crew are safe and nothing was reported stolen.
3. Boarding/Theft – 5 Jan 2023 0400 – 1000 UTC: Psn 01 21N – 10421E: Singapore Straits:
Unauthorised persons boarded a barge laden with scrap metal, stole some of the cargo and escaped. All crew members reported safe.
4. Boarding/Theft – 4 Jan 2023 0555 UTC: Psn 01 17 8N – 104 10 5E: Singapore Straits:
Three to four robbers, in fishing boats, boarded a barge which was under tow. It is understood that some of the scrap metal transported by the barge was stolen. The incident was reported to Singapore VTS and a coast guard boat responded. All crew members are safe.
7. Regional Monthly Report: South America and Caribbean
Monthly Activity
Two maritime security incidents were reported in this region during January, see reports below.
Incidents:
1. Boarding – 19 Jan 2023 0540 UTC: Psn: 10 12 8N – 75 50 6W: Cartagena, Colombia:
Three unauthorised persons boarded a container ship underway. The alarm was raised, the ship’s horn sounded, the crew mustered and the coast guard was notified. Hearing the alarm and seeing that the crew were alerted, the intruders escaped into their boat. The coast guard escorted the vessel and after berthing boarded the vessel for investigation. All crew is safe.
2. Boarding – 9 Jan 2023 0425 UTC: Psn 12 01 5S – 77 12 0W: Callao Anchorage, Peru:
Four robbers armed with knives boarded an anchored general cargo ship via the anchor chain and broke into the forecastle store. A duty watchman on routine rounds was threatened with a knife as he approached the forecastle and he immediately notified the bridge. The alarm raised, the ship’s horn sounded, and the crew mustered. Hearing the alarm and seeing the crew’s alertness, the robbers escaped without stealing anything. Local authorities informed through the agents.