Maritime Incident Report: January 2025
Executive Summary
Our monthly Maritime Incident Report: January 2025 covers maritime security and incidents throughout the Indian Ocean, Europe, West Africa, South East Asia and South America for the period 01/01/25 – 31/01/25.
• Europe: Subsea communications cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea, while elsewhere, human migration events continued in the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea.
• Red Sea and Gulf of Aden: There were no attacks against commercial ships during January. The Houthis responded to the cease-fire agreement in Gaza by declaring a cessation of attacks on non-Israeli ships. The crew of the car carrier vessel GALAXY LEADER was released after 15 months in captivity.
• Indian Ocean and Somali Basin: The crew of a Chinese fishing vessel held in Somalia since November 2024 was released.
• The Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman: Military authorities reported a number of incidents involving VHF radio challenges to commercial vessels in the north of the Persian Gulf.
• West Africa and Gulf of Guinea: Armed robbers boarded an anchored vessel off Côte d’Ivoire and a tanker was boarded by robbers in the port of Lagos, Nigeria.
• Southeast Asia and South China Sea: Robberies took place from commercial ships across the region during January. Boarding and theft from vessels took place in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and in the Singapore Strait.
• The Caribbean Sea and South America: There were no reports of maritime crime taking place in the ports or anchorages of South America, but robberies from private vessels continue to occur in the Caribbean Sea. Migrant and refugee traffic has increased recently in the Mona Strait which separates the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
1. Regional Report: Europe
Monthly Activity
In recent weeks, there has been a rise in the number of incidents involving damage to subsea communications cables in the Baltic Sea. Data and power cables have been cut or damaged in what appears to be an attempt to disrupt critical underwater infrastructure, Russian and Chinese vessels transiting the area are under investigation. UK warships monitored the movements of a Russian vessel in the Irish and North Seas, which is believed to be plotting the locations of UK subsea cables and infrastructure. Missile and drone strikes continue in the Black Sea. Although not targeted specifically, ships operating in the ports and terminals of Ukraine are at risk of receiving collateral damage during such attacks. The number of human migration rescue events reported in the Mediterranean region continues to cause concern, over 2500 migrants were rescued or intercepted in the Aegean Sea alone during January.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 04 January 2025 – Turkey. Migrants Rescued:
27 migrants were rescued off Aydin, Turkey.
2. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 09 January 2025 – Turkey. Migrants Intercepted:
108 migrants were intercepted near Izmir, Turkey.
3. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 14 January 2025 – Turkey. Migrants Rescued:
44 migrants were rescued off Izmir, Turkey.
4. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 18 January 2025 – Turkey. Migrants Drown:
7 migrants drowned when their boat sank off the Turkish coast.
5. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 19 January 2025 – Turkey. Migrants Rescued:
Ninety-three migrants were rescued and detained off Çanakkale, Turkey.
6. The Baltic Sea. 26 January 2025 – Subsea cables severed:
The Swedish coast guard chased and intercepted a Bulgarian ship after a subsea cable in the Baltic Sea linking Sweden to Latvia was damaged. This is the latest in a number of similar incidents in the last 3 months.
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.
2. Regional Report: Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea
Monthly Activity
On 19 January, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was agreed which puts a conditional halt to the fighting in the Gaza Strip. In response, the Yemen Houthis announced they would end their attacks on non-Israeli-operated commercial ships transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It remains to be seen if both the ceasefire and the Houthi’s promise hold, but for now, it reduces the risk to non-Israeli-owned or Israeli-flagged vessels transiting the region. The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) reported no incidents in the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden during January, the first time since the Houthis began their activities in 2023. The crew of the vessel GALAXY LEADER, which was hijacked by the Houthis in November 2023, were released as part of the Houthis response to the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Despite these developments, it remains to be seen if the ceasefire holds, in the meantime, the Houthis have vowed to continue to attack targets belonging to Israel.
Maritime Incidents
No incidents to report.
3. Regional Report: The Indian Ocean and Somali Basin
Monthly Activity
The Chinese fishing vessel Liao Dong Yua and its crew of 18, held in Somalia since November 2023, were released. Although the risk to commercial ships posed by the resurgence of Somali piracy during early 2024 has recently decreased, the potential for a return of pirate activity remains.
Maritime Incidents
1. Somalia. 13 January 2025 – Somalia. Vessel Released:
The 18 hostages onboard the Chinese fishing vessel Liao Dong Yu, hijacked in November off the coast of Somalia, were released on 13 January. It is not known if a ransom was paid for their release.
4. Regional Report: The Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman
Monthly Activity
The ceasefire in Lebanon that brought an end to the tit-for-tat attacks between Israel and Iran continues to hold, reducing the likelihood of a maritime incident taking place in the region. A large-scale Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) exercise, Great Prophet XVIII, was widely reported in Iranian media sources. The Iranians warned mariners that vessels, whether in or near Iranian territorial waters, may experience VHF radio challenges. Iran also poses a potential threat to commercial vessels transiting the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Ships may be contacted or harassed by Iranian authorities while o
Maritime Incidents
1. Persian Gulf. 24 January 2025 – Persian Gulf. Suspicious Communication:
UKMTO reported a number of incidents involving VHF radio challenges to vessels in the northern Persian Gulf. Some of these VHF challenges include demands to alter course. Iran is conducting military exercises in the area and has warned mariners that vessels, whether in or near Iranian territorial waters, may experience VHF hailing.
2. Persian gulf. 24 January 2025 – Persian Gulf. Suspicious Approach:
The US-flagged container vessel LIBERTY POWER was approached by a small military craft that shone a green laser towards the bridge in a position 85nm northeast of Ras Tanurah, Saudi Arabia. The craft then instructed the ship to turn and head towards Iranian waters. The ship did not comply with the request and continued its passage.
5. Regional Report: West Africa and Gulf of Guinea
Monthly Activity
Two robberies were reported in the Gulf of Guinea during January. Armed robbers boarded an anchored ship off the coast of Côte d’Ivoire, and a ship was also boarded by robbers in Lagos, Nigeria. The Nigerian navy reported that they have captured a gang of pirates/kidnappers in Bayelsa State near the town of Brass. Human migration events continue in the Atlantic Ocean. Nearly 1,000 migrants from West Africa arrived in the Canary Islands in just two incidents during January.
Maritime Incidents
1. Gulf of Guinea. 02 January 2025 – Nigeria. Boarding:
It was reported that while anchored at Lagos Port Nigeria, the tanker NORD MAVERICK was boarded by suspected sea robbers. Four individuals were seen on board. The crew raised the alarm, prompting the intruders to flee. The crew and vessel were confirmed safe, and local port authorities were notified.
2. Gulf of Guinea.
13 January 2025 – Côte d’Ivoire. Boarding and Theft:
While anchored at Abidjan Inner anchorage, Côte d’Ivoire, an offshore supply vessel was boarded by a robber armed with a knife. The alarm was raised, and the robber escaped with a stolen mobile phone. The crew was reported to be safe.
3. Atlantic ocean. 07 January 2025 – Canary Islands. Migrant & Refugee Incident:
183 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands; they had departed from the coast of Morocco 10 days earlier.
4. Atlantic Ocean. 22 January 2025 – Canary Islands. Migrant & Refugee Incident:
742 human migrants arrived in the Canary Islands; their departure point is unknown.
6. Regional Report: South East Asia
Monthly Activity
The number of security incidents in this region appears to have remained stable during 2024 when compared with 2023. However, the location of incidents has broadened from Bangladesh in the west to the Philippines in the east of the region, security incidents were recorded for the first time in Vietnam. It is unlikely that there will be any notable change in the number of robberies from vessels in the Malacca and Singapore Strait during 2025, where local authorities have struggled to control criminal activity. There were 7 incidents reported in the region during January.
Maritime Incidents
1. Singapore Strait. 07 January 2025 – Boarding:
During routine rounds, the engine room crew of an underway oil tanker noticed footprints and auxiliary engine spare parts missing.
2. Singapore Strait. 08 January 2025 – Boarding and Theft:
While a vessel was underway, six perpetrators armed with knives were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was raised and all the ship’s crew mustered on the bridge. A security search was conducted but no perpetrators were found. Some engine spares were stolen.
3. Singapore Strait. 19 January 2025 – Armed Boarding:
The cargo vessel GOLDEN CALVUS was transiting the Philip Channel when it was boarded by sea robbers. The crew sighted six perpetrators armed with knives and gun-like objects in the engine room. The alarm was raised, but the robbers escaped. Nothing was reported stolen, and the crew is safe.
4. Singapore Strait. 26 January 2025 – Boarding:
While transiting at night in the Philip Channel, the cargo ship SHI DAI 9 was boarded by robbers. The crew reported sighting five perpetrators (reportedly unarmed) in the engine room. No further information was given about the robbery. The crew was reported to be safe.
5. Indonesia. 17 January 2025 – Belawan. Boarding:
An unnamed tanker reported a boarding while anchored at Belawan anchorage, Indonesia. One crewmember spotted two perpetrators on the port side main deck near the accommodation area. He immediately alerted the bridge of the incident and sounded the general alarm. The two perpetrators immediately jumped onto a boat waiting along the vessel.
6. Indonesia. 23 January 2025 – Balikpapan. Armed Boarding:
While anchored at Balikpapan anchorage, Indonesia, an unnamed cargo ship reported a boarding. The crew sighted six robbers armed with hammers and raised the alarm. The crew mustered and the robbers escaped empty-handed. The incident was reported to the authorities, who dispatched a patrol boat to the vessel.
7. Bangladesh. 12 January 2025 – Payra. Armed Boarding:
Chattogram Anchorage, Bangladesh. Around seven robbers armed with machetes boarded an anchored heavy load carrier ship. They threatened the duty crew with machetes, snatched his UHF radio and personal mobile phone, and stole ship’s property before escaping in a wooden boat. No injuries were reported. The incident was reported to Port Control.
6. Regional Report: South America and Caribbean
Monthly Activity
No criminal activity was reported in the ports of South America during January, but we still advise against calling in ports in Ecuador due to social and political instability. Theft and petty crime rates against private yachts are high in the Caribbean; there were 6 incidents to report this month. Human migration events are growing in number as refugees flee civil unrest and poverty in Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The largest increase has been in the Mona Strait, which separates the Dominican Republic from Puerto Rico, as impoverished Dominicans attempt to reach the US territory.
Maritime Incidents:
1. The Caribbean. 02 January 2025 – Virgin Gorda (BVI). Theft:
A crew member heard a noise on the deck of a yacht anchored overnight off the Spanish Town of Virgin Gorda. A person was seen holding a sugar scoop and looking through the hatch. When he was discovered, the thief jumped back onto a surfboard and swam ashore. A spotlight was used to follow the thief up to the beach until he disappeared. A police report was made.
2. The Caribbean. 08 January 2025 – Saint Martain. Theft:
A 5-meter dinghy, and a 60HP Suzuki engine were stolen from the French lagoon near Nettle Bay. A few days later, the dingy was recovered near Cadisco, minus the engine and controls, and returned to the owner.
3. The Caribbean. 09 January 2025 – Puerto Rico. Migration Incident:
39 migrants from the Dominican Republic were detained off the west coast of Puerto Rico.
4. The Caribbean. 12 January 2025 – The Bahamas. Migration Incident:
37 Cuban Migrants were rescued in the Bahamas.
5. The Caribbean. 18 January 2025 – Key West. Migration Incident:
8 Cuban migrants were detained from a fishing boat at Key West, Florida.
6. The Caribbean. 22 January 2025 – Tortola. Theft:
Overnight, a dinghy and a 25HP Yamaha engine were stolen from an occupied yacht.
For detailed root cause analysis and background to the events described in this report, talk to our Intelligence team who can provide a bespoke report focusing on maritime incidents and conflict situations that may affect your vessels and crew. Contact us at enquiries@priavosecurity.com.