Maritime Incident Report: May 2024
Our monthly Maritime Incident Report: May 2024 covers maritime security and incidents throughout the Indian Ocean, Europe, West Africa, South East Asia and South America for the period 01/05/24 – 31/05/24.
• Europe: Human migration events rise significantly off the Turkish coast.
• Red Sea and Gulf of Aden: Houthi attacks increase but their impact is reduced.
• Indian Ocean and Somali Basin: MV BASILISK was boarded by pirates.
• Indian Ocean and Somali Basin: Four Pirate Action Groups active.
• Persian Gulf: MSC ARIES crew are released.
• Southeast Asia: Robberies reported from vessels at anchor throughout the region.
• Gulf of Guinea and South America: Vessel boarded 363nm southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.
• Caribbean: Reported crime increases – theft from pleasure craft is endemic.
Executive Summary
1. Europe. There was a rise in the number of human migration events reported off the Turkish coast as increased numbers of migrants attempted to enter the EU via Greece. Elsewhere in the southern Mediterranean Sea, large numbers of migrants were rescued by NGO humanitarian vessels and regional coastguard units. The majority of those rescued are put ashore for processing in Italian ports. Off the Turkish coast alone, there were 6 incidents where passing vessels were requested to intervene or rescue migrant vessels in distress. In the Black Sea, there remains an indirect threat to commercial vessels operating in the ports of Ukraine from the Russian bombardment of port infrastructure.
2. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. According to regional military authorities (MSCHOA), there have been 20 Houthi attacks in the region during May compared to 15 in April. Only 3 vessels reported being hit by aerial weapons and in the majority of these attacks Houthi missiles and drones were either intercepted by naval units or fell short of the intended target.
3. The Indian Ocean and Somali Basin. The threat to commercial ships from piracy remained consistent throughout May with 1 merchant boarded, 1 merchant ship attacked and a fishing vessel hijacked. 4 other vessels reported suspicious approaches. The Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV BASILISK was boarded by pirates who injured one crew member before the hijack was ended by Spanish forces operating with the EU Naval Force Operation (EUNAVFOR) ATALANTA. In another incident, an Iranian fishing vessel was hijacked and is believed to be in use as a pirate mothership.
4. The Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Iran continues to pose a potential threat to commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Ships may be contacted or harassed by Iranian authorities as they transit the region. The crew of the container ship MSC ARIES was released in May on ‘humanitarian grounds’.
5. Southeast Asia and the South China Sea. Armed robbery and boardings of ships underway and at anchor continue to pose the greatest risk to vessels operating in the region. There were 4 maritime security incidents reported across this region in May.
6. West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. A product tanker was boarded 363nm southwest of Nova Sintra in the Cape Verde Islands, and robbers boarded a vessel in Conakry Anchorage. Elsewhere the level of maritime crime remains low. Human migration remains prevalent along the coast of West Africa as migrants attempt to reach the Canary Islands and entry to Europe via the Atlantic Ocean migration route.
7. Latin and South America and the Caribbean Sea. The level of crime reported in South American ports remains low. The drought conditions that led to the restriction in the number of vessels allowed to transit the Panama Canal continued to ease in May, the canal is now operating close to full capacity. In the Caribbean, where robbery from pleasure craft appears to be almost endemic, there were 5 incidents to report.
1. Regional Report: Europe
Monthly Activity
There was a rise in the number of human migration events reported off the Turkish coast as increased numbers of migrants attempted to enter the EU via Greece. Elsewhere in the southern Mediterranean Sea, large numbers of migrants were rescued by NGO humanitarian vessels and regional coastguard units. The majority of those rescued are put ashore for processing in Italian ports. Off the Turkish coast alone, there were 6 incidents where passing vessels were requested to intervene or rescue migrant vessels in distress. For further advice on preparing your vessel and crew in the event you are involved in a human migration incident, contact a member of our team at enquiries@priavosecurity.com. In the Black Sea, there remains an indirect threat to commercial vessels operating in the ports of Ukraine from Russian bombardment of port infrastructure.
Maritime Incidents
1. Mediterranean Sea. 02 May 2024 – Human Migration:
21 migrants were rescued by a commercial ship off the town of Balikesir, Turkey.
2. Mediterranean Sea. 02 May 2024 – Human Migration:
38 migrants were rescued off the town of Aydin, Turkey.
3. Mediterranean Sea. 08 May 2024 – Human Migration:
39 migrants were rescued off Izmir, Turkey.
4. Mediterranean Sea. 16 May 2024 – Human Migration:
86 migrants were rescued off Izmir, Turkey. Mediterranean.
5. Mediterranean Sea. 26 May April 2024 – Human Migration :
87 migrants were rescued off Mugla, Turkey.
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
According to regional military authorities (MSCHOA), there have been 20 Houthi attacks in the region during May compared to 15 in April. Only 3 vessels reported being hit by aerial weapons and in the majority of these attacks Houthi missiles and drones were either intercepted by naval units or fell short of the intended target. For further advice on preparing your vessel and crew for the possibility of an aerial attack, contact a member of our team at enquiries@priavosecurity.com.
On 20 May 2024 the UK Government provided comprehensive guidance via its GOV.UK website to the maritime industry to help it understand aerial drone technology and the potential threats including mitigation advice and response options from such weapons. The UK government’s guidance can be found at https://shorturl.at/MgKq4 .
Maritime Incidents
1. Red Sea. 17 May 2024 – Vessel Attacked:
UKMTO reported an attack on the Panama-flagged Tanker, MT WIND while the vessel was transiting in the Red Sea approximately 96nm South of Hodiedah, Yemen. The ship was targeted by a missile and was hit at the port quarter and sustained minor damage. The crew were reported to be safe.
2. Red Sea. 28 May 2024 – Vessel Attacked:
The Marshal Islands-flagged bulk carrier MT LAAX was reportedly targeted by two separate multiple missile attacks. The vessel was initially attacked while transiting in the Red Sea approximately 54nm Southwest of Hodiedah, Yemen. UKMTO later reported a second attack approximately 33nm West of Mocha, Yemen. Extensive damage to the vessel and one injury was reported. The vessel issued a distress call via VHF Channel 16 stating that the vessel had sustained multiple damage after the missile exploded on the port side of the vessel. All the accommodation windows were broken and one crew member suffered a head injury from fragments. The ship’s cargo hold number 6 was damaged and the ship was reportedly taking on water and listing 2 degrees to port. Further reports the bulker was sailing to a port nearby (possibly Djibouti) to assess the extent of the damage.
3. Gulf of Aden. 07 May – Vessel Attacked:
There was a report of an attack on 2 Panama-flagged container vessels, MSC DIEGO & MSC GINA while the vessels were transiting in the Gulf of Aden approximately 82nm South of Aden, Yemen. One vessel reported slight damage from a missile strike.
3. Regional Report: The Indian Ocean and Somali Basin
Monthly Activity
The threat to commercial ships from piracy remained consistent throughout May with 1 merchant boarded, 1 merchant ship attacked and a fishing vessel hijacked. Attacked. 4 other vessels reporting suspicious approaches. The Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV BASILISK was boarded by pirates who injured one crew member before the hijack was ended by Spanish forces operating with the EU Naval Force Operation (EUNAVFOR) ATALANTA. In another incident, an Iranian fishing vessel was hijacked and is believed to be in use as a pirate mothership.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Somali Basin. 13 May 2024 – Fishing Vessel Hijacked:
The Iranian fishing vessel AL FAJR 2 was hijacked approximately 50nm Southeast of Eyl, Somalia. Reports stated that 6 -7 pirates attacked the vessel from a single skiff and that they were armed with Kalashnikov rifles.
2. The Somali Basin. 13 May 2024 – Suspicious Approach:
The master of a bulk carrier reported a suspicious approach by 3 skiffs with 12 persons on board, 25nm South of Mogadishu.
3. The Somali Basin. 23 May 2024 – Suspicious Approach:
The master of a bulk carrier reported that his ship was followed for 5 hours by 3 Dhows which were acting suspiciously. No attempt to board the ship was made.
4. The Somali Basin. 23 May 2024 – Vessel Boarded:
UKMTO reported a piracy hijack incident in the Somali Basin. UKMTO stated that the bulk carrier MV BASILISK was hijacked 420nm Southeast of Mogadishu, Somalia. Two small craft containing an unknown number of pirates boarded the vessel. The ship’s master was reported to have been shot during the hijack. A Spanish warship ESPS CANARIAS, operating under the EU NAVFOR counter-piracy mission Op ATALANTA was on patrol in the area and members of the ship boarded the hijacked vessel and released the 17 crew members. The master was treated for his injuries by a Spanish medical team. The pirates fled the scene and were not apprehended.
5. The Indian Ocean. 08 May 2024 – Suspicious Approach:
A small fast boat with three persons onboard approached a merchant vessel while underway approximately 350 NM east of Socotra, Yemen, following the approach, the boat turned away and returned to a 30-meter fishing vessel that had another three speedboats located at its stern. All vessels appeared to be acting together. No weapons or ladders were observed. The vessel and crew were reported to be safe and the ship headed to her next port of call.
6. The Indian Ocean. 10 May 2024 – Piracy Attack:
The UKMTO and MSCHOA reported a suspected piracy incident in the Gulf of Aden. The reports stated that the product tanker CHRYSTAL ARCTIC had come under attack in a position 90nm Northwest of Basaso, Somalia. A skiff manned with 5-6 persons carrying weapons and a ladder, approached the ship from the starboard side and tried to board. The ship altered course away from the skiff and sounded its horn but the skiff continued its approach. The ship’s Armed Security Team (AST) showed their weapons and the skiff started firing at the vessel. In reply, the armed guards shot 4 rounds which started a fire on the skiff. The skiff aborted its approach. All crew were reported safe and the merchant vessel proceeded towards her destination. The pirates were later apprehended by the Spanish warship ESPS CANARIAS.
7. The Indian Ocean. 25 May 2024 – Suspicious Approach:
The master of an oil tanker reported a suspicious approach by 1 skiff 80nm Southeast of Al Mukalla, Yemen.
4. Regional Report: The Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman
Monthly Activity
Iran continues to pose a potential threat to commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Ships may be contacted or harassed by Iranian authorities as they transit the region. The crew of the container ship MSC ARIES was released in May on ‘humanitarian grounds’.
Maritime Incidents
No incidents to report. It was reported on 03 May that the crew of the container vessel MSC ARIES which was detained by Iran in April for ‘jeopardising the security of navigation’, was released on ‘humanitarian grounds’. The ship, however, remains anchored off the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.
5. Regional Report: West Africa and Gulf of Guinea
Monthly Activity
A product tanker was boarded 363nm southwest of Nova Sintra in the Cape Verde Islands, and robbers boarded a vessel in Conakry Anchorage. Elsewhere the level of maritime crime remains low. Human migration remains prevalent along the coast of West Africa as migrants attempt to reach the Canary Islands and entry to Europe via the Atlantic Ocean migration route.
Maritime Incidents
1. Gulf of Guinea. 21 May 2024 – Boarding and Theft:
Conakry anchorage, Guinea. Robbers boarded a container vessel and stole the ship’s rescue boat and outboard motor.
2. Gulf of Guinea. 17 May 2024 – Armed Boarding and Theft :
Approximately 363nm South-Southwest of Nova Sintra, Cabo Verde. Ten pirates armed with AK-47s boarded a product tanker and took control of the bridge. All the crew were mustered on the bridge where the pirates tied up their hands and legs. The pirates ordered the 2/Engineer and 4/Engineer to stop the ship’s engines and drift intending to steal the cargo. While waiting for the bunkering vessel the pirates stole the crew and ship’s property. They then moved all the crew into the steering gear room and informed the crew that there were explosive devices fixed on all doors and that the crew could only exit after two hours. Once the crew emerged from the steering gear room, no pirates or explosives were found. The pirates had damaged communication, internet, navigation equipment and the air control pipes for the main engine and cylinder oil flow valves before escaping. The crew managed to sail the vessel to the next port. No cargo was stolen.
3. Atlantic Ocean. 17 May 2024 – Human Migration Incident:
116 migrants were rescued off the coast of Senegal as they attempted to reach the Canary Islands.
6. Regional Report: South East Asia
Monthly Activity
Armed robbery and boardings of ships underway and at anchor continue to pose the greatest risk to vessels operating in the region. There were 4 maritime security incidents reported across this region in May.
Maritime Incidents
1. Bangladesh. 12 May 2024 – Boarding and Theft:
Chattogram Anchorage, Bangladesh. Five robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored tanker. The duty crewman on rounds noticed some movement at the poop deck and raised the alarm. The crew were mustered and a search was carried out. Two watchmen were found tied up. The paint store lock was broken and ship’s stores were stolen. The incident was reported to the Coast Guard.
2. Indonesia. 14 May 2024 – Boarding and Theft:
Dumai Anchorage, Indonesia. The duty crewman onboard an anchored general cargo ship noticed three unauthorised persons attempting to enter the engine room. The alarm was raised and a PA announcement was made resulting in the persons escaping empty-handed.
3. Indonesia. 20 May 2024 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
Singapore Strait. Five robbers armed with knives boarded an underway bulk carrier. They entered the engine room, took a member of the crew hostage and tied his hands. The robbers released the duty crew before escaping with the stolen ship’s engine spare parts.
2. Indonesia. 12 April 2024 – Boarding/Theft:
Balikpapan Anchorage, Indonesia. An anchored product tanker was boarded by four perpetrators via the anchor chain. They broke into the forecastle store and escaped with ship’s stores and property. The incident was reported to Balikpapan port control.
2. Indonesia. 24 May 2024 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
Dumai Anchorage, Indonesia. Around 3-4, robbers armed with knives and iron bars boarded an anchored bulk carrier. They stole ship’s engine spares and escaped. The theft was noticed on the CCTV.
6. Regional Report: South America and Caribbean
Monthly Activity
The level of crime reported in South American ports remains low. The drought conditions that led to the restriction in the number of vessels allowed to transit the Panama Canal continued to ease in May, the canal is now operating close to full capacity. In the Caribbean, where robbery from pleasure craft appears to be almost endemic, there were 5 incidents to report.
Maritime Incidents:
1. The Caribbean. 03 May 2024 – Theft – British Virgin Islands:
Thieves boarded a yacht anchored for 2 nights in Lower Belmont Bay, Tortola. The boarding took place at night and a MacBook Air was stolen from the yacht’s cockpit. A police report was made and the tracking information was provided to them.
2. The Caribbean. 13 May 2024 – Theft – Honduras:
Roatan Island, a yacht berthed at the Royal Yacht Club Roatan was burgled overnight and a number of personal belongings were stolen.
3. The Caribbean. 19 May 2024 – Theft – Honduras:
Roatan Island, 2 fishing boats arrived at West End, Roatan and took a mooring. The crew went ashore during daylight hours with friends. When they returned, they found their yacht had been boarded and 2 fishing rods/reels had been stolen from the upper deck. They found and recovered one of them the next morning while snorkeling behind the yacht and suspect the thief may have dropped it in a hastened departure after meeting their dog.
4. The Caribbean. 22 May 2024 – Theft – British Virgin Islands:
Hodges Creek, Tortola. Overnight an in-the-water and locked dinghy was stolen from a yacht berthed in Hodges Creek Marina.
5. The Caribbean. 26 May 2024 – Theft – British Virgin Islands:
Jos Van Dyke Island. An unlocked dinghy with a 25HP Yamaha engine was stolen from the dinghy dock at Foxy’s marina. The dinghy was recovered nearby with a slashed tube (where an air tag had been hidden), minus the engine.
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.