Maritime Incident Report: November 2023
Our monthly Maritime Incident Report: November 2023 covers maritime security and incidents throughout the Indian Ocean, Europe, West Africa, South East Asia and South America for the period 01/11/23 – 30/11/23.
Executive Summary
In our monthly regional overview of significant maritime events, we cover security incidents affecting shipping operations from around the globe.
• Europe. There were no reports of any incidents involving commercial shipping in the Black Sea this month although Ukraine port infrastructure linked to grain exports has been targeted by Russian missile strikes.
• The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. There have been a significant number of maritime security-related incidents in the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden region during November which are highly likely to be related to the Israel/Hamas Conflict. Elsewhere, two hijack incidents linked to Somali criminal gangs and illegal fishing took place off the coast of Somalia that have raised fears that piracy may have returned to the area.
• The Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. An incident took place in the Arabian Sea involving a drone attack on a commercial vessel which is believed to be linked to the Israel/Hamas Conflict.
• West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. There were two incidents of significance in the Gulf of Guinea during November, both took place within the waters of the Niger Delta and against locally operated support vessels.
• The South China Sea. There were incidents involving robbery from ships reported from several different locations in November that took the focus away from the usual robbery high-risk areas in the Singapore Strait.
• Latin and South America. There was only one significant security incidents to report in November.
1. Regional Report: Europe
Monthly Activity
There were no reports of any maritime security incidents affecting commercial vessels in the Black Sea during November. Ukraine’s self-imposed safety corridor for commercial ships does not seem to have been directly challenged by Russian forces and commercial ships appear to be operating normally from ports that are declared operational.
Maritime Incidents
No incidents to report.
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. Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea
Monthly Activity
On 15 November, a spokesman for the Iran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen stated that “Israeli ships are legitimate targets and that [Houthis] would target Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait”. On 22 November, the Houthi also known as Ansar Allah, renewed the warning that any ship belonging to Israel or those who support it would be a legitimate target for Houthi forces”. Since this declaration, there have been several maritime incidents reported that are believed to be linked directly to the Houthis involvement in the Israel/Hamas conflict.
Maritime Incidents
1. Gulf of Aden. Vessel Boarded and Hijacked – 19 Nov 2023 1100 UTC Psn: 14° 50’ N – 41° 55 E:
The Bahamas-flagged vehicle carrier GALAXY LEADER was seized by the Houthis in the Red Sea approx. 50nm west of Hodeidah, Yemen. The vessel was boarded by armed persons from a helicopter. The ship was taken control of and reportedly taken to Al Saleef port in the Houthi-held Governate of Hodiedah. According to Houthis, the ship was carrying a crew of 22 who were all reported to be safe.
2. Gulf of Aden. Vessel Boarded – 25 Nov 2023 0722 UTC Psn: 12° 09’ 04” N – 44° 16’ 10” E:
The oil tanker CENTRAL PARK was transiting outbound from the Red Sea 65nm southwest of Aden when it was attacked and boarded by five armed persons from a small boat. The crew moved to the vessel’s citadel after sending an alert. The perpetrators tried to force entry back but were unsuccessful and left the ship heading in the direction of Yemen. US Navy personnel from USS MASON pursued the assailants and fired warning shots as a US helicopter gunship flew overhead. A Japanese destroyer assisted the USS MASON with the interception. The assailants were arrested and are now being questioned by the US military under counter-piracy authorities. The crew and vessel were reported to be safe.
3. Gulf of Aden. Suspicious Approach – 26 Nov 2023 0600 UTC Psn: 11° 25’ 04” N – 45° 09’ 10” E:
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that two black and white craft carrying eight persons and wearing military-style clothing had approached a Motor Vessel (MV) to within 0.5nm, each craft approached on each quarter. The incident took place 80nm south of Aden, Yemen.
4. Gulf of Aden. Suspicious Approach – 27 Nov 2023 0815 UTC Psn: 12° 15’ 15” N – 45° 11’ 02” E:
The UKMTO received a report that a small craft with three persons onboard approached an MV to within 0.6nm 50nm south of Aden, Yemen. The craft followed the MV for one hour before changing direction and proceeding away from the MV. The master reported that the vessel and the crew were safe.
5. Gulf of Aden. Suspicious Activity – 29 Nov 2023 0715 UTC Psn: 12° 09’ 05” N – 45° 44’ 03” E :
The UKMTO reported that it had received multiple reports from masters of small craft acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the Gulf of Aden.
6. Gulf of Aden. Vessel Hijacked – 29 Nov 2023 1206 UTC Psn: 11° 34’ 02” N – 49° 15’ 46” E:
A fishing vessel was hijacked by an armed group with AK47s and RPGs in the vicinity of Bossaso, Somalia. The incident is thought to be linked to Illegal Unregulated Unreported (IUU) fishing. No further information is available.
7. Indian Ocean. Vessel Hijacked – 22 Nov 2023 0330 UTC Psn: 07° 57’ 23” N – 49° 53’ 20” E:
A fishing vessel was hijacked while operating off the coast of Somalia near the town of Eyl. The Iranian fishing vessel Al MIRAJ 1 was thought conducting Illegal Unregulated Unreported (IUU) fishing when it was boarded by unknown armed men. Later reports said that the Al MIRAJ 1 was the victim of an armed robbery by members of the local Somali fishing community who are unhappy with the illegal fishing activities of Iranian vessels in Somali TTW. The assailants were armed with AK-47s and RPGs with ladders aboard two skiffs. It was reported later that a Somali clan had demanded $400,000 ransom.
3. Regional Report: Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea
Monthly Activity
There was one incident reported in the Arabian Sea in November that appears to be linked to Houthi/Iranian military activity related to the Israel/Hamas Conflict.
Maritime Incidents
1. Arabian Sea. Vessel Attacked – 24 Nov 2023 Psn: 21° 07’ 23” N – 60° 31’ 20” E:
The container vessel CMA CGM SYMI was transiting at night within international waters in the Arabian Sea when it was hit by an aerial drone. The drone is suspected to be of Iranian origin and was believed to be a Shahid 136 model. The drone impacted the ship and exploded causing damage to the vessel. The crew were reported to be safe.
4. Regional Report: West Africa and Gulf of Guinea
Monthly Activity
There were two incidents near Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta during November that involved attacks on vessels, one of which ended with the kidnapping of the vessel’s Captain. In another event, a boat containing members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps was attacked by armed criminals resulting in the deaths of some of the boat’s occupants.
Maritime Incidents
1. Nigeria. Armed Attack – 03 Nov 23 1000 UTC Psn: 04° 43’ 29” N – 06° 57’ 09” W:
A service boat was attacked by unknown criminals when operating in the Bakana River, Degema Lga, Rivers State. The boat was transporting Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Officers (NSCDC). The circumstances of the incident have not been clearly determined but according to local sources, four of seven NSCDC officers were killed during the attack. Other media reports state that two criminals were also killed during gun battle.
2. Nigeria. Attack and Kidnapping – 04 Nov 23 Psn: 04° 29’ 52” N – 07° 26’ 09” W:
While towing a barge within the Andoni River, close to Asamara, Rivers State. An unnamed service tug was attacked. According to the Nigerian navy, the tug Captain, a Nigerian national, was kidnapped. The perpetrators were reportedly disguised as pipeline surveillance workers. The Nigerian Navy forward operating base (FOB) was alerted and they conducted a rescue operation. The Captain was rescued and two suspects were arrested.
5. Regional Report: South East Asia
Monthly Activity
Although the level of robbery against vessels remained the same, the location of the incidents was spread right across the region in November.
Maritime Incidents
1. Malacca Strait. Armed Boarding/Theft – 01 November 23 0616 UTC Psn: 01° 43’ 23” N – 107°26’ 20” E:
While at anchor at Pelintung port the crew of an MV sighted five assailants wearing masks and carrying knives. When the crew attempted to drive the perpetrators away, they were threatened with a knife, so they returned to the accommodation area and closed the door. The crew called the bridge and reported the incident to the ship’s master. The crew members searched the accommodation area, engine room and on deck but there were no further sightings of the perpetrators. The crew and vessel were reported to be safe but spare parts for the generator were reported to have been stolen.
2. Vietnam. Boarding/Theft – 05 November 23 0750 UTC Psn: 10° 13’ 39” N – 107° 00’ 08” E:
Three robbers, armed with knives, boarded a tanker that was berthed at Belawan port, Indonesia. The crew discovered the robbers and raised the alarm after which the robbers escaped empty-handed.
3. Indonesia. Boarding/Theft – 14 November 23 0015 UTC Psn: 03° 36’ 48” N – 98° 41’ 20” E:
Belawan Port. A security watchman onboard a berthed product tanker informed the watchkeeper that manifold items had been stolen. The theft was confirmed by the chief officer after investigating the storeroom. The Incident was reported to the local agent.
4. Indonesia. Boarding/Theft – 19 November 23 2245 UTC Psn: 03° 47’ 28” N – 98° 41’ 08” E:
While in Belawan Port wharf 106, the crew onboard a berthed product tanker noticed unauthorised persons on the deck and raised the alarm resulting in the perpetrators escaping with ship’s property. The incident was reported to the local authorities through the local agent.
5. The Philippines. Boarding/Theft – 19 November 23 1045 UTC Psn: 14° 35’ 32” N – 120° 50’ 18” E:
While anchored at Manilla anchorage, a container ship reported that the vessel had been boarded by robbers. the robbers were not spotted but the captain reported that the duty watch noticed that the vessel’s safety store lock was broken and some items were stolen. All the crew was reported safe. The authorities in Manila were notified and a patrol boat was dispatched to investigate the incident. No further detail reported.
6. Regional Monthly Report: South America and Caribbean
Monthly Activity
Only one incident involving a maritime security event against commercial shipping was reported in this region in November.
Maritime Incidents:
1. Peru. Boarding/Theft – 19 November 23 1045 UTC Psn: 12° 02’ 28” S – 77° 13’ 05” W:
Two robbers armed with a gun boarded an anchored bulk carrier and stole the ship’s stores from the forward station. The incident was reported to Callao port authorities The crew and vessel were reported to be safe.