Maritime Incident Report: October 2023
Our monthly Maritime Incident Report: October 2023 covers maritime security and incidents throughout the Indian Ocean, the Black Sea, West Africa, South East Asia and South America for the period 01/10/23 – 31/10/23.
Executive Summary
In our monthly regional overview of significant maritime events, we cover security incidents affecting shipping operations from around the globe.
• Gulf of Guinea. Only one incident of note took place in the region this month which involved a robbery from a vessel in Takoradi/Sekondi anchorage, Ghana.
• Black Sea. A commercial vessel struck a sea mine at the entrance to the Danube delta, while Russian naval vessels were damaged by Ukrainian drone attacks in Sevastopol.
• Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. There is one incident to report in this region that involved a suspicious approach on two commercial vessels by two small craft with ladders visible.
• Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. There were no significant security incidents to report.
• South East Asia. After the previous month’s lack of activity, maritime crime returned to more normal levels in October with four boarding incidents taking place in the region. The Philippines Coast Guard has downgraded the threat level posed to mariners in the Sulu and Celebes Seas.
• South America. There were no significant security incidents to report, however, the U.S. Government announced a partial lifting of sanctions imposed on Venezuela’s oil and mining sectors, paving the way for an increase in volume of tanker trade in the trouble South American country.
1. Regional Report: West Africa and Gulf of Guinea
Monthly Activity
October was another quiet month for maritime security incidents in the Gulf of Guinea with only 1 significant event taking place.
Maritime Incidents
1. Ghana. Boarding and Theft – 02 Oct 23 0024 UTC Psn: 04° 53’ 02” N – 01° 40’ 02” W:
The container ship MAERSK VIGO was boarded by robbers when anchored at Sekondi anchorage area, Ghana. Two robbers boarded the vessel while two others remained inside a local canoe alongside the vessel. The robbers were spotted and the alarm was raised. Hearing the alarm, the robbers escaped. Local port authorities were informed and some of the vessel’s equipment was reported missing. A security vessel arrived at the scene around 30 minutes after the alert.
Situational Analysis
There have been a total of 5 boarding and robbery incidents in the Takoradi/Sekondi anchorages in 2023, making it the most prolific area in the Gulf of Guinea for such activity. In a report released in early May 2023, Lloyd’s list indicated that the global trend was shifting away from deepwater operations by pirate gangs (hijacking and kidnapping of crew members) to a renewed focus on armed robbery against vessels in territorial waters. This global trend seems to also be reflected in the activities we are currently seeing in the Gulf of Guinea.
2. Regional Report: Black Sea and Sea of Azov
Monthly Activity
Open-source reports stated that a Liberian-flagged tanker sustained damage from striking a sea mine whilst approaching the Bystroe Canal, approximately 2nm East of Kubanskyi Island, Ukraine. The reports state that the Turkish-owned tanker sustained damage to the engine and that the starboard side of the hull had been breached. Ukrainian media sources later reported that two tugboats had been tasked to tow the vessel to Kiliya in the Izmail region of Ukraine.
Maritime Incidents
No incidents to report.
Situational Analysis
While sea mines remain the main threat to commercial ships operating in Ukrainian TTW, the risk of collateral damage from naval activity cannot be discounted. In October the Russian missile carrier BUYAN was struck and damaged by what are thought to be experimental drones in the Black Sea Naval base at Sevastopol (exact time not specified). In a separate incident the Russian Patrol ship PAVEL DERZHAVIN suffered damage from what sources say was a mine in Sevastopol Roads. The extent of damage and casualty numbers to both vessels have not been released. It is likely Russia will take retaliatory action against Ukrainian naval assets and port infrastructure. Ukrainian forces said these types of attacks were meant to deny Russia control of the Black Sea and to regain control of vital shipping routes. The maritime domain appears to be one area of the conflict where Ukraine is having success. As the onset of winter slows down the pace of the counter-offensive on land, it is likely that the Ukrainian military will seek to gain psychological victories against Russian naval forces helping the government boost morale and credibility within the country’s population.
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.
3. Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea
Monthly Activity
On 05 October, a suspicious approach was reported by an unnamed vessel 70nm South of Aden. This is the first suspicious approach to take place in the Gulf of Aden since April 2023 when a Motor Yacht was involved in an exchange of fire with what was believed to be a Yemen Coast Guard vessel.
Maritime Incidents
1. Gulf of Aden. Suspicious Approach – 05 Oct 2023 0900 UTC Psn: 11 33’ 55” N – 45 14’ 49” E:
UKMTO reported that there was a suspicious approach on a vessel whilst underway 26nm Northeast of Point Alpha, IRTC, Gulf of Aden. Up to ten small crafts approached the vessel to between 50 to 100 meters. Each small craft contained up to eight persons and ladders were sighted on two of the boats. The alarm was raised, and the suspicious craft continued to follow for fifteen minutes. The vessel and crew were reported as safe.
Situational Analysis
On 06 September 2023, the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) renewed its advisory (2023-003) to US-flagged commercial vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, and Western Indian Ocean. The Advisory came in reaction to the many instances of commercial vessels reportedly being harassed and/or seized by foreign military vessels when transiting the Persian Gulf and its approaches. Although this incident is assessed as an interaction with local Pattern of Life (POL), most likely fishermen, the US MARAD advisory does emphasise that in addition to illegal boardings and seizures, threats in the wider Gulf of Aden and Red Sea regions may come from a number of different sources including, but not limited to, drones (unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)), limpet mines, explosive boats, and pirates and armed robbers.
4. Regional Report: Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea
Monthly Activity
Nothing significant to report.
Maritime Incidents
No incidents to report.
Situational Analysis
Nothing significant to report.
5. Regional Report: South East Asia
Monthly Activity
Boarding and robbery levels returned to normal in October with ships boarded in the Singapore Strait, Malacca Strait and Indonesia.
Sulu and Celebes Sea
The Philippines Coast Guard conducted a reassessment of the threat posed to mariners in the Sulu and Celebes Seas. It concluded that military operations targeting and dismantling the support base of the Abu Sayyaf Group in the Sulu archipelago, Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi have likely ended the activities of the group through arrest, surrender or neutralisation.
The threat level of “Abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas” has subsequently been downgraded from MODERATE to MODERATE/LOW. This level implies that “Incidents are unlikely to occur due to perpetrators’ perceived lack of capability to orchestrate an attack. The advice from ReCAAP to all ships sailing in the Sulu-Celebs seas has been updated to “exercise vigilance and adopt necessary preventive measures while transiting the area, maintain communication with the authorities and report any incidents to the Operations Centres of the Philippines and the Philippines Coast Guard.
Maritime Incidents
1. Singapore Strait. Boarding/Armed Robbery – 22 Oct 23 1650 UTC Psn: 01° 04’ 02” N – 103° 35’ 9” E:
Four or five robbers armed with a gun and knives boarded a bulk carrier underway. They took hostage the third engineer and tied him up. Duty oiler noticed the robbers and raised the alarm resulting in the robbers escaping with stolen spare parts. Incident was reported to Singapore VTIS and the Singapore coast guard boarded the vessel for investigation.
2. Singapore Strait. Boarding/Theft – 13 Oct 23 1700 UTC Psn: 01° 03’ 02” N – 103° 38’ 5” E:
The duty Engineer onboard an underway Tanker spotted four unauthorised people on the ship’s deck and immediately informed the bridge. The alarm was raised and a PA announcement was made. The crew mustered resulting in the robbers escaping with ship’s engine spare parts. The incident was reported and once anchored, the Singapore authorities boarded the tanker for an investigation. All crew members were reported to be safe.
3. Malacca Strait. Boarding – 26 Oct 23 2030 UTC Psn: 01° 29’ 51” N – 103° 00’ 38” E:
An attempted robbery took place on a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier while underway in the Malacca Strait. The Master reported seeing up to six unknown personnel onboard and received an injury that required medical attention upon arrival in Singapore. After an investigation, no perpetrators were found and nothing was reported as stolen. The Master’s condition was reported to be stable.
4. Indonesia. Boarding/Theft – 16 Oct 23 2230 UTC Psn: 03° 47’ 28” N – 98° 41’ 8” 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.
Situational Analysis
Nothing significant to report.
6. Regional Monthly Report: South America and Caribbean
Monthly Activity
In October, U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration agreed to ease sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and mining sectors. The deal was reached after Venezuela’s President Maduro conceded to international pressure and promised to lift bans on opposition parties for the 2024 election. A new general license issued by the U.S. Treasury Department authorized OPEC member Venezuela to produce and export oil to its chosen markets for the next six months without limitation. This will likely lead to an increased volume of tanker trade with the troubled South American country.
Maritime Incidents:
No incidents to report.
Situational Analysis
Nothing significant to report.