Maritime Intelligence and Incident Report: July 2019
Executive Summary
Our latest maritime intelligence report highlights the overall tactical maritime security situation across the Indian Ocean, West Africa, South East Asia and South America high risk areas (HRA).
Incident Report 5th July:
The government of Gibraltar has detained the Panamanian flagged VLCC Grace 1 that is believed to be carrying Iranian crude from Iran’s export port of Kharg Island for the Syrian Baniyas Refinery, Tartous, in breach of EU sanctions against Syria. The seizure of the vessel passed without incident and the 28 strong crew are being treated as witnesses, not as criminals. The vessel sailed around Africa instead of through the Suez Canal, a move largely understood to mitigate the risk of seizure at Suez. This incident has further stoked tension in the ongoing rift between the US, Iran and their allies. Iran’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the British ambassador to voice their objection to the seizure of the vessel. This latest incident will raise concern with British aligned vessels and cargo transiting the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman due to the possibility of Iranian retaliation. Masters are advised to maintain strict watches whilst in the area and report any suspicious activity in a timely manner.
Indian Ocean Region
Tensions continue to remain high in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf due to the ongoing deterioration of relations between Iran, the US and their allies. This month has seen another widely reported attack on two tankers transiting the Persian Gulf bringing the total to six vessels being sabotaged/attacked in the preceding two months.
In terms of piracy the Indian Ocean region has been largely inactive during June.
West Africa
There has been a sharp decrease in maritime crime with no incidents reported. This is likely due to the bad weather associated with the rainy season (May – October). Five Indian seafarers have been released on 30 June after being kidnapped from the tanker Apecus in April 2019.
South East Asia
During this reporting period there has been one reported incident where ten armed men abducted nine crew members from two fishing vessels, before releasing them four days later.
South America
There has been nothing of significance to report over the course of June.
Indian Ocean Region
Incidents
ATTACK
Date & Time: 13/06/2019 09:00:00 UTC Lat: 25°27N Lon 057°22E
Detail: Gulf of Oman. Distress calls were received by two underway tankers, Kokuka Courageous and Front Altair at 0612 and 0700 LT. Explosions were reported and the Front Altair was reported to be on fire. Crew from both vessels abandoned ship and were rescued with one person slightly injured. More detail below.
The Front Altair (IMO 9745902) and Kokuka Courageous (IMO 9568495) were attacked by unidentified explosive devices outside of Iranian territorial waters in the vicinity of Jask. The fire onboard the Kokuka Courageous was extinguished and the crew were evacuated to the Dutch tug Coastal Ace before onward movement to the USS Bainbridge. The crew from the Front Altair were transferred to the Hyundai Dubai and afterwards onto an Iranian vessel. There is still no indication of who conducted the acts. Naval units have increased patrolling and monitoring areas of high commercial traffic. The requirement for vigilance, together with the timely reporting of all suspicious incidents, remains crucial.
The United States and Iran traded accusations over attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, bringing tensions to new heights. The US Defence Department released a video purporting to show Iranian naval forces removing an unexploded mine from one of the damaged tankers. Iran strongly denied any involvement and in turn pointed the finger at the United States and its Gulf Arab allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif pointed out that the attacks came just as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in Iran to push for a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Not since 2005 have the world’s insurers considered shipping in the Persian Gulf so dangerous for oil tankers. Nevertheless, we are still far from the level of tension that existed during the so-called Tanker War of the 1980s, when 451 vessels (259 of them oil or refined petroleum product tankers) suffered some sort of attack in the region. Then, the US navy resorted to escorting vessels through the Persian Gulf. That would be an expensive operation to repeat and would tie up a large part of the US and allied fleets in the region. It would also raise the cost of the US drive against Iran, which began with President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018. At the moment, the exact nature of these incidents is not known. However, it could be assessed that these incidents and the resulting damage is likely to be the result of sabotage from a state actor. The attacks required intelligence capabilities for the deliberate selection of two tankers, with ties to Japan, out of hundreds of tankers that transit this area on a daily basis.
West Africa Region
Incidents
No significant incidents during this reporting period.
South East Asia Region
Incidents
1. HIJACK
Date & Time: 17/06/2019 18:30:00 UTC Lat (Approx): 04°28.3N Lon (Approx): 119°10.2E
Details: On 18 Jun 19 at 0245 hrs, two Malaysia-registered fishing boats were in Lahad Datu’s Tambisan waters and heading towards Semporna when they were boarded by gunmen from two speedboats. The perpetrators believed to be heavily armed Abu Sayyaf Group members took with them four of the six crew members from the first fishing boat and six of the ten crew members from the second boat. Nine crew were reported released on 21 June. Following the debrief of the abductees, it is reported that only nine crew members were abducted, not ten as originally reported.
South America Region
Incidents
No incidents during this reporting period.
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