Maritime Incident Report: August 2019
Our monthly Maritime Report August 2019, covering maritime security and incidents throughout he Indian Ocean, West Africa, South East Asia and South America.
Indian Ocean Overview
Tensions remain high in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf due to the deterioration of relations between Iran, the US and their allies. The seized Iranian vessel Adrian Darya 1 (formally Grace 1) was released from Gibraltar on August 15 but has since turned off it’s AIS signal in international waters heading north towards Syria. It is expected that the vessel will transfer it’s cargo to smaller vessels which will then end up in Syria. This potential oil delivery to Syria will cause embarrassment to the US and her allies and could further stoke the high tensions in the region.
In terms of Piracy, the Indian Ocean region has been largely inactive during this reporting period with one robbery at anchor. It is a realistic possibility that piracy activity could resume in early September, as the southwest monsoon ends and weather conditions improve. However, it is highly likely that such activity will continue to be sporadic and infrequent. It remains the case that lower risk opportunities in other criminal enterprises such as the smuggling of people, narcotics, weapons and charcoal have likely reduced the appetite and desire for local actors to conduct piracy. However, the piracy attack of 21st April, coupled with the suspicious event on 3rd September, is a stark reminder that the threat from piracy is only suppressed, not eliminated.
Incidents
1. Date & Time: 07/08/2019 19:30:00 UTC, Location: Nacala Outer Anchorage, Mozambique
Two armed robbers boarded an anchored chemical tanker via the hawse pipe and broke into the forecastle store. Alert crew noticed the robbers and raised the alarm resulting in the robbers escaping with stolen ship’s stores.
West Africa Overview
During this reporting period there has been a small decrease in maritime crime and piracy with one confirmed attack and three boardings.
Incidents
1. ATTACK: Date & Time: 14/08/2019 10:50:00 UTC, Location: Gulf of Guinea
A suspicious boat approached and fired upon a tanker underway. Alarm raised and crews mustered in the citadel. Master took evasive actions resulting in the boat abandoning the attack. Vessel and crew are safe.
2. Date – Time: 14/08/2019 01:30:00 UTC, Location: Federal Ocean Terminal, Nigeria
Duty officer onboard a berthed offshore supply ship noticed a robber on the CCTV stealing ship’s properties from the pump room and immediately informed the master. Crew locked the robber inside the pump room. Seeing the alerted crew, the accomplice waiting in a canoe alongside the vessel escaped. Port authority notified and the robber was taken ashore for questioning and investigation.
3. Date – Time: 15/08/2019 02:30:00 UTC, Location: Douala Anchorage, Cameroon
Armed persons boarded a general cargo ship. The Cameroon navy dispatched a patrol boat. When the crew emerged from hiding, it was reported that eight crew members were missing. Investigations are on-going.
4. Date – Time: 17/08/2019 03:25:00 UTC, Location: 50NM SW of Brass
Pirates boarded a LPG tanker underway. Alarm sounded and crew mustered in the citadel. Headcount indicated one crew missing in the citadel. Owners and Nigerian Navy notified and a naval patrol boat was dispatched. After the Nigerian Naval team boarded the vessel and confirmed no pirates on board the crew emerged from the citadel.
South East Asia Overview
During this reporting period there has been no real change in maritime crime with six reported incidents, most of which were boardings at anchor and robbery.
Incidents
1. Date & Time: 06/08/2019 20:00:00 UTC, Location: Tanjung Uban Anchorage, Indonesia
Three robbers in a wooden boat came alongside an anchored chemical tanker. They attempted to board the tanker using hooks attached with ropes. Duty Officer on security rounds on the bridge noticed the robbers and raised the alarm, sounded ship’s whistle and shouted at the robbers. Hearing the alarm and seeing the crew alertness, the robbers aborted the attempted boarding and escaped. Batam VTIS informed.
2. Date – Time: 11/08/2019 19:30:00 UTC, Location: Phuoc Long Mooring, Vietnam
Duty AB on routine rounds onboard a berthed container vessel noticed two robbers armed with knives trying to break into the steering gear room. Duty Officer notified. Alarm raised and crew mustered. Seeing the alerted crew, the robbers escaped. Nothing reported stolen.
3. Date – Time: 20/08/2019 20:40:00 UTC, Location: Batam Anchorage, Indonesia
Five robbers armed with knives boarded an anchored tug. Crew alerted and alarm raised. Crews mustered in a safe location and called local authorities who responded and boarded the tug for investigations. Deck and engine room spares reported stolen. All crew safe.
4. Date – Time: 22/08/2019 18:30:00 UTC, Location: Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia
Duty crew onboard an anchored bulk carrier noticed a small boat near the anchor chain and told the boat to move away as they were about to heave up the anchor. As the duty crew was about to raise the alarm, two armed robbers who had already boarded the ship, held the duty crew at knife point and tied him up. When the ship was ready to heave up the anchor, the remaining crew proceeded to the forecastle. On seeing these crew members approaching, the robbers snatched the duty crew’s walkie-talkie and escaped through the hawse pipe after opening the security cover. Incident reported to Port Control. On berthing, Marine Police boarded the ship for investigation.
5. Date – Time: 25/08/2019 20:45:00 UTC, Location: 17nm ENE of Bandar Penawar, Malaysia
Duty crew onboard an anchored tanker noticed armed persons on the forecastle and notified the duty officer. Alarm raised and forward whistle sounded. Master advised all crew to retreat into the accommodation. Hearing the alarm, the armed persons escaped with a life raft and other ship’s properties.
6. Date – Time: 27/08/2019 12:25:00 UTC, Location: Sandakan Port, Malaysia
During routines round, duty AB onboard a berthed bulk carrier noticed two robbers on the forecastle and raised the alarm. Seeing alerted crew, the robbers jumped overboard and escaped in a boat alongside the vessel with another robber. Upon investigation, ship’s properties reported stolen. Incident reported to local police.
South America Overview
There has been nothing of great significance to report over the course of August, with only one boarding.
Incidents
1. Date & Time: 04/08/2019 12:00:00 UTC, Location: Ciudad del Carmen Anchorage, Mexico
Crew onboard a maintenance pontoon reported ship’s stores and properties were stolen. A machete was found near the store room. Master later received information from another vessel in the vicinity, that robbers had attempted to board their vessel also. Incident reported to the Mexican Coast Guard/Navy. Three patrol boats were dispatched to investigate.
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