19 MAR 08
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OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
CIVIL MARITIME ANALYSIS DEPARTMENT
WORLDWIDE THREAT TO SHIPPING
MARINER WARNING INFORMATION
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POC: DAVID PEARL:
COMM (301) 669-4905
FAX (301) 669-3247
E-mail dpearl@nmic.navy.mil
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SARAH ABOUFASHA:
COMM (301) 669-4784
FAX (301) 669-3247
E-mail saboufasha@nmic.navy.mil
.
ANDREW MOULDER:
COMM: (301) 669-3471
FAX (301) 669-3247
E-mail amoulder@nmic.navy.mil
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1. This message provides information on threats to, and criminal
action against merchant shipping worldwide in the last 30 days.
.
A. To aid in our reporting, please add the Office of Naval
Intelligence (ONI) as an information addressee when possible to
your normal corporate and organizational reporting requirements.
The ONI message address is ONI WASHINGTON DC//11// or, the ONI
Violence at Sea (VAS) desk may be contacted at commercial phone
(301) 669-4905 or via e-mail: dpearl@nmic.navy.mil. Report
may also be made to the National Response Center (U.S. Coast
Guard) hotline: 1-800-424-8802 or the Maritime Administration
Office of Ship Operations, MAR-613, (202) 366-5735; FAX
(202) 366-3954, e-mail: opcentr1@marad.dot.gov.
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B. This Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report is posted at the
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Maritime Safety site:
http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/maritime.
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C. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) also publishes a
weekly piracy summary, based on reporting from the IMB Piracy
Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Each week's report is
published on Tuesday and may be accessed through
their web page http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php.
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D. Anti-piracy and crime current developments:
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1. NIGERIA: The Federal Government has enjoined trawler owners to go back to sea and
resume their normal fishing businesses, saying the seafarers can now be assured of adequate
safety against pirate attacks. Members of the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association of Nigeria
(NITOA) had withdrawn their over 170 fishing trawlers off the sea in protest against incessant
pirate attacks which had led to the death of several sailors in recent time. The safety guarantee
was conveyed to the distressed fishermen in Lagos, during the week, at a joint press conference
between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which held at the Western Naval Command
Headquarters, Apapa. Expressing government's worry on the issue, Director of Fisheries, Mr.
Akinshola Amile, the Government's representative for the Ministry of Agriculture, pointed out
that the spate of attacks had become intolerable in view of the attendant countless losses both in
human and materials. According to Amile, piracy attacks, which became significant in the
country in 2003 with only four reported cases, had since snowballed into more than 107 reported
attacks by 2007. He said since the ugly incident debuted in 2003, the spate of frequency had
progressively increased on a yearly basis with eleven incident reports in 2004, 35 cases in 2005,
and 57 attacks in 2006. According to the Director, only in January this year, 50 attacks were
recorded out of which 20 took place within a week, resulting in the deaths of 10 sailors. Rear
Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim, of the Nigerian Navy, indicated that three steps were being considered
as panacea to the problem. The first step, he said, would involve steps to urgently complete
works in the sea platforms with a possible erection of three additional ones, a collision of State
security Service SSS and the military intelligent officials in information gathering. The medium
term, he said, would witness the deployment of new aircrafts, the infusion of Air force personnel
and the provision of integrated raiders for surveillance of between 100-80 nautical miles. The
third step, he said, would involve some strategic military action, which must remain confidential
for now in order to avoid counter measures by the pirates and sea robbers. Dr. Ade Dosunmu,
Director General of the NIMASA, who bemoaned the pirate attacks, said it was unfortunate to
record such ugly trends at a time Nigeria is occupying a seat at the Security Council of the
International Maritime Organization. He said NIMASA was interfacing with the Navy and other
security agencies with the provision of no less than 40 men currently on guard at the seas, while
15 hovercrafts would also be deployed to the region without delay. He further urged the
communities to avail the agency with information about the pirates, saying NIMASA would also
compliment this with public awareness campaigns aimed at sensitizing the people (LM: Daily
Sun).
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2. SRI LANKA: Trawler with suspected LTTE links seized 02 Mar 08, 150NM northeast
Mullaitivu coast. The Foreign Ministry has begun an extensive probe into the seizing of a vessel
within Sri Lankan waters and carrying illegal immigrants and the possibility of LTTE
involvement in what appears to be a human smuggling operation via the Indian Ocean. The
Navy rescued 71 Myammar and Bangladeshi survivors drifting in a large wooden trawler which
reportedly departed from Cox’s Baza, Bangladesh on 09 Feb 08. Investigations are currently
being conducted to find out whether there are any LTTE links with this group as they are also
believed to be engaged in human smuggling. The vessel became disabled after developing
engine problems. There were originally 91 people on the vessel, however 20 died from
starvation, and the bodies were thrown overboard (LM: dailymirror.lk).
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3. INDIA: Suspected Sri Lankan Tamils arrested on charges of constructing boat for LTTE,
vessel seized 03 Mar 08, Tamil Nadu. Two Sri Lankan Tamils were arrested in a joint operation
by the Tamil Nadu and Kerala police for making a large boat allegedly for the LTTE, which
reportedly has now crippled the rebels’ bid to stealthily make sea-worthy vessels in India.
According to confessions the two men have made to the authorities, one received money from
the Tigers through hawala transfer to make the vessel at a boatyard at Munambam in Vypeen
Island near Kochi. An advance of 1.2 million Indian Rupees (Rs) was paid to the boat builders,
saying it would be used for fishing. Much of the vessel was ready when suspicion led to the
authorities mounting a watch on one of the apprehended suspects. The ship, approximately 70-ft
long, would have eventually cost the LTTE Rs.4.2 million, according to sources. Both men have
been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for assisting the LTTE, which is
outlawed in India, and the Indian Penal Code (LM: thaindian.com, The Hindu, tothecenter.com).
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4. SOMALIA: A local media outlet alleged confidential sources reported that a Puntland
government official had been detained on allegations of having links with the pirates holding the
(SVITZER KORSAKOV) per 24 Feb 08 reporting. According to the article, Omar Shafdero, an
employee at the Puntland Ministry of Finance, was arrested on 05 Feb 08 on the orders of
Puntland President General Mohamud Adde Muse. The article cites sources close to the
president as explaining that President Muse accused Shafdero of being closely associated to the
group of pirates holding the hijacked tug. Shafdero was reportedly quickly released under
mysterious circumstances with a source in Boosaaso suggesting corruption at all levels of power
contributed to the release. The article goes on to state Puntland government officials recently
issued several clauses intended to curb the disturbing rise in crime in the region. One clause said
the government would implement the rulings of Islamic Law on pirates exposing them to the
death penalty. Another clause expelled the head of the al Habeeb coastguard company after he
reportedly refused to visit the location where the tug was being held hostage (LM: Garowe
Online).
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E. Source codes: Information contained in this report is
derived through direct reporting and analysis of reports of other
agencies and commercial sources. Source codes will be added to
new reports to enable users requiring more detail to make contact.
Codes currently in use are:
.
AFP, Agence France Presse
AP, Associated Press
BBC, BBC News
BIMCO, Baltic and International Maritime Council, Denmark
DHS, U. S. Department of Homeland Security
DOJ, U. S. Department of Justice
DOT, U. S. Department of Transportation
FP, Fairplay, London
GP, Greenpeace
IMB, International Maritime Bureau, London and Kuala Lumpur
IMO, International Maritime Organization, London
INFO, Informa Group, formerly LLP, Llp Limited, London
LAT, Latitud38.com website
LL, Lloyd's List, daily, London
LM, local media
MARAD, Maritime Administration, US
MSC, Maritime Security Council, US
NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Brussels
NGA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Navigation
Safety System
ONI, Office of Naval Intelligence analysis and comment
Operator, owner or operator of affected vessel
OSAC, Overseas Security Advisory Council
USCG, United States Coast Guard
RAN, Royal Australian Navy
ReCAAP ISC, Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy
and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, Information Sharing Center
REUTERS, Reuters
RNZN, Royal New Zealand Navy
SAP, Seafarers’ Assistance Program, Kenya
STATE, U. S. Department of State
TW, Tradewinds
UKMTO, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization
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2. Designation of a high threat area is based on an assessment of
all source information relating to the existence of, or potential
for piracy and other crime, terrorism, civil unrest or low
intensity conflict. Every effort is made to ensure that incidents
are not double-counted. In the event double counting is detected
or an event is later learned not to be as initially reported, an
explanation of the cancellation of the inaccurate report will be
made in at least one message prior to dropping the erroneous
report. Specific incidents will be reported for one month.
.
3. This week's highlights:
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A. Fishing vessel boarded, robbed, 13 Mar 08, Bertice River, Guyana (Para 5.C.1.).
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B. Vessel, two tugboats boarded, crew kidnapped, 12 Mar 08, Calabar River, Rivers State,
Nigeria (Para 5.G.1.).
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C. Bulk carrier reported attempted boarding, 04 Mar 08, Tincan Island, Lagos, Nigeria (Para
5.G.2.).
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D. Passenger boats attacked, 19 Mar 08, along the Bonny Channel near Dawes Island, Rivers
State, Nigeria (Para 5.G.3.).
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E. Security vessel attacked, 19 Mar 08, Bonny River near port of Onne, Nigeria (Para 5.G.4.).
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F. Seismic support vessel reported suspicious approach, 5 Mar 08, approximately 250NM off
the coast of Somalia (Para 5.H.1.).
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G. Container vessel boarded, robbed, 9 Mar 08, approximately 40NM off the coast of Dar Es
Salaam, Tanzania (Para 5.H.2.).
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H. Tanker reported warning shots fired, 18 Mar 08, approximately 60NM north of Caluula,
Somalia (Para 5.H.4.).
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4. Contents and summary of threat areas detailed in paragraph 5:
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A. NORTH AMERICA:
1. No current incidents to report.
B. CENTRAL AMERICA-CARIBBEAN:
1. No current incidents to report.
C. SOUTH AMERICA:
1. Fishing vessel boarded, robbed, 13 Mar 08, Bertice River, Guyana
D. ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA:
1. No current incidents to report.
E. NORTHERN EUROPE-BALTIC:
1. No current incidents to report.
F. MEDITERRANEAN-BLACK SEA:
1. No current incidents to report.
G. WEST AFRICA:
1. Vessel, two tugboats boarded, crew kidnapped, 12 Mar 08, Calabar River, Rivers State,
Nigeria.
2. Bulk carrier reported attempted boarding, 04 Mar 08, Tincan Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
3. Passenger boats attacked, 19 Mar 08, along the Bonny Channel near Dawes Island, Rivers
State, Nigeria.
4. Security vessel attacked, 19 Mar 08, Bonny River near port of Onne, Nigeria.
5. Tanker boarded, robbed 02 Mar 08, Lagos light house anchorage, Nigeria.
6. Tug (FAITHFUL) hijacked, recovered 27 Feb 08 Bakana River, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
7. General cargo ship boarded, robbed 21 Feb 08, Apapa berth no. 12, Lagos, Nigeria.
8. Vessel reported attempted boarding 21 Feb 08, Lagos anchorage, Nigeria.
H. INDIAN OCEAN-EAST AFRICA:
1. Seismic support vessel reported suspicious approach, 5 Mar 08, approximately 270NM off
the coast of Somalia.
2. Container vessel boarded, robbed, 9 Mar 08, approximately 40NM off the coast of Dar Es
Salaam, Tanzania.
3. Tanker boarded 02 Mar 08 Nacala Bay anchorage, Mozambique.
4. Tanker reported warning shots fired, 18 Mar 08, approximately 60NM north of Caluula,
Somalia
5. Vessel reported suspicious approach 05 Mar 08, approximately 40NM off the coast of
Yemen, Gulf of Aden.
6. Vessel reported suspicious approach 02 Mar 08, 500NM off the Somali coast, Indian
Ocean.
7. Yachts reported suspicious approach 27 Feb 08, 197NM east of Socotra Island, Yemen
Indian Ocean.
8. Yacht reported suspicious approach 24 Feb 08, 411NM east of Socotra Island, Yemen,
Indian Ocean.
9. Vessel boarded 05 Mar 08, Kandla anchorage, India.
10. Cargo ship boarded, robbed 04 Mar 08, Chittagong Ruby cement jetty, Bangladesh.
I. RED SEA:
1. Tug reported suspicious approach 05 Mar 08, 40NM west of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, Red
Sea.
J. PERSIAN GULF:
1. No current incidents to report.
K. SOUTHEAST ASIA:
1. Patrol boat attacked, police injured 25 Feb 08, Mekong River, 10km north of Chiang Rai’s
Chiang Saen District, Thailand.
2. Tanker reported suspicious approach 09 Mar 08, off Luzon, Philippines.
3. Vessel boarded, robbed 08 Mar 08, Jetty no. 106, Belawan port, Indonesia.
L. NORTH ASIA:
1. No current incidents to report.
M. PACIFIC OCEAN AREA:
1. Yacht (RAPTOR) boarded 29 Jan 08 Wewak port, Papua New Guinea, per 03 Mar 08
reporting.
N. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC NON-STATE ACTIVIST GROUPS:
1. Japanese whalers clash with Sea Shepherd activists 03 Mar 08, Antarctic.
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5. DETAILS: There is reported active violence against shipping,
a credible threat to shipping, or the potential to develop into a
direct threat to the safety of shipping in the following areas:
.
A. NORTH AMERICA: No current incidents to report.
.
B. CENTRAL AMERICA-CARIBBEAN: No current incidents to report.
.
C. SOUTH AMERICA:
.
1. GUYANA: Fishing vessel boarded, robbed, 13 Mar 08, 0830 local time, Bertice River.
A boat came up alongside the fishing vessel (RONITA ONE) while it was moored in the Bertice
River. Two men, one armed with a cutlass, and the other a gun, jumped onto the vessel and
immediately ordered the crew of four to lie flat on the vessel. One of the men ordered them to
take out the engine and lift it into the robbers’ boat. As soon as the engine was in the other boat,
the crew was beaten with the cutlass. The robbers also stole their water pump and valuables,
including money. After the robbers left, the vessel drifted for a few hours before being rescued.
The incident was reported to the police (LM: Stabroek News).
.
D. ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA: No current incidents to report.
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E. NORTHERN EUROPE-BALTIC: No current incidents to report.
.
F. MEDITERRANEAN-BLACK SEA: No current incidents to report.
.
G. WEST AFRICA:
.
1. NIGERIA: Vessel, two tugboats boarded, crew kidnapped, 12 Mar 08, 1250 local time,
Calabar River, Rivers State. Suspected pirates, armed in three speedboats, seized one vessel and
two tugboats along with six crewmembers while the vessel and tugs were transiting along the
Calbar River en route Port Harcourt. According to various sources, the vessels belong to
construction company Julius Berger, and were conveying cement to a project site in one of the
creeks when the gunmen attacked them. One crewmember was released and ordered to deliver a
message to the company that unless a 20 million naira (approximately $170,000) ransom was
paid to them, they would blow up the vessel and the remaining crew. The five remaining
crewmembers were later released, following the intervention by some traditional institutions in
the state (IMB, LM: allAfrica.com, This Day (Lagos), Daily Champion).
.
2. NIGERIA: Bulk carrier reported attempted boarding, 4 Mar 08, 1830 local time, Tincan
Island, Lagos. Armed robbers in a speedboat attempted to board the bulk carrier while underway
in pilotage waters. The second officer on duty, while astern, alerted the bridge. The master raised
the alarm. Upon seeing the alert crew, the robbers aborted their attempt to board the vessel
(IMB).
.
3. NIGERIA: Passenger boats attacked, 19 Mar 08, along the Bonny Channel near Dawes
Island, Rivers State. Militants in two speedboats attempted to rob passenger boats by firing shots
but were foiled when Nigeria’s Joint Military Task Force (JTF) intervened. According to a JTF
spokesman, the task force had been inundated with complaints of robberies along the route and
positioned its men to secure it. He claimed militants in two speedboats attempted to stop the
passenger boats. When they allegedly fired shots to stop the boats mid-sea, the JTF allegedly
responded and exchanged gun fire before the pirates fled. There were no casualties suffered by
the JTF, and no confirmation of casualties on the militants’ side (LM: allAfrica.com, This Day,
Vanguard Media).
.
4. NIGERIA: Security vessel attacked, 19 Mar 08, late evening, Bonny River in the vicinity
of the port of Onne, Nigeria. Around 15 unknown gunmen aboard a speedboat attacked a
security vessel as it travelled along the Bonny River towards Onne, a major oil industry port in
the Niger Delta, killing one Nigerian sailor according to sources within Nigeria’s oil industry
(REUTERS).
.
5. NIGERIA: Tanker boarded, robbed 02 Mar 08 at 2315 local time while in position
06:18.3N-003:20.54E, Lagos light house anchorage. Two robbers armed with knives attacked,
injured, and robbed the duty watchman onboard the vessel. Another watchman nearby informed
the bridge and tried to assist the watchman. The alarm was raised and the robbers jumped
overboard and escaped. Facial injuries were tended to by the onboard medical officer.
Arrangements were made for injured AB to visit the doctor the next day. The master’s attempt
to contact the port control was futile (IMB).
.
6. NIGERIA: Tug (FAITHFUL) hijacked, recovered, 27 Feb 08 between 1300 and 1400
local time, Bakana River off the coast of Port Harcourt. The owner of the vessel was alerted by
its crew who then immediately sent out a distress call to Naval personnel resulting in a duel with
the suspected hijackers and the Nigerian Navy (NN). The NN killed two hijackers, arrested one
and at least one other hijacker escaped as he jumped into Bakana Rivers during the gun battle.
The arrested individual’s name is Samuel Jekinson, who stated that he was only contacted by a
group of youths to ferry them to the vessels before the Navy arrested him. He claims he
was only a speedboat driver and not a hijacker and claimed that his father was a traditional
ruler in his community. He also admitted that he was caught with a rifle. The tug and
its barge were carrying over 400,000 metric tons of diesel. Both were recovered with cargo
intact and crewmembers safe (LM: Daily News, Daily Champion).
.
7. NIGERIA: General cargo ship boarded, robbed 21 Feb 08 at 0330 local time in position
06:26.3N-003:23.5E, Apapa berth no. 12, Lagos. Two robbers managed to board the vessel in
spite of armed navy guards being onboard. The robbers forced open the forecastle door and stole
ship’s stores. The duty watchman noticed the robbers and informed the guards. By the time the
guards arrived forward, the robbers escaped in their speedboat (IMB).
.
8. NIGERIA: Vessel reported attempted boarding 21 Feb 08 at 2340 local time while in
position 06:18.4N-003:20.4E, Lagos anchorage. Just before watch change over, the forward
duty watchman heard the engine of a motor boat approaching on the portside. He immediately
alerted the others who commenced to check the portside. At the same time, the watchmen
checked the starboard side realizing that the boat on the port side could be a decoy. The
watchmen noticed four to five persons attempting to board the vessel via hooks attached to the
starboard side deck. The duty officer raised the alarm, the watchman shouted at them, and the
robbers slowly moved away (IMB).
.
H. INDIAN OCEAN-EAST AFRICA:
.
1. SOMALIA: Seismic support vessel reported suspicious approach, 5 Mar 08, 0030 UTC
while in position 08:32N – 054:57E, approximately 250NM off the coast of Somalia. While
underway, the master onboard the seismic support vessel noticed on radar one suspicious craft
approaching. He took evasive maneuvers to prevent the craft from closing in. The boat
eventually disappeared due to actions taken by the vessel (IMB).
.
2. TANZANIA: Container vessel boarded, robbed, 9 Mar 08, 0445 local time while in
position 06:31.8S – 039:51.5E, approximately 40NM off the coast of Dar Es Salaam. While
drifting and awaiting pilot, the deck patrol onboard the container ship spotted one speedboat with
approximately 10 people onboard near the forward section of the vessel. The crew was alerted.
Upon inspection, it was discovered that ship’s stores were stolen and some container seals
broken with the contents inside stolen. Port control was informed (IMB).
.
3. MOZAMBIQUE: Tanker boarded 02 Mar 08 at 0045 local time Nacala Bay anchorage.
Robbers in three boats boarded the vessel. They were in the process of lowering ship’s stores
when duty crew spotted the robbers. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. The robbers
jumped overboard and escaped. Port control informed (IMB).
.
4. GULF OF ADEN: Tanker reported warning shots fired, 18 Mar 08, 0850 local time/0350
GMT, approximately 60NM north of Caluula, Somalia. Two white hull speedboats
approximately five meters long with five armed men in camouflage clothing approached the
tanker while underway. The master raised the alarms, alerting the crew then ordered them to
leave the deck. The tanker commenced evasive maneuvers and increased speed. Men on one of
the boats fired shots in the air, but soon moved away from the vessel. The crew continued to
exercise vigilance and advised all vessels in the area regarding the incident (Operator, IMB).
.
5. GULF OF ADEN: Vessel reported suspicious approach 05 Mar 08 at 0824 local
time/0524 UTC while underway in position 13:46.5N-049:24.5E, approximately 40NM off the
coast of Yemen. The vessel was approached on its starboard side by four open skiffs, doing 17
and 18.5 kts. One skiff crossed the vessel’s bow at a distance of about five cables then kept the
port side of the vessel. The next skiff tried to challenge the vessel with 18.5 kts in a course that
was possibly intended to get alongside the vessel, finally turning to port and passing vessel’s
stern at a distance of less than two cables. The third skiff passed the stern at a distance of about
3-4 cables. The fourth skiff tried to approach the vessel’s bow but the vessel carried out evasive
maneuvers while increasing its speed, it crossed the bow at a distance of about two cables. After
the vessel had passed the skiffs and it was clear that the skiffs could not get any closer, they soon
reduced their speed and moved away. All the skiffs were Arabian open style boats, length about
8 to 10 or 12 meters with a sharp bow, and were probably wooden. They all had outboard
engines. Two skiffs were mainly white, one with an orange hull, which had at least two engines,
and one in multiple colors. Each craft had at least three persons, all in uniform-like clothed
(Operator, IMB).
.
6. INDIAN OCEAN: Semi-submersible heavy lift ship reported suspicious approach 02
Mar 08 at 0237 UTC while underway in position 04:40.2N – 057:38.9E, 500NM off the coast of
Somalia. While at a distance of 5NM, a drifting orange painted dhow with white stanchions and
25 persons onboard, called up the vessel requesting them to stop because they had no food or
water. As the vessel altered its course, the master noticed that the dhow had increased its speed
and was heading directly for them. Seeing this, the master suspected an attempted attack, altered
course, and headed away from the dhow. The vessel and the dhow were both doing around 7kts
and after about 3.5 hours, the dhow altered course towards Socotra Island. The same dhow was
later heard calling another vessel to stop (Operator, IMB).
.
7. INDIAN OCEAN: Yachts reported suspicious approach 27 Feb 08 at 0700 UTC/1100
local time, while in position 13:05.6N-057:49.44E, 197NM east of Socotra Island, Yemen. The
three vessels were approached by a 60-70ft long liner with at least 16 people on board. The three
boats downed their sails and turned on their engines, increased speed and moved closer together.
The suspicious vessel tried to force a path between the vessels but were unsuccessful. The
suspicious boat offered fish in exchange for cigarettes, but were waved away, and after
approximately 15 minutes, they moved away (Operator).
.
8. INDIAN OCEAN: Yacht reported suspicious approach 24 Feb 08, while in position
11:55N-061:27.93E, 411NM east of Socotra Island, Yemen. The vessel reported seeing a 60ft
fishing vessel behaving quite aggressively, towing fenders. The vessel eventually moved away
(Operator).
.
9. INDIA: Vessel boarded 05 Mar 08 at 0105 UTC while in position 22:49.5N-070:02.5E,
Kandla anchorage. Upon anchoring at the outer anchorage, Kandla tower informed the master
that the security level II was being maintained in the outer anchorage area. Keeping this in mind,
strict anti-piracy watch keeping procedures were maintained. The alert watch keepers spotted a
robber onboard the vessel. The bridge was informed, alarm raised, and the crew mustered. The
robber jumped overboard and was picked up by a red motor boat in which there were
approximately six to seven more robbers. No items were stolen (IMB).
.
10. BANGLADESH: Cargo ship boarded, robbed 04 Mar 08 at 0100 local time at the
Chittagong Ruby cement jetty. Three robbers armed with long knives boarded the cargo ship
while it was at berth. They assaulted and injured a shore-based security guard by cutting his
face. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. The robbers jumped overboard and escaped
with ship’s stores. The injured security guard later received medical treatment ashore (IMB).
.
I. RED SEA:
.
1. RED SEA: Tug reported suspicious approach 05 Mar 08, while underway in position
15:08N-042:14E, 40NM west of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. The suspicious craft traveling at a speed
of 27kts, came from Jabal Zubayr Island towards the tug towing a crane barge. The suspicious
craft had seven persons on board, some with camouflage suits and automatic weapons in their
hands, possibly Kalashnikov and AK 47’s. They approached at a distance of 15 meters on the
starboard side of the tug. They waved at the crew and called the vessel by its name many times
on VHF ch. 16. The tug’s master visually indicated from the wheelhouse that he was aware of
the speedboat’s presence but did not respond on VHF. The suspicious craft moved away and
went back towards the direction of the island. The incident lasted approximately five minutes
(Operator, IMB).
.
J. PERSIAN GULF: No current incidents to report.
.
K. SOUTHEAST ASIA:
.
1. THAILAND: Patrol boat attacked, police injured 25 Feb 08, early morning, Mekong
River, 10km north of Chiang Rai’s Chiang Saen District. According to the Thai Navy, three
Chinese policemen suffered injuries from knife and gun wounds when suspected Burmese drug
smugglers attacked their boat. They reported a vessel with approximately five men approached
the Chinese police boat while on patrol and opened fire. The perpetrators also jumped onto the
patrol boat, stabbing the policemen during the five minute conflict and jumped back on to their
vessel and speeding away. The three of the six injured officers were rushed to a hospital in
Chiang Rai, Thailand. According to one of the injured policemen, the unidentified armed group
appeared in uniforms similar to those of Burmese soldiers. Chinese police officials believed the
attack may have been organized by a local drug smuggling organization that was trying to
protect its drug transport route on the Mekong River. Chiang Rai Governor Preecha Kamolbutr
claimed the event was a very sensitive international issue because it occurred at a location near
the border of many countries. The Chinese police boat was patrolling the Mekong River where it
flows between Burma and Laos in accordance with a regional agreement focused on fighting
drug smuggling in the area (LM: bankgkokpost.co.th, gokunming.com).
.
2. PHILIPPINES: Tanker reported suspicious approach 09 Mar 08 at 1045 local time while
in position 18:03.7N-119:55.44E, off Luzon. The vessel was passing a group of 15 fishing
vessels. When about 1.5NM off, three boats left the group and approached the tanker at high
speed. One boat came within 10 meters of the vessel. The master took evasive maneuvers,
raised the alarm and sounded the whistle for the crew to muster. After 15 minutes, the boats
aborted the suspected attack (IMB).
.
3. INDONESIA: Vessel boarded, robbed 08 Mar 08 at 0400 local time, Jetty no. 106,
Belawan port. Unauthorized persons diverted the attention of the duty crew and shore
watchmen, while three other robbers armed with long knives boarded the vessel from offshore
side and stole ship’s stores. Luckily, the duty crew spotted the robbers and raised the alarm.
Upon seeing the crews’ alertness, the robbers jumped overboard and escaped in a small unlit
craft (IMB).
.
L. NORTH ASIA:
.
.
M. PACIFIC-ANTARCTIC OCEAN: No current incidents to report.
.
1. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Yacht (RAPTOR) boarded 29 Jan 08 in the early morning,
Wewak port, per 03 Mar 08 reporting. The crew of four heard unknown voices and discovered
that they were boarded from both sides of the vessel by three bandits, armed with a gun, machete
and a small axe. The crewmembers tried to regroup inside an area with a screen door but the
bandits kicked the door open, however while doing so, one of the bandits hit the smoke alarm
and set it off, distracting the bandits. Two of the crewmembers ran to the galley to search for a
defensive weapon. Another crewmember was commanded to silence the smoke alarm at
gunpoint. It was later discovered that this was a homemade gun, only good at close range. The
gunman went towards the galley so that he can watch all the crewmembers at once. While
distracted, one of the crewmembers tackled the gunman. The crewmembers managed to throw
the bandits down the steps on the transom. A crewmember radioed for help, but received no
response, probably due to it being a small port. After the scuffle, the crewmembers had the gun
in their possession and chased the bandits. They had two canoes but they spotted the bandits
swimming to shore instead. The crewmembers caught one bandit and scared him with a spear
gun and tied him up on the swim platform. Two crewmembers went to the local yacht club for
assistance. The police were contacted and they took custody of the captive (Operator:
Noonsite.com).
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N. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC NON-STATE ACTIVIST GROUPS:
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1. SEA SHEPHERD: Crewmembers onboard the Japanese research whaling ship
(NISSHINMARU), reportedly injured in clash 03 Mar 08, Antarctic. At least three
crewmembers on board the Japanese research vessel claimed to have been injured when activists
onboard the Sea Shepherd ship (STEVE IRWIN) threw bottles of butyric acid (rotten butter),
onto the whaling ship. At least two Coast Guard officers and one crewmember complained of
suffering injuries after the chemical hit them in the eyes. Members of the Sea Shepherd vessel
confirmed they threw over 20 bottles onto the whaling vessel, but that the bottles did not contain
any harmful or toxic chemicals. The captain of the Sea Shepherd vessel claimed the crew on the
whaling ship responded by throwing flash grenades at them, injuring him and one other person.
The Japanese Fisheries Agency official denied the accusations and said that only loud explosive
devices were thrown, to discourage the anti-whaling group. The spokesman for the Foreign
Ministry also said that no shots were fired. The two ships came within 10 meters of each other
during the exchange, which lasted over an hour until the activists had run out of bottles to throw
(LM: Mainichi Daily News, ABC News, eFlux Media).
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6. Originator of this WWTTS report requests consumer feedback.
Originator will incorporate all anti-shipping events and violence
against the maritime industry into this weekly message where
appropriate. The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) can be contacted
via message traffic at ONI WASHINGTON DC//11// or, the ONI
violence at sea (VAS) desk may be contacted at comm. phone
(301) 669-4905 or via e-mail at dpearl@nmic.navy.mil.
//