Four incidents of unauthorised boarding of ships were reported during January-April 2019, in locations of close proximity to each other, in the western sector of Singapore Strait, ReCAAP ISC said in an incident alert issued on 25 April.
The Maritime Administration of the Republic of Marshall Islands issued a marine notice concerning vessels sailing in Indonesian waters and intend to anchor in these areas. Also, vessels should operate at Security Level 2, maintain strict anti-piracy watch and measures, and report all security incidents and suspicious sightings to the local authorities and the IMB PRC.
The Maritime Administration of the Marshall Islands issued an advisory concerning vessels operating in or near the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. The note highlights that many are the countries that conduct naval exercises and operations in these areas. Thus, this advisory supplements information and navigation warnings routinely provided by other sources.
As a tanker was anchored at Bonny Outer Anchorage, Nigeria, on April 19, pirates boarded the ship. After that, they kidnapped six of the crew members and escaped. According to IMB, the rest of the crew are reported to be safe, while the Nigerian navy was notified and investigations are ongoing.
On 21 April, fishing vessels FV Adria and FV Txori Argi were attacked by suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean, 280 NM off the coast of Somalia, EU NAVFOR reported. The piracy attacks were thwarted, and the crew and vessels remained safe, due to the implementation of Best Management Practices protection measures by the Masters, the crews and the private security teams on both fishing vessels.
On Thursday, the Nigerian Navy handed over nine suspected pirates to the Interpol unit of the Nigeria Police, for allegedly possessing firearms and suspected crude oil within the Nigerian maritime domain. The suspected pirates included three Greeks, an American and five Nigerians.
The video, issued by One Earth Future’s Stable Seas, looks at the criminal activities that have historically taken place in the Gulf of Guinea and the recent strides being made in combating those illegalities. At the centre of efforts, the ‘Yaounde Code of Conduct’ brings together signatory nations from West and Central Africa.
The crew of the US Coast Guard Cutter Bear offloaded about 14,000 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $12.5 million wholesale and 3,660 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $50 million wholesale, on April 18 at Port Everglades seized in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Several US agencies from the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security take place in the effort to mitigate transnational organized crime.
Four persons in a speed boat armed with automatic weapons approached and boarded an anchored product tanker, on April 15, at Bonny River Inner Anchorage, Nigeria. Fires were shot, with the pirates eventually retreating and escaping. One guard was injured during the shooting and was given first aid by the crew. The remaining crew are reported to be safe.
ReCAAP ISC published its Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia for the 1st Quarter Report, from January to March 2019. The report presented a 52% reduction in the total number of incidents reported during January-March 2019, in comparison to the same period in 2018. Both the total number of incidents and number of actual incidents reported during January-March 2019 are the lowest among the period of January-March of 13-year.
