The Office of Naval Intelligence has issued its Piracy Analysis and Warning Weekly (PAWW) Report for 12 – 18 May 2016. According to the report, all shipping entities operating in the Gulf of Guinea region should maintain vigilance in light of the on-going piracy threat. Recent activity, specifically – a tanker hijacked within the past week off the coast of Ivory Coast, indicates pirates may be actively seeking to hijack another vessel, potentially in the near-term. The region at-large remains at-risk to piracy although this advisory is intended to put special emphasis for ships within 100 nautical miles of Tema, Ghana, Lome, Togo, and Contonou, Benin.
1. Horn of Africa – Piracy Events Over The Past Week
Pirate and maritime crime activity in East Africa waters is at a low level. There was one reported suspicious
approach in the past week.
Details:
- Vessels Hijacked: No incidents to report.
- Vessels Boarded: No incidents to report.
- Vessels Fired Upon/Attempted Boardings: No incidents to report.
- Other Activity
2. Gulf of Guinea – Piracy Events Over The Past Week
Pirate and maritime crime activity in West Africa waters is at a low level. There is late reporting on one boarding
event, and five hostages from a previously reported kidnapping were released.
Details
- Vessels Hijacked: No incidents to report.
- Kidnapping:
NIGERIA: On 26 March, pirates attacked the chemical tanker SAMPATIKI near position 04:20 N – 005:10 E, approximately 30 nm from the Bayelsa coastline. The pirates ransacked the ship and kidnapped five crewmembers. UPDATE: On 9 May, the five hostages were reportedly released. - Vessels Boarded:
TOGO: On 11 May, seven robbers in a wooden boat approached an anchored product tanker, with one robber getting aboard the tanker near position 06:05 N – 001:15 E, Lome Anchorage. Alert crew noticed the robbers and informed the duty officer who in turn raised the alarm and mustered the crew. Upon hearing the alarm and seeing the crew’s alertness, the robber escaped empty-handed with his accomplices. Togo Navy informed. (IMB) - Vessels Fired Upon/Attempted Boarding/Attack: No incidents to report.
- Other Activity: No incidents to report.
Further details may be found by reading ONI PAWW Report:
Also read ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) report which rovides info on piracy threats to, and criminal action against, merchant vessels worldwide in the last 30 days (period 19 April – 18 May 2016).
- YEMEN: On 16 May, five skiffs made a suspicious approach on an underway container ship near Al Mukalla.
- BANGLADESH: On 15 May, seven robbers in a small boat came alongside and attempted to board an anchored container ship in Chittagong ‘C’ Anchorage.
- VENEZUELA: On 12 May, four robbers armed with steel pipes boarded an anchored LPG tanker in Puerto Jose Anchorage.
- TOGO: On 11 May, seven robbers in a wooden boat approached an anchored product tanker, with one robber getting aboard the tanker in Lome Anchorage.
- MALAYSIA: On 11 May, Malaysian authorities detained a ship believed to be smuggling almost 7,000 liters of stolen diesel fuel near Semerak Canal.
- NIGERIA: On 9 May, five hostages from the tanker SAMPATIKI, kidnapped on 26 March, were released.
- LIBERIA: On 2 May, the tanker TAMAYA I washed ashore near Robertsport Beach in western Liberia.
Further details may be found by reading ONI WTS Report:
Source:ONI
