ONI Piracy Report for 24-30 November 2016

Horn of Africa – Piracy Events Over 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: No incidents to report.

Gulf of Guinea – Piracy Events Over The Past Week 

There was one reported hijacking event, an attack on an oil installation, and an attack against a tanker during this past week.

Details

• Vessels Hijacked: No incidents to report.
  BENIN: On 27 November, pirates boarded the refrigerated cargo ship SARONIC BREEZE near position 05:04N – 002:37E, 70 nm south of Cotonou. The pirates maintained control of the ship until 29 November when the left the ship, taking 3 crewmen as hostages. 
• Kidnapping: No incidents to report.
• Vessels Boarded: No incidents to report.
• Vessels Fired Upon/Attempted Boarding/Attack:
  1. (U) NIGERIA: On 27 November, an unknown militant group in the Niger Delta region has reportedly blown up the Abura oil pipeline, a major oil trunk line operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company near Otu-Jeremi in Ughelli South local government area of Delta state. 
  2. (U) NIGERIA: On 23 November, pirates armed with automatic weapons approached and fired upon an underway tanker near position 03:35N – 005:13E, 61 nm southwest of Bayelsa coast. Alarm raised, SSAS activated, crew alerted and the onboard security team returned fire. The pirates managed to board the tanker using a ladder and all crew retreated to the citadel. After two hours, the pirates left the tanker. Vessel sustained some damages at the superstructure due to the firing. All crew are safe and no injuriesreported. One pirate was reportedly killed. 
• Other Activity: No incidents to report.

• HAITI: On 27 November, robbers attempted to board an anchored tanker Port Au Prince Anchorage.
• BENIN: On 27 November, pirates boarded the refrigerated cargo ship SARONIC BREEZE 70 nm south of Cotonou, kidnapping 3 crewmen.
• NIGERIA: On 27 November, an unknown militant group in the Niger Delta region has reportedly blown up the Abura oil pipeline, a major oil trunk line operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company.
• MEXICO: On 26 November, robbers boarded the offshore supply ships GLOBAL EXPLORER and VIKRANT
• DOLPHIN while the vessels were anchored at Dos Bocas anchorage, Tabasco State.
• BRAZIL: On 26 November, 223 kilograms of cocaine was discovered in a shipping container aboard CAP SAN
• ARTEMISSIO in the port of Santos.
• VIETNAM: On 26 November, Vietnam Coast Guard officials intercepted and arrested the tanker DANAI 8 near Quang Ngai on suspicion of fuel smuggling.
• VIETNAM: On 26 November, robbers boarded an anchored container ship in Vung Tau Anchorage.
• PHILIPPINES: On 24 November, seven armed persons wearing black clothes and black masks in a speed boat approached an underway bulk carrier 8 nm west of Laparan Island.
• PHILIPPINES: On 24 November, a bulk carrier underway 6 nm southwest of Laparan Island noticed a blue speed boat with ten armed persons wearing black clothes and black masks approaching the vessel at high speed.
• PHILIPPINES: On 23 November, eight persons wearing masks, and armed with automatic weapons, in a speed boat attempted to board an underway bulk carrier 25 nm northwest of Cap Island.
• NIGERIA: On 23 November, pirates armed with automatic weapons approached and fired upon an underway tanker 61 nm southwest of Bayelsa coast.                                                                                                                                                                    
• VENEZUELA: On 23 November, robbers boarded a bulk carrier anchored in Puerto Jose Anchorage.
• INDONESIA: On 5 November, two robbers in a small boat boarded an anchored LPG tanker, using a rope attached with a hook, in Tanjung Priok Anchorage.
• INDONESIA: On 2 October, robbers boarded an anchored bulk carrier in Panjang Anchorage

NGA Special Warning 134: Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden Commercial vessels in the region of the Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden should operate under a heightened state of alert as increasing tensions in the region escalate the potential for direct or collateral damage to vessels transiting the region. These threats may come from a variety of different sources such as missiles, projectiles or waterborne improvised explosive devices. Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for an 01 October attack on a UAE vessel. Vessels in the region should report hostile activities immediately and contact coalition naval forces via VHF bridge to bridge radio.