ONI Piracy Weekly Report for 5 – 11 May 2016

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 were no incidents reported 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: No incidents to report.

Gulf of Guinea – Piracy Events Over The Past Week

Pirate and maritime crime activity in West Africa waters is at a high level. There were three attempted boardings, an attack on a riverine passenger boat and an attack on an offshore oil installation during this past week with late reporting on an attempted boarding from the previous week.
Details

• Vessels Hijacked: No incidents to report.
• Kidnapping: No incidents to report.
• Vessels Boarded: No incidents to report.
• Vessels Fired Upon/Attempted Boarding/Attack:
  1.  NIGERIA: On 7 May, Pirates armed with automatic weapons in a speed boat fired upon and attempted to board an underway tanker near position 03:42 N – 005:10 E, 58 nm southwest of the Bayelsa Coast. Master raised the alarm, made evasive maneuvers and all non-essential crew was mustered in the citadel. A ladder was sighted on the boat. The armed guard onboard returned fire resulting in the pirates aborting the attack. All crew reported safe. 
  2.  NIGERIA: On 5 May, armed pirates in a speed boat chased and fired upon a tanker underway near position 03:53 N – 005:36 E, 34 nm southwest of the Bayelsa coast. Ship’s master made loudspeaker announcement and all crew was mustered on the bridge. Attack was aborted due to presence of navy personnel onboard and anti-piracy measures used by the ship. 
  3.  NIGERIA: On 5 May, pirates in two speed boats chased and fired upon an underway tanker near position 03:50 N – 005:24 E, 43 nm southwest of the Bayelsa coast. Armed security team onboard returned fire resulting in the pirates aborting the attack. All crew safe. Nigerian authorities notified.
  4. NIGERIA: On 5 May, gunmen suspected to be sea pirates shot and killed two traders and injured a child and the driver of a commercial boat. The boat was conveying passengers from Bonny Local Government Area  in Rivers State to Kaa in Khana LGA when they were attacked. 
  5. NIGERIA: On 5 May, militants attacked the Okan offshore oil facility, located in Escravos Bay in the Niger Delta region. A group known as the Niger Delta Avengers has claimed responsibility for the attack. The facility has been temporarily shut down as damage is being assessed. 
  6. NIGERIA: On 4 May, Armed pirates fired upon and attempted to board an underway tanker near position 03:54 N – 005:17 E, 44 nm southwest of the Bayelsa coast. The armed guard onboard the tanker returned fire resulting in the pirates aborting the attack. All crew reported safe. 
• Other Activity: No incidents to report.

• On 11 May, the hostages taken from tug HENRY on 1 April were released.
• VIETNAM: On 9 May, robbers boarded an anchored container ship in Mui Vung Tau Anchorage.
• INDONESIA: On 8 May, robbers boarded an underway tanker 48 nm northeast of Pulau Subi Besar.
• INDIA: On 8 May, three persons in a fishing boat boarded an anchored LPG tanker in Visakhapatnam Anchorage.
• INDONESIA: On 7 May, merchant tanker HAI SOON 12 was hijacked 21 nm south of Pulau Serutu.
• NIGERIA: On 7 May, pirates armed with automatic weapons in a speed boat fired upon and attempted toboard an underway tanker 58 nm southwest of the Bayelsa coast.
• EGYPT: On 5 May, general cargo vessel HIPPO was searched by Egyptian Navy personnel in the Gulf of Suez. Narcotics were reported to have been found during the course of the search.
• NIGERIA: On 5 May, armed pirates in a speed boat chased and fired upon a tanker underway 34 nm southwest of the Bayelsa coast.
• NIGERIA: On 5 May, pirates in two speed boats chased and fired upon an underway tanker 43 nm southwest of the Bayelsa coast.
• NIGERIA: On 5 May, gunmen suspected to be sea pirates shot and killed two traders and injured a child and the driver of a commercial boat.
• NIGERIA: On 5 May, militants attacked the Okan offshore oil facility, located in the Escravos Bay in the NigerDelta region.
• NIGERIA: On 4 May, armed pirates fired upon and attempted to board an underway tanker 44 nm southwest of the Bayelsa coast.
• MEXICO: On 4 May, Mexican law enforcement authorities searched several shipping containers aboard CMA CGM OHIO, berthed at Manzanillo Port. Authorities found 73 kilograms of cocaine in one container.
• INDONESIA: On 4 May, robbers armed with knives boarded an anchored bulk carrier in Samarinda Anchorage.
• INDONESIA: On 4 May, robbers boarded a bulk carrier underway in Balikpapan.
• MALAYSIA: On 3 May, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) intercepted two fishing boats conducting illegal fuel transfer operations.
• VIETNAM: On 3 May, a Vietnam-flagged fishing ship was rammed and subsequently sunk while operating in the Paracel Island group.
• KENYA: On 2 May, one robber boarded a berthed product tanker in Mombasa Port.
• BAHAMAS: During the first few days of May, at least three outboard motors were stolen from three different sailing yachts moored in Georgetown.
• INDONESIA: On 25 April, four robbers in a wooden boat boarded an anchored dredger via the stern in Batu Ampar Anchorage, Pulau Batam.
• CHINA: On 24 April, an unauthorized person boarded a berthed bulk carrier conducting cargo operations min Rizhao Port.
• CHINA: On 23 April, robbers boarded a vessel in Longkou Anchorage