For 28 March – 29 April 2015
he Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) has issued Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report for period 28 March – 29 April 2015. The report provides information on piracy threats to merchant mariners and naval forces for the last 30 days.
MEDITERRANEAN – BLACK SEA
TURKEY:
On 25 April, the Turkish Coast Guard boarded the Mongolia-flagged cargo ship OLE near the Turkish port of Mersin. The Coast Guard picked up 71 migrants on board the ship and captured 279 others waiting their turn at the port to board the vessel. A spokesman said that the migrants, including women and children, were seeking to reach European Union countries, in particular Italy. Police detained 10 crewmen and seized the inflatable boats used to transfer the migrants to the ship. (www.dailymail.co.uk)
EAST ASIA – SOUTHEAST ASIA – INDIAN SUBCONTINENT
MALACCA STRAIT:
On 27 April, six robbers attempted to board an underway merchant ship in the Singapore Strait. Alert duty crewmembers spotted the robbers boat and raised the alarm. The robbers turned away from the ship after hearing the alarm, and escaped. (www.news.odin.tc)
MALAYSIA:
On 25 April, two robbers boarded an underway merchant ship approximately 7 nm south of Pengerang. The robbers were spotted by a duty crewman who raised the alarm. The robbers escaped emptyhanded. (www.news.odin.tc)
THAILAND:
On 25 April, Thailand Customs Department officials seized a total of 511 elephant tusks, weighing 3.1 tons, from a Laos-bound container at a private company’s bonded warehouse. The container-load of tusks was sent from Mombasa, Kenya via ship and transported to Laem Chabang Port, in Chon Buri province. It was initially declared as containing 11 tons of tea, but Thai officials checking the container discovered the tusks among the tea leaves and seized them for legal action. (www.phuketgazette.com)
Source and Image Credit:ONI
