According to latest ONI’s Piracy Analysis and Warning Weekly (PAWW) Report, 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.
Pirate and maritime crime activity in East African waters is at a low level. One incident of possible arms smuggling was reported during the past week. On 20 March, the French Navy destroyer FS PROVENCE seized a large weapons cache from a dhow in the northern Indian Ocean. The incident took place as the ship operated as part of the Combined Maritime Forces Combined Task Force 150 which conducts maritime security and counterterrorism operations.
The dhow was spotted heading towards Somalia by PROVENCE’s surveillance helicopter while it was undertaking routine surveillance in the northern Indian Ocean. Subsequently, personnel from PROVENCE boarded the dhow and ascertained that it was without nationality. PROVENCE then undertook a search of the vessel, during which the weapons were found.
Further details may be found by reading ONI PAWW Report:
Also read ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) report which provides info on piracy threats to, and criminal action against, merchant vessels worldwide in the last 30 days (period 1-16 March 2016)
- PHILIPPINES: On 27 March, the motor launch FATIMA RADZ-AUNA was seized off Arena Blanco, near Zamboanga. Smuggled sugar was found during a search.
- PHILIPPINES: On 26 March, the tug BRAHMA 12 and barge ANAND 12 were attacked and the crew of 10 Indonesian sailors was kidnapped.
- NIGERIA: On 26 March, pirates attacked the chemical tanker SAMPATIKI 30 nm from the Bayelsa coastline, kidnapping five crewmen.
- MALAYSIA: On 23 March, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency authorities found two ships carrying approximately 330,000 liters of smuggled diesel fuel near Bintulu.
- HONG KONG: On 23 March, Hong Kong Customs authorities inspected a container arriving from Vietnam, finding a large amount of smuggled animal products.
- ARABIAN SEA: On 20 March, the French Navy destroyer FS PROVENCE seized a large weapons cache after boarding a dhow in the northern Indian Ocean.
- MEXICO: On 18 March, Mexican military and police personnel searched a shipping container aboard the container ship MONTE VERDE in the port of Veracruz, finding 16 tons of cocaine paste.
- MALAYSIA: On 15 March, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency found a ship carrying 100,000 liters of smuggled diesel fuel about 75 nautical miles from Mukah.
- PANAMA: On 3 March, the U.S. Coast Guard seized more than 12,800 pounds of cocaine and apprehended four suspected drug smugglers from a self-propelled semisubmersible off the coast of Panama.
Source: ONI
