Singapore-based owner of gas carriers BW LPG informed that one of its vessels, the ‘BW Frigg’ became subject of an attempted piracy attack on 29 October, but the attack was successfully thwarted by the ‘fast reflexes’ of the crew. To honor the crew for their bravery an appreciation ceremony was held onboard.
On 5 December, around 20 men, who are believed to be from the Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group, armed with firearms, boarded the boat from speed boats painted green with grey, and powered with double engine. They abducted three crew, one Malaysian and two Indonesians.
In its monthly piracy report for November, ReCAAP ISC informed of a total of three incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. Of these, one was a piracy incident and two were armed robberies at ports/anchorages. The total number of incidents against ships in Asia during January-November 2018 has decreased by 15% compared to the same period in 2017.
According to IMB, on December 5, four armed persons approached a tug towing an unladen barge, off Malaysia, and opened fire. As a result, the Master was shot in the leg. He was transferred to the hospital, while the rest of the crew are safe. According to local media, one of the crew members fired around 10 shots from flare guns at the suspects.
Denmark announced the upcoming priorities regarding the fight against piracy and other criminal activity at sea. The priorities contain civil and military efforts against piracy. The geographical focus remains in Western Africa and the Horn of Africa. From 2019 to 2022, the priorities in the fight against piracy and other maritime crimes will replace the current Government strategy of 2015-2018.
Medical staff from the EU NAVFOR and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army completed medical exercises on board the EU NAVFOR flagship ESPS Castilla. There were also realistic simulations with the evacuation of casualties onto helicopter.
As IMB reported two robbers boarded a product tanker that was anchored in Puerto La Cruz Anchorage, Venezuela, on December 1, and tried to open the forward store. The crew members saw the perpetrators on time and raised the alarm.
IMB reported two separate piracy incidents in India and Nigeria, on 17 and 21 of November respectively. The first incident took place in Kakinada Anchorage, where robbers boarded a product tanker and stole its stores. The other incident occurred in Lagos Anchorage, where robbers boarded a vessels, but they were noticed.
Piracy and oil theft have significantly reduced in the Niger Delta, which is attributed to the constant patrol of naval personnel in the region, said Rear Adm. David Adeniran, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, on the sideline of the fourth quarter exercise of the Nigerian Navy, Friday.
On 16 of November, EU NAVFOR Italian Warship Federico Martinengo visited the Port of Mombasa, in Kenya. There the ship’s crew carried out the second combined exercise together with Kenyan Navy counterparts. During the exercise, EU NAVFOR’s crew showed techniques to the Kenyan Navy in firefighting, first aid and anti-flooding procedures.
