Tag: robbery

Piracy & Robbery At Sea - August 2012

Pirates plan to steal fuel foiled by agency

Recent acts of piracy and armed robberies in the Guayaquil channel

ReCAAP issues Incident Alert re tugs boarded and robbed

Bureau of International Recycling survey findings re container security The results of a recent survey conducted by the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in conjunction with an international trade association have served to underline the challenges associated with container security and theft from containers.The recent survey of the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) membership found that thefts occurred from consignments carried by all of the major container shipping lines, on shipments originating in many countries. The common factor was that the thefts occurred in consignments almost exclusively bound for southern China- though this is more a reflection of the fact that the country is by far and away the biggest importer of scrap metals. Losses were however also reported in other parts of the world.IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan commented: "We share the concerns of the BIR over the scale and nature of the theft of scrap metals in certain parts of the world. The results reveal that all too often valuable cargoes - notably copper scrap exports- are removed from shipping containers before they reach their intended recipients. The reported losses run into millions of dollars, with one BIR member reporting losses in excess of USD 1 million in a ...

The UK P&I Club has recently dealt with a case of attempted cargo theft in Suez, Egupt The UK P&I Club has recently dealt with a case of attempted cargo theft from containers whilst a Member's vessel was lying in wait in Suez anchorage prior to her North bound canal transit.Fortunately this case saw the suspects leave empty handed as they were disturbed during the attempted theft and escaped down the anchor cable. At least eight containers were opened and cargo tampered with but nothing was stolen.Further enquiry by the Club's investigative arm Signum Services has shown that this is not an isolated incident. The circumstances are that while ships are held at anchor at Suez a number of suspects approach the vessel in small boats. The suspects then climb the anchor chain and gain entry to the deck via the hawsepipe. The seals are removed from a number of containers which are opened and their cargo stolen. The intruders systematically open a number of containers until they find suitable cargo to steal closing the container doors before they leave.In this recent case the small boats that were seen leaving from the bow of the ship displayed red and white ...

And Other Acts of Violence Against Merchant Shipping The Department for Transport issues Guidance to UK Flagged Shipping on Measures to Counter Piracy, Armed Robbery and Other Acts of Violence Against Merchant Shipping as follows:This guidance aims to assist all UK registered ship owners, companies, ship operators, masters and crews in understanding the risk of piracy, armed robbery and other acts of violence against ships, and reminds them of the importance of taking action to deter such acts and advises on how to deal with them should they occur.For more information, click here.Source: Department for Transport

For the period January-September 2011 The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued its Quarterly Report regarding piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia for the period January-September 2011.While the total number of reported incidents (121) remained consistent with the same period in 2010, the number of Category 1 (very significant) incidents doubled to six from the three reported in 2010. (10/21/11).Source: ReCAAP

The ship was loaded with 1,000 barrels, valued at around $100,000 Nigeria's military said on Monday they had detained a small oil tanker and arrested 46 people trying to ship illegally refined oil products, pursuing a fight against an underground industry worth hundred of millions of dollars a year.Nigeria is Africa's largest crude oil exporter but its production capacity is reduced significantly by oil bunkering, where thieves tap often unguarded pipelines which pass through the thousands of kilometres of winding creeks and waterways in the vast Niger Delta region.The military said 13 large wooden Cotonou boats and a speed boat were ferrying barrels of oil product to a ship with the capacity to hold around 1,000 barrels, valued at around $100,000. The oil had been processed in one of the hundreds of makeshift illegal refineries hidden in the creeks."These suspects, who were nabbed by our patrol teams at River Akassa, were in the process of loading this vessel with illegally refined petroleum products. Presently, the oil vessel is detained at the Government Jetty in Yenagoa," said a spokesman for the Niger Delta joint task force."These suspects have contributed in no small measure to the destruction of the nation's economy and ...

Five incidents which are petty theft cases have already been reported in Indian waters Ten pirates boarded a Hong Kong-registered crude oil tanker anchored in Indian waters last Saturday and fled after the ship master raised the alarm.The oil tanker Everbright was anchored approximately 11 nautical miles west of Kochi when the incident happened, according to an incident alert issued by ReCAAP.The alert stated that the pirates stole some coils of rope from the tanker and escaped in their small boats after the master raised the alarm. The crew was not injured."The India Coast Guard had dispatched a patrol vessel to the ship to investigate. The ReCAAP ISC was informed that the ship was not held back for investigation by the authorities," the alert stated.This is the fifth incident reported in the vicinity of Kochi anchorage, India, since January 2011, according to ReCAAP."All five incidents were petty theft cases which occurred under the cover of darkness. The favourable weather condition along the west coast of India enables robbers to come alongside a merchant vessel while at anchor, board the vessel from their boats, steal items such as ropes; and escape immediately on being detected without harming the crew."Source: Seatrade Asia