Piracy Report Independent Global Incident Analysis

PIRACY REPORT NOVEMBER 2017 ______

Piracy and Acts of Armed Robbery of Ships

For Monthly Reports Please contact Lydelle Joubert [email protected]

 Nigeria, the Strait of Malacca and the Philippines 2016 are currently the worst piracy and maritime robbery Incidents affected areas. Venezuela also recorded high incidents.

 71 crew members and passengers of vessels were kidnapped on the coast of Nigeria during 11 reported incidents between January and end of November 2017. Maritime kidnap risk off Nigeria remains high.

 Ten crew members were kidnapped from the Bulk Carrier, Venus Bay in November 2017. The Nigerian Navy rescued the kidnap victims and arrested five pirates. The incident has yet to be confirmed by the Nigerian Navy or in local Nigerian newspapers. Arrests of kidnap for ransom syndicate members targeting commercial vessels off the Nigerian coast 2017 are almost unheard of. For the most the only Incidents kidnappers arrested are those involved in the kidnapping of passengers and crew from small local vessels or arrests that were executed by neighbouring countries. It is likely that the suspects in this incident would have been involved in previous kidnappings. It raises more questions about the identities of the kidnappers or possible links to prominent members of Nigerian society.

 The Fishing Trawlers Owners Association of Nigeria listed piracy and robbery as a major challenge for the industry. Attacks on fishing vessels in the Gulf of Guinea are seldom reported.

 Two robberies on yachts were recorded at Porto da Praia Bay, Cape Verdes. A suspect was arrested in connection with one of the incidents and three November 2017 others have been identified. Incidents

 Six suspects were arrested by EU NAVFOR Flagship, ITS Virginio Fasan after an attack on the Container Ship, MV Ever Dynamic was reported off the Somali coast on 17 November 2017.

 The barge, Ever Omega on tow by tug Ever Prosper was hijacked near Singkawang, Indonesia on 22 November 2017. The barge has since been located, but the cargo of palm oil was removed.

 Six suspects were arrested in the Philippines after an attempted boarding of the fishing boat Nancy 888 in the Moro Gulf, Philippines on 19 November 2017.

35 Southeast Asia 30

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

14 West Africa 12

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC East Africa, Red Sea & Gulf of Aden 7

6 2015 5 2016 4 2017 3 Linear (2015) 2 Linear (2016) 1 Linear (2017)

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

0 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017

EAST AFRICA AND ARABIAN GULF WEST AFRICA INDIAN SUB CONT SE ASIA SOUTH AMERICA

36 75

48 18 15

36 35 34 33 32 31 Type Vessel Code 30 29 Barge B 28 27 Bulk Carrier BC 26 Cargo ship CS 25 Coast Guard/ PB 24 Patrol Boat 23 Container C 22 21 Dhow D 20 Ferry F 19 Fishing Boat FB 18 Fishing Trawler FV 17 Offshore Supply OSV 16 15 Vessel 14 Passenger Boat PMB 13 Roll-on-Roll-off 12 Cargo Ship Ro-Ro 11 Tanker MT 10 9 Tug TB 8 Yacht SY 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 BC CS C D FB OSV PMB MT TB SY F Other Americas 3 2 2 6 15 5 1 2 Indian Sub Continent 3 3 1 3 2 3 SE Asia 16 2 6 5 2 34 7 2 West Africa 9 5 5 5 2 16 1 2 3 East Africa/Arabian Gulf 3 2 4 7 1

18/11/2017. Tug, Atlantic 22/11/2017. Tug, Ever 19/11/2017. Nancy 888. 8 towing barge, Atlantic Prosper towing barge, Fishing Vessel. Chased by 9. Attempted boarding. Ever Omega. Barge two pump boats. Six hijacked. suspects arrested

Eleven incidents of piracy and robbery of vessels were reported in Southeast Asia in November 2017. Six incidents were reported in the Singapore Straits of which only one, the attack on the Bulk Carrier, Nordmorsel, occurred while the vessel was underway. Three vessels were anchored off Pulau Bintan when they were boarded. Robbers stole ship’s properties during one of the three incidents. A robbery was reported at Muara Berau Anchorage, Samarinda, Indonesia. In the Moro Gulf, Philippines armed men in a pump boat chased the fishing boat Nancy 888. The Philippines Navy arrested six suspects in connection with this incident. Tugs towing barges were targeted during two incidents. The barge Ever Omega was hijacked during one of these incidents.

 8 November 2017 – The Bulk Carrier, Andromeda was boarded while underway 21nm SW of Palau Mangkai, Kepulauan Anambas, Indonesia. The attackers were armed with knives. They stole ship’s and crew properties and damaged communication equipment before escaping in a boat.1

 19 November 2017 – The fishing boat Nancy 888, was chased by two motorized pump boats with armed men onboard at the Sibarot fishing grounds, 22nm NE off Saluping Island in the Moro Gulf, Philippines. The Philippines Navy dispatched the patrol vessel Manuel Gomez in response. The navy intercepted the suspects on 20 November 2017 near Bolod Island. They arrested six suspects and confiscated a M16 assault rifle and four magazines with ammunition. The suspects are Omar Amping, 39; Gabby S. Juwa, 35; Jadi Luhadi, 21; Alcimel Abdulla, 18; Madi Jalilul, 19; and Sakkam Dekani, 60. Amping has two outstanding arrest warrants.2

Two incidents involving tugs towing barges were reported in November 2017.

 22 November 2017 –The Tug, Ever Prosper towing the barge, Ever Omega was attacked by men with machetes near Singkawang, Indonesia. They were onroute to Penang from Bintulu at the time. The attackers transferred the crew of the barge to the tug and hijacked the barge with a cargo of 3700 tonnes of palm oil. The barge was located by authorities on 23 November 2017, but the cargo had been removed.3

 18 November 2017 – A speed boat which appeared to be from the Police or Navy came alongside the Tug Atlantic 8, towing the barge Atlantic 9 near Pulau Singkep, Indonesia. The Tug and barge were onroute from Muaro Jambi, Indonesia to Viet Nam with a load of coal at the time. The AB noticed that the speed boat has been following them since they left Muaro Jambi. The master switched on the spotlight but refused the men to board. He maintained speed and altered course. After a while the speedboat left the location.4

At least 117 incidents of piracy and robbery on tugboats have been reported in Southeast Asia since 2010

A clear concentration of attacks on tugboats in the Singapore Strait is illustrated in the heat map above. Most of the tugboats are towing cargo barges and they have to slow down to navigate heavy traffic in the straits which allows for easy boarding. Tugboats and barges are targeted in order to kidnap crew; to hijack either the tug or barge to resell the vessel or the cargo; or to steal part of the cargo or ships properties from the barge while underway.

The Tug, Ever Prosper and barge, Ever Omega are owned by Pengangkutan Kekal Sdn Bhd. The company suffered six attacks since 2011. The November 2017 attack was the second time Ever Prosper has been targeted. Their cargo are usually Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and Crude Kernel Palm Oil (CKPO). Pengangkutan Kekal Sdn Bhd vessels were hijacked during four of the six incidents, while ships and crew properties were stolen during the remaining two. Vessels owned by Pengangkutan Kekal Sdn Bhd were not the only vessels carrying CPO or CKPO that were targeted during this time. Two other tugs towing barges were hijacked over the same period. The tanker Srikandi 515 carrying a load of 3100 tons of palm oil was hijacked in 2014.

Pengangkutan Kekal Sdn Bhd is not the only tugboat company which reported multiple attacks. There are several companies which were targeted multiple times. Although some of the attacks are pre-planned in detail which require insider knowledge, it is not always the case. Companies often follow the same routes and schedules which make the location of the vessels predictable.

The attempted boarding of the Axsonic Shipping tug and barge, Atlantic 8 and Atlantic 9 in November 2017 was also not the first incident where the company’s vessels was targeted. Three incidents against vessels of the company were reported in 2010 and 2011. The Atlantic 3 towing the barge Atlantic 5 was hijacked on 27 April 2010. On 19 May 2010 the Philippines coast guard noted two vessels matching the descriptions of the tug and barge entering Saragani Bay, Philippines. They boarded the vessel. The embossed names of the vessel were cut away and the tug was renamed Marlyn 8.5 This hijacking was pre-planned as the buyer of the vessel produced fake registration and ship building documents for Marlyn 8.6

Update Abu Sayyaf Kidnappings

 10 November 2017 – Philippine troops rescued three of the crew of the Bulk Carrier, Giang Hai. Another crew member was found deceased. The Giang Hai was attacked by armed men in speedboats near Baguan Island, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines on 19 February 2017. One crew member was killed and six were kidnapped.7

 17 November 2017 – The Philippines military rescued five kidnapped crew from the fishing vessel Danvil 8 on Languyan Island, Tawi Tawi, Philippines.8 Five crew from FB Danvil 8 were kidnapped in October 2017 off Port Poblacion, Pangutaran, Sulu, Philippines.

3/11/2017. Tug, Maritime Raja towing barge, Maritime Hawk. Robbery.

13/11/2017. Tosa. Tanker. Suspicious Approach.

A robbery was reported at Kulpi Anchorage, Kolkata, India. A tug towing a barge was boarded and robbed at Kutubdia Anchorage, Bangladesh. A suspicious approach was also recorded off India in the Arabian Sea. It was found that the suspicious vessels were in fact fishing vessels engaged in fishing.

 3 November 2017 – The barge, Maritime Hawk under tow by the tug, Maritime Raja was boarded by a robber using a ladder at Kutubdia Anchorage, India. The robber escaped with a towing rope and Norwegian buoy as the master of the tug directed the search light on the barge. When the barge was inspected it was found that a pallet was broken. A knife and a hacksaw were also discovered. An hour later the master of the tug, under advisement of the Control Centre casted the barge off on approach of bad weather in order to move closer to the port limit. Once again the two small boats appeared and approached the barge. The master moved the tug closer to the barge and once again flashed the search light. The perpetrators only moved away on arrival of the Bangladeshi Coast Guard.9

Copyright © 2017 L. Joubert 10  13 November 2017 – The tanker, Tosa reported a suspicious approach of a suspected mother boat with two skiffs 194nm SW of Panjim, Goa, India. The two skiffs appeared to pick up speed while on a collision course with the Tosa. The master of the Tosa implemented Best Management Practises and reported the incident to authorities. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) established contact with MSC Genova which was on a parallel course to Tosa at the time. The MSC Genova observed the suspicious skiffs and mothership and established that they were fishing trawlers adrift. The IGC and Indian Navy (IN) deployed air surveillance assets. The IN also boarded the boats to check their documents. They confirmed that they are legitimate Indian fishing trawlers.10

East Africa and the Arabian Sea

The Container Ship, Ever Dynamic reported an attack off Somalia. A tuna vessel also reported a suspicious approach in the same vicinity. The Chemical tanker, Great Star was attacked and fired on off Mukalla, Yemen. The incident is most likely connected to the conflict in Yemen and not related to piracy.

 17 November 2017 – An attack on the Container Ship, MV Ever Dynamic was reported at 12:17LT, 363 nm off the Somali coast. The discrepancies between the initial reports and subsequent reports are concerning. Initially a suspicious approach to a distance of 1.6nm by a four manned skiff was reported. It was reported that the skiff had withdrawn at this distance. Subsequent reports stated that the men on the skiff tried to board the vessel but were prevented to do so due to razor wire along the gunnel. After the attempted boarding the men fired two RPG rounds at the vessel, but missed. They withdrew at 12:45LT. The master reported the attack at 15:31LT. In most cases we expect that crew on the skiff will fire on the vessel with automatic weapons in addition to a RPG during an attack. Firing with only a RPG on a vessel is rare, but not unheard of.11

 18 November 2017 – A similar skiff with four men onboard approached the Tuna Vessel, Galerna III at full speed NW of the island Mahe and 380nm of the Somali coast. The crew retreated to the citadel. The onboard security team fired warning shots at the skiff when they were 0.5nm from the fishing vessel resulting in the skiff turning away.12

Six suspects were apprehended on a skiff and a motor whaler by Italian Marines from EU NAVFOR Flagship, ITS Virginio Fasan. They were identified from information given from the masters of MV Ever Dynamic and Galerna III and located by Fasan’s SH-90 helicopter.13 The suspects were handed over to Seychelles authorities for prosecution on 22 November 2017.14

 21 November 2017 – Armed men in a speed boat chased and fired on the Chemical Tanker, Great Star at 22:40LT approximately 24nm SW of Mukalla, Yemen. The crew implemented Best Management Practices. 15 This incident is likely not related to piracy, but to the conflict in Yemen. The Great Star is managed by Massi Shipping LLC in Dubai, UAE.16 The UAE is one of the coalition forces in the Saudi led intervention in Yemen.

A blockade was imposed on rebel held ports and airports on 6 November 2017 after a missile attack on Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia also threatened to target the port of Hudaydah. As a result of the blockade UN aid ships carrying food supplies to Houthi controlled ports had to lay off the coast in waiting for two weeks. On 10 November 2017 Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, Yemeni Revolutionary Committee President threatened Saudi Arabia on his Facebook page with attacks on Saudi oil tankers and oil facilities if the Hudaydah port is attacked or invaded.17 The Saudi-led coalition eased the blockade on 26 November 2017 which allowed UN aid ships to dock at Hudaydah and Saleef, both Houthi controlled ports, to deliver food aid.18

17/11/2017. MV Ever Dynamic. Container Ship. Attack.

18/11/2017. Galerna III. Fishing Vessel. Suspicious Approach.

Source Twitter @indiannavy

22 November 2017 – Six Somalis suspected of piracy handed over to Seychelles for prosecution by EU NAVFOR. UNODC MCP advices on securing chain of evidence Source UNODC MCP Twitter

Evidence handed over by EUNAVFOR to Seychelles authorities Source UNODC MCP Twitter

2/11/2017. SY Zaria. Yacht. Armed robbery.

13/11/2017. SY Spinnwill. Catamaran. Armed robbery.

16/11/2017. Fadelsia. Bulk Carrier. Attack.

16/11/2017. Sabine. Crude Oil Tanker. Attempted boarding.

11/11/2017. Venus Bay. Bulk Carrier. Ten crew kidnapped. Intercepted by Navy.

Copyright © 2017 L. Joubert 14 Eight incidents of piracy and robbery of vessels were reported off West Africa. Two robberies on yachts were recorded at Porto da Praia Bay, Cape Verdes. Six incidents were recorded off Nigeria -an attempted boarding of a chemical tanker at Lagos Secure Anchorage area and five incidents off Bonny Island. During four incidents vessels were approached and chased. One incident resulted in the kidnapping of ten crew members. The Nigerian Navy intercepted the pirate boat and arrested five pirates.

 2 November 2017 – Robbers boarded the Yacht, Zaria at 20:00LT while at anchor 200nm NW of the fishing harbour, Porto de Praia, Cape Verdes. Three robbers armed with knives swam to the yacht. Only one person was onboard at the time. The robbers threatened the crew member and stole electronic and other equipment and items of clothing. After the robbers left the crew member tried to contact police on VHF but no response was received. The crew member was able to identify two of the suspects.19

 11 November 2017 – The drifting Bulk Carrier, Venus Bay was attacked by five pirates approximately 17nm SSW of Bonny Island, Nigeria.20 According to the ships manager, V-Ships, the Bulk Carrier had just arrived at the Bonny Pilot Station awaiting a pilot when a boat approached at speed. The master raised the alarm and alerted authorities. The crew were however not in time to reach the citadel. The pirates damaged the bridged windows when they entered the bridge firing their weapons. They stole ship’s and crew properties and kidnapped ten crew members. The Nigerian navy send a patrol boat to the location.21 According to a project manager in the maritime industry the kidnapped crew were saved and the five pirates arrested by the Nigerian Navy after the pirate’s boat capsized.22 The Venus Bay was escorted to the inner anchorage by the navy.

 13 November 2017 – Three robbers armed with knives boarded the Catamaran, Spinnwill after midnight at Porto da Praia Bay, Ihla de Santiago, Cape Verdes. They threatened the crew and stole electronic and other equipment, clothing, etc. The owner, Jens Werner Werenskiold was tied to the mast and the crew were taken hostage. The robbers escaped with the dinghy, but as they were unfamiliar with the outboard they had to row. The owner untied himself and alerted Port Police. Police were waiting as the robbers reached the beach. The police arrested one suspect. Most of the stolen items were recovered. The owner reported that the suspect arrested subsequently appeared in court. He was well known to police and were apparently involved in previous robberies on yachts. Three suspects are still at large.23

 16 November 2017 – The Bulk Carrier, Fadelsia was attacked 19nm SW of Bonny Island, Nigeria while underway. The attack took place 15 minutes after the Nigerian Navy security escort departed. The vessel send a distress call after which the Navy’s security vessels returned and fired on the pirate boat. They escorted the Fadelsia to Bonny Anchorage.24

Although no piracy or armed robbery incidents of fishing vessel in Nigeria have been reported in the media in recent months the Fishing Trawlers Owners Association of Nigeria listed piracy and robbery as a major challenge for the industry. The impact of maritime crime on fishermen is exacerbated by a decline in the fishing industry.25

Update Kidnappings

12 November 2017 – The six crew members kidnapped from the Container Vessel, Demeter, off Bonny, Nigeria on 21 October 2017 were released.26

On 16 November 2017 robbers armed with knives boarded and robbed the Chemical Tanker, Arctic Breeze while at anchor at Mamonal Anchorage, Colombia.27

5/11/2017. Tangaroa. Yacht. Stolen.

On 5 November 2017 the yacht, Tangaroa was stolen from Marina degli Aregai, Italy. The incident took place between 18:30 and 20:00LT. The vessel is a 17.1m UK flagged Moody 54 DS. Hull number (DEMOO54019I415) and Volvo D3 150 engine number (A332780).28 The last AIS reading of the yacht was received on 16 August 2017 on Sardinia.29 It is unknown why the AIS was not transmitting since.

Tangaroa Source: Boatandboats Magazine

1. https://icc-ccs.org/index.php/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-report/details/169/1496 viewed 10/11/2017; https://gisis.imo.org/Public/PAR/Incident.aspx?Action=View&ID=7633 viewed 13/11/2017 2. https://maritime-executive.com/article/philippine-forces-arrest-six-abu-sayyaf-pirates viewed 23/11/2017; https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/11/22/philippine-navy-apprehends-six-asg-men-in-sulu-waters 3. http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/11/24/local-vessel-carrying-3700t-palm-oil-confirmed-hijacked/ viewed 27/11/2017 4. https://gisis.imo.org/Public/PAR/Incident.aspx?Action=View&ID=7650 viewed 29/11/2017 5. https://gisis.imo.org/Public/PAR/Default.aspx 6. ReCAAP Special Report On Hijacked / Missing Tug Boats and Barges in Asia (March – June 2011) 7. ReCAAP ISC Weekly Report 7-13 November 2017 8. http://www.oni.navy.mil/Portals/12/Intel%20agencies/piracy/20171122_WTS.pdf?ver=2017-11-27-104841-917 9. ReCAAP ISC Weekly Report 14-20 November 2017 viewed 21/11/2017 10. https://gisis.imo.org/Public/PAR/Incident.aspx?Action=View&ID=7638 viewed 15/11/2017; ReCAAP ISC Weekly Report 14-20 November 2017 viewed 21/11/2017 11. http://eunavfor.eu/eu-navfor-confirms-the-names-of-the-attacked-vessels-as-galerna-iii-and-mv-ever-dynamic/; http://eunavfor.eu/eu-navfors-italian-ship-virginio-fasan-chases-and-captures-suspected-pirates/#.WhHk73fEY- s.twitter viewed 20/11/2017; https://www.asket.co.uk/single-post/2017/11/19/Attempted-Boarding---RPGs-Fired- piracy-marsec-IMBPiracy-IMOHQ-ukmto-shipping; https://www.asket.co.uk/single-post/2017/11/18/UKMTO-Advisory- Armed-Skiff-Approached-MV-at-speed-marsec-piracy; https://crfimmadagascar.org/en/vol-attaque-a-main-armee-et- piraterie-en-mer-vapm/ops-somalie-attaque-mv-ever-dynamic-large-cotes-somaliennes/ 12. https://www.undercurrentnews.com/2017/11/21/albacoras-tuna-vessel-escapes-somali-pirate-attack-in-indian-ocean/; https://www.asket.co.uk/single-post/2017/11/18/UKMTO-Advisory-MV-Approached-by-Armed-Skiff-piracy-marsec viewed 23/11/2017 13. http://eunavfor.eu/eu-navfors-italian-ship-virginio-fasan-chases-and-captures-suspected-pirates/#.WhHk73fEY- s.twitter viewed 20/11/2017 14. UNODC MCP Twitter 22 November 2017. 15. https://icc-ccs.org/index.php/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-report/details/169/1505 viewed 23/11/2017; https://gisis.imo.org/Public/PAR/Incident.aspx?Action=View&ID=7647 viewed 27/11/2017 16. https://gisis.imo.org/Public/SHIPS/ShipDetails.aspx?IMONumber=8912508 17. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42131361?ocid=socialflow_twitter 18. https://www.facebook.com/pg/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A- %D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A-Mohammad-Ali-AlHouthi-149354595659229/posts/ posted 10 November at 11:42pm; http://whatsupic.com/index/houthi-leader-saudi-oil-tankers-will-targeted-coalition-attacks- hodeidah/ 19. http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/CapeVerdes/cape-verdes-ihla-de-santiago-porto-da-praia-bay-armed-robbery- piracy-november-2017-1 viewed 4/12/2017 20. https://gisis.imo.org/Public/PAR/Incident.aspx?Action=View&ID=7636 viewed 14/11/2017 21. http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/235326/ten-bulker-crew-members-saved-from-pirate-hands-off-nigeria/ viewed 17/11/2017 22. Max Williams, Fleet Operations Director, Africa Risk Compliance Limited. 23. https://www.facebook.com/jenswerner.werenskiold?hc_ref=ART9iGirWbWGbg2bPK1MrPnQrmvDMBsNf- e1KwGo0LQLUFfTUNqbexwEHTTRK6_p5Gg viewed 21/11/2017; http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/CapeVerdes/cape-verdes-ihla-de-santiago-porto-da-praia-bay-armed-robbery- piracy-november-2017 24. https://icc-ccs.org/index.php/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-report/details/169/1500 viewed 20/11/2017; https://gisis.imo.org/Public/PAR/Incident.aspx?Action=View&ID=7639 25. http://shipsandports.com.ng/collapse-fish-trawling-industry-nigeria 26. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/nigerian-pirates-release-six-demeter-crewmen 27. https://icc-ccs.org/index.php/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-report/details/169/1501 viewed 20/11/2017 28. https://www.boatandboats.com/magazine/boat-stolen-marina-degli-aregai.html 29. http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:3404208/mmsi:235109165/imo:0/vessel:TANGAROA#e3hcrT uPdUywzTp2.99