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SOLACE GLOBAL MARITIME MONTHLY MARCH MARITIME MARITIME SUMMARY • February 2019 Solace Global Maritime Summary INDIAN OCEAN MARITIME PIRACY ARMED CONFLICT TERRORISM HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH 26 Feb: Suspicious approach 24 Feb: Suspicious approach The Indian Ocean continues to enjoy a relatively peaceful period. There were two reported suspicious approaches in the Gulf of Aden. However, these did not amount to any direct attacks. The main story in the region is the continued development over last year’s decision to allow Chinese fishing vessels to fish in Somali waters. Locals are concerned that the arrival of foreign fishing vessels will lead to a continued depletion of the local fish stocks. The deal allows Chinese registered vessels to fish 24 nautical miles from Somalia’s coast; however, local fishing communities worry that the African country’s government is unable to ensure that the Chinese vessels will respect the boundaries. Somali fishing communities have also expressed concerns that a “debt trap diplomacy”-linked deal between their government and China has granted Beijing a license to exploit their livelihoods legally. The contract has been termed as one-sided (in favour of Beijing) by a Somali lawmaker representing the coastal regions. Indeed, a competition between foreign and domestic fishing over declining resources in the area vastly increases the likelihood of Contact: +44 ( 0 ) 1202 308 810 SOLACEGLOBAL.COM Page 1 MARITIME MARITIME SUMMARY • February 2019 conflict between the fleets. These clashes have a high likelihood to proliferate into violence given both the wide availability of weapons in the region and the vitality of fishing to support the local communities. There is also a significant concern that the Chinese vessels will overfish. The Somali authorities have struggled to contend with illegal fishing in communities in recent years and will have no authority, or ability, to vet the Chinese vessels’ catch for overfishing. One of the main causes of piracy in the region was the lack of opportunity for fishermen in small fishing communities. This depletion of the fish stocks, through both overfishing and illegal fishing, resulted in locals using the widely available firearms to target merchant vessels transiting the western Indian Ocean. By allowing Chinese vessels the right to fish in these depleted waters, not only is there a likelihood of conflict between domestic and foreign fishermen, but there is also a significantly increased opportunity for a resurgence in piracy. However, China has reportedly promised to rebuild a seaport in Mogadishu using money that Beijing loaned to Somalia in exchange for the fishing rights. The rehabilitation of the port has the opportunity to give the Somali economy a major boost. Adversely, the “debt-trap” policy that China follows has been strongly condemned by America and other countries. It both undermines the borrowers’ sovereignty but also allows China a significant foothold in the target’s country. Mogadishu is highly likely to therefore to become part of China’s “Ring of Pearls” policy. Elsewhere in the region, the tensions between Indian and Pakistan should be monitored by the maritime community. Should the conflict escalate we could see increased naval activity around the two countries’ national waters. On 5 March, Pakistan announced that it had thwarted an attempt by an Indian submarine to enter the country’s national waters. Indian- and Pakistani-flagged or owned vessels should employ additional caution if operating in the other country’s waters; as there is a risk of vessels being impounded. Additionally, a fire onboard a Greek tanker being scheduled for demolition cost two workers their lives and injured a third on 18 February. The incident occurred in the Shagorika Ship Breaking Yard, Chittagong, Bangladesh. The demolition yard, and those like it in south-east Asia are common places for companies to send their outdated vessels. However, working conditions can be poor. As of 1 January 2019, all vessels under an EU flag will need to use EU-approved ship recycling facilities. In the Indian Ocean on 20 February, two crew members were killed and another six remain missing after the chief officer onboard the vessel attacked crewmembers with a knife aboard a Taiwanese-registered fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean. The vessel, a Longline fishing boat the Weng Peng, was approximately 1,540 nautical miles from the Mauritius capital of Port Louis when the incident occurred. According to the vessels captain, a dispute had escalated into a fight onboard. Numerous members of the crew had been having difficulty getting along with one another prior to the incident. During the dispute, a number of the vessels crew were forced to jump overboard to escape while some crew members also barricaded themselves in parts of the ship. Following the latest report, the Chief Officer remained free, and unstable, threatening anyone who approached the bridge of the vessel. Other Taiwanese and friendly fishing vessels in the area were notified and came to the ship’s aid. Nearby countries were contacted by the Taiwanese foreign ministry and dispatched rescue vessels. This is the second incident to impact a Taiwanese vessel in as many weeks with a fire onboard another fishing vessel in the Atlantic Ocean near the Falkland Islands killing five crewmembers. Elsewhere the Master, Chief Officer and AB were all killed in what is being described as a “tragic accident” onboard the bulk carrier Bahri Bulk in port in Saudi Arabia. An AB entered closed hold and collapsed. Master and Chief Officer rushed to assist him, and also collapsed. All three were taken to hospital, but died, understood while being in intensive care. The incident is being investigated. Contact: +44 ( 0 ) 1202 308 810 SOLACEGLOBAL.COM Page 2 MARITIME MARITIME SUMMARY • February 2019 DATE NOTABLE MARITIME INCIDENTS IN HIGH RISK AREA AND EAST AFRICA 3 February Chief officer on routine rounds onboard Singapore-flagged product tanker berthed Oil Jetty No4, Kandla Port, India noticed a boat under the forecastle and notified the other deck crew. Seeing the alerted crew, the boat moved away. On inspection, it was noticed that a store room had been broken into but nothing reported stolen. Port authorities notified. 4 February The Master of the STI Guard, a Marshall Islands-flagged Crude Oil Tanker owned by Scorpio Tankers, was injured following an altercation with a crewmember. The incident took place while the vessel was transiting through the Indian Ocean, some 300 nautical miles southwest of Reunion. The Master of the vessel was reportedly in a critical condition and required consultation with medical advisors in Toulouse, France. Following the advice given, the vessel altered course and a helicopter from Reunion island delivered a medical team onboard the vessel prior to evacuating the captain. The attacker has been restrained and, as the attack occurred in international waters, will be judged under Marshall Island law. 11 February Whilst en-route to Mombasa, Kenya, master of Singapore-flagged container ship noticed, via the radar, a suspicious vessel without AIS on vessel's port bow at approximately 145nm from Mahe, Seychelles. The master monitored the suspicious vessel, although it did not appear to show any signs to attempt to come near the ship. This was followed by the vessel changing course and approaching the container ship's route. The master immediately increased speed, adjusted course and closely monitored the suspicious vessel. General alarm sounded and all crew were notified. Crew closed all access to the accommodation, started fire pump and activated an anti-piracy watch. The suspicious vessel subsequently stopped its pursuit. It is believed that the suspicious vessel was a mother vessel as there was also a sighting of a small boat nearby. A second suspicious vessel was sighted on starboard bow later that day; however, nothing further has been reported. 20 February At least one person was killed and another injured following a knife attack onboard a Taiwanese fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean. See below for more information. 24 February In the morning of 24 February, two skiffs were reported to have approached a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden the skiffs closed to within 200 metres. No further details have been released at the time of writing. Vessels transiting the area are advised to continue employing additional levels of caution. 26 February An underway yacht was approached by one skiff at around 109nm SW of Al Mukalla, Yemen, in the Gulf of Aden. The skiff was reported to have a ladder onboard and closed to within 1nm of the vessel. Contact: +44 ( 0 ) 1202 308 810 SOLACEGLOBAL.COM Page 3 MARITIME MARITIME SUMMARY • February 2019 GULF OF GUINEA AND WEST COAST OF AFRICA MARITIME PIRACY ARMED CONFLICT TERRORISM HIGH SEVERE MODERATE HIGH 21 Feb: Attempted Attack 3 Feb: Vessel Boarded 9 Feb: Anchored Vessel Robbed 28 Feb: Attempted Attack 27 Feb: Attempted 21 Feb: Vessel Attacked Robbery 27 Feb: Three Attacks in 24 Hours 3 March: Attack and Kidnapping 4 Feb: Vessel Boarded 2 March: Attempted Attack The piracy risk level for the Gulf of Guinea remains at Severe following an increase last month. As the map above demonstrates, the region has suffered a multitude of attacks in the last month. The majority of these attacks have occurred in, or near, Nigerian waters; however, attacks have also occurred in Togo waters and elsewhere. Vessel security should not be taken lightly if entering the region. Media sources have reported that the Nigerian Navy has intercepted 130 vessels for crimes perpetrated in the maritime sector and other activities from January 2018 to February 2019. The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, said the arrests were made following the recent enhancement of the navy’s surveillance capability. Ibas also said that the Navy has 150 persons in custody in connection with maritime crimes.

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