NAVY NEWS WEEK 40-1 30 September 2018 Protection Vessels International: Weekly Maritime Security Report in Piracy and Security News 20/09/2018 West Africa Guinea: Armed pirates board merchant vessel at Conakry anchorage - 17 September At least four armed pirates boarded an anchored merchant vessel via the anchor chain at 0300 hrs local time at an anchorage at the Port Autonome de Conakry. The master raised the alarm, locked the accommodation and crew mustered in the citadel. The robbers opened fire at the bridge windows and gained access to accommodation before ransacking crew cabins and escaping with their personal belongings. All crew were reported as safe. PGI Analysis: Violent crime is periodically reported at Conakry port and the attack comes days after a robbery and kidnap attempt targeting a vessel at Conakry anchorage on 8 September. Criminals are often undeterred by basic security measures and vessels are advised to take additional precautions in Guinean waters. Robbers typically target a crew’s personal belongings, although cargo thefts are occasionally reported. Select Maritime News Cameroon: Navy seizes weapons, mercenaries heading to Anglophone region - 13 September The navy reportedly seized three Nigerian vessels with weapons and mercenaries on board intended to support separatists in the Anglophone regions, Jeune Afrique reported. The seizure occurred on 6-7 September. The navy seized an unspecified number of Kalashnikov-style rifles, 12-gauge shotguns and ammunition. A navy spokesperson said the mercenaries planned a “large-scale” attack on 15 September. The incident marks the first reported seizure of weapons intended for the Anglophone conflict at sea. Indonesia: Ferry accident leaves 13 people dead off the coast of Sulawesi - 15 September At least 13 people have been killed and eight remain missing after a ferry caught fire and sank off the coast of Sulawesi province, an official said. Singapore’s Strait Times newspaper reported that the boat was believed to be carrying almost 150 passengers when the blaze started. Authorities rescued 126 people from the area but search and rescue operations are ongoing for the remaining passengers. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. The incident comes after more than 160 people died when a ferry sank in Lake Toba in western Indonesia in June. Japan: Tokyo conducts first submarine drill in South China Sea - 17 September Japan carried out its first submarine drill in the South China Sea, Japanese newspaper the Asahi Shimbun said. A submarine reportedly joined three warships in waters southwest of the China-controlled Scarborough Shoal, the newspaper said. Tensions have been high over the Scarborough Shoal since Beijing seized the shoal from Manila in 2012. China claims most of the South China Sea, which is a key trade route, despite competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Mexico: Authorities seize 2,200 kg of cocaine off Mexico’s west coast - 11 September Officials from the Mexican Police and Coast Guard, in a joint operation with US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) personnel, seized 2,200 kg of cocaine from a boat off the coast of Oaxaca state. Officials arrested eight people on drug trafficking charges including four Mexican nationals, three Colombians and a Canadian. Police believe the drugs belonged to the Sinaloa Cartel. Washington considers the Sinaloa Cartel to be the primary drug trafficking organisation in the Americas. Qatar: Customs agents seize drugs from boat - 15 September Members of the Qatari customs and security services seized 5.7 kg of hashish and 400 tramadol tablets concealed in a wooden boat. The location of the seizure was not disclosed but authorities said that the vessel came from an unnamed Asian county and was bound for Ruwais port in the UAE. Authorities said that they had observed an increase in maritime seizures since local ports had begun to accept more food shipments because of the ongoing Saudi and Emirati-led boycott of Qatar. Tunisia: Coast guard intercepts Libyan boat over illegal fishing in southeast - 17 September The coast guard intercepted a Libyan fishing vessel and detained three Egyptian crew members over illegal fishing of the southeastern coast, the ministry of defence said. The vessel, which had illegally entered Tunisian territorial waters, was intercepted near the maritime border between the two countries and taken to Lektef port. Tunisia: Coast guard foils immigration attempt off Sfax - 11 September The coast guard intercepted seven would-be migrants aboard a vessel off the northeastern city of Sfax, local media reported, citing security sources. Security forces arrested all the people on board, who had been trying to reach Italian shores, and seized the vessel. Attempts to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe are common in Tunisia, which suffers from high unemployment. Yemen: Coalition warships kill 18 civilians in Red Sea - 16 September Saudi-led coalition warships shelled a boat in the Red Sea near al-Khoka, south of Hodeidah in western Yemen, according to local media reporting on 18 September. The alleged shelling occurred on 16 September and killed at least 19 fishermen from al-Qadha village in al-Khoha according to local media. Civilian casualties in Saudi-led coalition operations have provoked widespread international criticism. Source: Protection Vessels International Ltd via www.hellenicshippingnews.com Scorpio Tanker Ransacked by Pirates Off West Africa September 19, 2018 by gCaptain STI Hammersmit. Photo: MarineTraffic.com/Ria Maat A product tanker was attacked by a group of armed pirates on Monday while at an anchorage off the coast of Guinea in West Africa. The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre reported the tanker was at anchor at the Conakry Anchorage when it was boarded by four armed robbers after midnight on September 17. During the attack, the pirates fired at the bridge windows and gained access into the accommodation. As the crew locked themselves in the ship’s citadel, the pirates ransacked the ship’s cabins and escaped with personal belongings. A navy boat later arrived to provide assistance. The tanker has been identified as the 2015-built STI Hammersmith, belonging to Scorpio Tankers. AIS ship tracking data showed the vessel arrived from Las Palmas, Spain and she remained at the Conakry Anchorage as of Wednesday. All crew were reported safe in the incident. Source: https://gcaptain.com PLA navy vessel still stranded after running aground in Hong Kong during Typhoon Mangkhut Law enforcement source tells the Post that the Nan Jiao 86, a navy personnel transport ship, became stranded on the shore at Kau Yi Chau on Sunday The Nan Jiao 86, a PLA navy personnel transport ship, was stuck on the rocky shore of Kau Yi Chau, some 3km to the west of the western tip of Hong Kong Island. At noon on Wednesday, the Post observed some soldiers were stationed at a beach on the eastern part of the islet. Visible damage could be seen on the 42- metre vessel, which had its starboard or right side facing the sea. Part of a cabin wall had been ripped open. There were no signs of oil spillage and the extent of damage on the other side of the boat was unknown. At one point, more than 10 uniformed staff arrived at the scene on a motor boat, carrying some supplies onto the beach. Some of them also went on board to inspect the damage. The military officers did not respond to questions about a salvage operation, only asking the Post to “keep a safe distance”, although they did not prohibit photo-taking. A law enforcement source told the Post on Tuesday that the Nan Jiao 86, carrying at least eight crew members, ran aground on Sunday as Mangkhut tore into the city. No one was injured in the incident The storm was the most powerful to hit Hong Kong since records began in 1946 and at its height packed sustained winds of up to 250km/h, according to the Observatory. At its closest, Mangkhut was within 100km of the city early on Sunday afternoon. “After the No 10 typhoon signal was issued on Sunday morning, the ship’s anchor chain broke due to big waves caused by the storm,” the source said. “The waves and strong current forced it to the rocky shore on Kau Yi Chau.” At about noon on Sunday, the PLA sought help from the Hong Kong Marine Department’s vessel traffic centre. The centre then alerted local police. “The PLA asked for help to get the stranded vessel back into the water,” the source said. “But because of adverse weather, there was no police deployment.”A Security Bureau spokesman on Wednesday night said it had received a notice from the garrison about the “landing” of a military vessel at Kau Yi Chau to “take shelter” on Sunday when Mangkhut was lashing the city. The bureau said it had learned the garrison was arranging for its removal.Another source said the Nan Jiao 86 used to berth at a base on Stonecutters Island, but it was anchored off Kau Yi Chau before the arrival of the monster storm. He believed another boat or a crane would be used to pull the stranded vessel back into the water during high tide.Kau Yi Chau is an uninhabited, isolated islet located west of Victoria Harbour, between Peng Chau and Green Island in Hong Kong. The PLA could not be reached for comment. Source : South China Morning Post Additional reporting by Ng Kang-chung Tri-nation Exercise Ibsamar starts on Monday Written by defenceWeb, Friday, 28 September 2018 Hard on the heels of the just completed Exercise Atlasur, the SA Navy next week starts work on its second international exercise of the year – Ibsamar. Between October 1 and 15 the maritime service of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) will host the sixth edition of Exercise Ibsamar.