Weekly Maritime Crime and Piracy Update – June 16 – 22

Weekly summary of worldwide maritime crime and piracy incidents, week of 16 June 2011.  (Source: ONI)

SOUTH AMERICA:

(U) GUYANA: A container ship was robbed 18 June at 0237 UTC while anchored at the Georgetown inner anchorage, Guyana. Four robbers with knives boarded the vessel, took the bosun hostage, stole the ship’s properties, and escaped. (IMB)

(U) VENEZUELA: A general cargo vessel was robbed 18 June at 0310 UTC while anchored in position 10:17.3N – 064:43.1W at Bahia Pozuelos, Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela. The Master noticed a speed boat approaching the vessel. Later the Able Seaman reported robbers had boarded the vessel, taken the second duty watchman hostage at knife point, and stolen the ship’s stores. (IMB)

FORECAST 23 – 24 JUN 2011

A. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Moderate sea heights within the Gulf of Aden are expected through the next 72 hours. Fetch limitations will continue to keep the seas in this region within 2 – 5 feet, with a maximum height of 6 feet in the extreme eastern portion. Diurnal winds fluctuations will continue for next 72 hours, with increased speeds. Expect SW winds 24 – 28 with higher gusts during the height of daytime heating (06Z – 18Z), decreasing to SW 14 – 18 during the height of nighttime cooling (18Z – 06Z). Daytime winds and moderate sea heights may prove to hinder piracy/small boat operations. EXTENDED FORECAST: Expect continued diurnal winds from the southwest through 29 June with moderate sea heights for forecast period. These conditions may impact piracy/small boat operations.

B. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: Sustained SW winds of 25 – 30 knots with higher gusts will remain over the Somali Basin through the next 72 hours. Expect conditions to not be conducive for small boat operations from the central Somalia coast northeast to the Omani coast and extending through the North Arabian Sea and east to Pakistan and India, as sea heights range from 9 – 15 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: The SW monsoon will continue to affect these regions above for the forecast period, producing high winds and seas. Winds and seas will continue to hinder small boat/piracy efforts through 29 June. Expect more conducive conditions for piracy operations in the waters around the Maldives, and coastal waters off Kenya and Tanzania. The central Indian Ocean along the equator shows moderate sea heights and winds, which may prove to be an operating area as well.

C. (U) SURFACE CURRENTS: Currents off the Somalia coast are variable with speeds along the coast up to 5.5 knots from the equator to 10N. Currents within the Gulf of Aden are variable with most areas having speeds of 1.5 knot or less. Coastal waters off northeastern Somalia, eastern Yemen, and just to the southeast of the Bab al Mandeb have increased current speeds up to 3 knots.

GULF OF ADEN CONVOY SCHEDULE

A. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Turkish maritime task group schedule for June/July 2011. Rendezvous point “A” (Eastbound): 11:50N – 045:00E. Rendezvous point “B” (Westbound): 14:28N – 053:00E. Convoy speed is 10 knots. Eastbound transits are at 0500 UTC 6 June, 1100 UTC 10 June, 1700 UTC 14 June, 0800 UTC 17 July 2011. Westbound transits are at 0800 UTC 8 June, 1400 UTC 12 June, 0500 UTC 15 July, 1100 UTC 19 July 2011. The task group will be formed by two frigates. Merchant vessels intending to join the convoy should register to TMTG via email ([email protected] (for other flags) or [email protected]) (for Turkish merchant vessels) not less than two days before the arrival to the rendezvous point. Registration form is available on the “Undersecretarian for Maritime Affairs” website (www.denizcilik.gov.tr). The Turkish Navy Operations Center can be reached at (+90-312- 4032222/+90-312-4033093), (Fax: +90.312-4173065), (Email: [email protected]). The Turkish Maritime Task Group ships can be reached at (primary contact email: [email protected]): TCG BARBAROS: INMARSAT: 00870764864590/00870600946197, Fax: 00870600946198; TCG GELIBOLU: INMARSAT: 00870764864568/00870600946142, Fax: 00870600946143; TCG GEMLIK: INMARSAT: 00870764864586/00870600946187, Fax: 00870600946188. (MSCHOA)

B. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Government of Japan convoy schedule for June 2011. Rendezvous point “A” (Eastbound): 11:50N – 045:00E. Rendezvous point “B” (Westbound): 14:28N – 053:00E. Base speed is 12 knots. Eastbound transits are at 1400 UTC on 2 June, 6 June, 15 June, 19 June, and 27 June. Westbound transits are at 1400 UTC on 4 June, 17 June, 21 June, 29 June, and 1500 UTC 11 June. Please note that application for JMSDF escort operation must be made directly to the GOJ, which is a separate procedure from the application to MSC (HOA). Merchant vessels that wish to apply for JMSDF escort operation should visit http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/maritime/maritime_fr2 _000000.html to follow the application procedure. For further information, please contact directly the Anti-Piracy Contact and Coordination Office, Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MILT), Japan: Tel: +81-3-5253-8932 Fax: +81-3-5253-1643 Email: INFO- [email protected] (MSCHOA)

C. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Government of Japan convoy schedule for July 2011. The Government of Japan (GOJ) provides escort operations by Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces (JMSDF) for vessels in accordance with the following schedule. Due to the start of the monsoon season, the Self-Defense Force will shorten the east end of the transit corridor. Rendezvous point “A” (Eastbound): 11:50N – 045:00E. Rendezvous point “B” (Westbound): 14:28N – 053:00E. Base speed is 12 knots. Eastbound transits are at 1400 UTC on 1 July, 8 July, 17 July, 21 July, and 28 July 2011. Westbound transits are at 1400 UTC on 3 July, 10 July, 19 July, and 23 July 2011. Please note that application for JMSDF escort operation must be made directly to the GOJ, which is a separate procedure from the application to MSC (HOA). Merchant vessels that wish to apply for JMSDF escort operation should visit http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/maritime/maritime_fr2 _000000.html to follow the application procedure. For further information, please contact directly the Anti-Piracy Contact and Coordination Office, Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MILT), Japan: Tel: +81-3-5253-8932 Fax: +81-3-5253-1643 Email: INFO- [email protected] (MSCHOA)

D. (U) GULF OF ADEN: People’s Liberation Army Navy convoy schedule for June 2011. Rendezvous Point “B” (Westbound convoys): 14:50N – 053:50E. Rendezvous Point “A” (Eastbound convoys): 11:52N – 044:12E. Eastbound convoys transit at 0600 UTC 5 June, 11 June, 17 June, 23 June, 29 June. Westbound convoys transit at 0600 UTC 2 June, 8 June, 14 June, 20 June, 26 June 2011. Vessels should submit the application via INM-C (583441301333), (INM-F:773122242, INM-M:76493882) or EMAIL: [email protected] with the following details: Vessel name, call sign, flag, MMSI number, GT/DWT, LOA, mean draft, freeboard, economy speed, max cruising speed, crew’s number and nationality, captain’s name and nationality, country of shipping company, type of vessel, cargo, last port of call/country, next port of call/country, year built, landing place for helicopter, contact information, ETA rendezvous point. Vessels that want to join the Chinese Navy convoy should inform Chinese Navy 998 of ETA to the rendezvous point every day and cancel the application ASAP if that vessel will not join the Chinese Navy convoy. (MSCHOA)

E. (U) GULF OF ADEN: People’s Liberation Army Navy convoy schedule for July 2011. Rendezvous Point “B” (Westbound convoys): 14:00N – 051:00E. Rendezvous Point “A” (Eastbound convoys): 11:52N – 044:12E. Eastbound convoys transit at 0600 UTC 4 July, 9 July, 14 July, 19 July, 24 July, 29 July 2011. Westbound convoys transit at 0600 UTC 1 July, 6 July, 11 July, 16 July, 21 July, 26 July, 31 July 2011. Vessels should submit the application via INM-C (583441301333), (INM-F:773122242, INM-M:76493882) or EMAIL: [email protected] with the following details: Vessel name, call sign, flag, MMSI number, GT/DWT, LOA, mean draft, freeboard, economy speed, max cruising speed, crew’s number and nationality, captain’s name and nationality, country of shipping company, type of vessel, cargo, last port of call/country, next port of call/country, year built, landing place for helicopter, contact information, ETA rendezvous point. Vessels that want to join the Chinese Navy convoy should inform Chinese Navy 998 of ETA to the rendezvous point every day and cancel the application ASAP if that vessel will not join the Chinese Navy convoy. (MSCHOA)

F. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Korean Naval convoy schedule for June/July 2011. Rendezvous point “A” (Eastbound): 12:07N – 044:11E. Rendezvous point “B” (Westbound): 14:54N – 054:41E. Please note that each starting point indicates the endpoint for the convoy from the opposite direction. Transit speed is 12 knots. Eastbound convoys transit at 0400 UTC 15 June, 24 June, 4 July, 10 July, 23 July 2011. Westbound convoys transit at 0400 UTC 21 June, 1 July, 7 July, 17 July 2011. All merchant vessels wishing to join the convoy group must submit their application forms directly to the ROK naval warship carrying out the mission. Minimum speed for the convoy is 12 knots, meaning all vessels wishing to join the convoy group must be able to maintain the speed of 12 knots throughout the period of transit. Please note that a 2-hour delay in arrival at the rendezvous position will make the ROK Naval Escort Task Group convoy unavailable. At/from 24 hours prior to the convoy time, all vessels registered for the convoy must establish initial communication with ROK Naval Escort Task Group, and update its position, course, speed (PCS), and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for every 4 hours. For further information, please contact the ROK Naval Escort Task Group directly at (INMARSAT:870-773-110238), (FAX: 870-783110591) or EMAIL: [email protected]. (MSCHOA)

G. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Russian Naval convoy schedule for June/July 2011. Rendezvous point “A” (Western point): 17:10N – 040:40E. Rendezvous point “B” (Eastern point): 15:15N 058:20E. Transit speed is 12 knots. Eastbound convoys start at point “A” and transit at 0600 UTC 17 June, 28 June, 10 July, 21 July 2011. Westbound convoys start at point “B” and transit at 0600 UTC 22 June, 3 July, 16 July 2011. Shipping companies and shipmasters that would like their vessels to join any Russian national convoy are kindly requested to submit their applications to the Russian Maritime Security Service via e-mail: [email protected] or (FAX: +7 (495) 607-01-95). (MSCHOA)