Weekly Piracy Report: All Quiet as Monsoon Season Persists

HOA Pirate Activity, 5– 11 July

Piracy Incident by Region: July 5-11

No current incidents to report!

Currently Hijacked Vessels

Name, Flag, Type, Hijacked Date:

1. ICEBERG I, Panama, RoRo, 29 March 2010
2. ALBEDO, Malaysia, Container Cargo, 25 November 2010
3. ORNA, Panama, Bulk Cargo, 20 December 2010
4. FREE GODDESS, Liberia, Bulk Cargo, 7 February 2012
5. ROYAL GRACE, Panama, Chemical Tanker, 2 March 2012
6. NAHAM 3, Oman, Fishing Vessel, 26 March 2012
7. SMYRNI, Liberia, Crude Oil Tanker, 10 May 2012

Pirate Skiff Capability (Graphic courtesy of the Naval Oceanographic Office Warfighting Support Center)

Piracy Weather Forecast for July 12-19

GULF OF ADEN: West-southwesterly winds of 15 – 20 knots and seas of 4 – 6 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: West-southwesterly winds of 15 – 20 knots and seas of 2 – 4 feet, with seas of 5 – 7 feet expected in the eastern section of the Gulf.

SOMALI COAST: South-southwesterly winds of 28 – 32 knots and seas of 9 – 12 feet, with occasional swells of 12 – 15 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: South-southwesterly winds of 28 – 32 knots and seas of 9 – 12 feet.

ARABIAN SEA: Southwesterly winds of 15 – 20 knots and seas of 8 – 10 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: Southwesterly winds of 20 – 25 knots and seas of 9 – 12 feet.

CENTRAL AFRICAN COAST/INDIAN OCEAN: South-southeasterly winds of 15 – 20 knots and seas of 5 – 7 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: South-southeasterly winds of 12 – 16 knots and seas of 5 – 7 feet building between 7 – 9 feet.

MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL: South-southeasterly winds in the northern Channel of 10 – 15 knots and seas of 8 – 10 feet. In the southern Channel, south-southeasterly winds of 8 – 12 knots and seas of 9 – 12 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: In the northern Channel, south-southwesterly winds of 20 – 25 knots and seas of 8 – 10 feet, abating to between 6 – 8 feet. In the southern Channel, south-southeasterly winds of 8 – 12 knots and seas of 9 – 12 feet, abating to between 7 – 9 feet.

SURFACE CURRENTS: Currents within the Gulf of Aden and the northern section of the Arabian Sea remain variable with most areas having average speeds of less than 1 knot. Currents speeds along the Somali basin, continuing south off the northern Kenya coastline until about 5 degrees South will average around 2 – 3 knots. The Mozambique Channel has an average current of 0.25 – 1.25 knots.

This report is brought to you by the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence Maritime OPINTEL Report

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