Weekly Maritime Crime and Piracy Report – Week Sep 15-21, 2011

Details of Weekly Incidents By Region – Via U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence

WEST AFRICA

TOGO: Bulk carrier experienced an attempted boarding on 16 September at 0340 LT while anchored in position 06:03.7N – 001:17.5E at the Lome Anchorage. Seven robbers in a fast boat approached the vessel, one of the robbers had a hook attached to a rope. The duty crew spotted the robbers, contacted the bridge, and informed another watchman. Master raised the alarm, sounded the ship’s horn, and the crew directed search lights. The pirates aborted the attack upon seeing the alerted crew. The Togo Navy was contacted but did not respond; later, a naval boat patrolled the area. (IMB)

INDIAN OCEAN – EAST AFRICA

INDIAN OCEAN: General cargo ship (PACIFIC EXPRESS) boarded by two skiffs with six pirates each, armed with guns and an RPG, on 20 September at 0734 UTC while underway in position 04:47S – 044:35E carrying a cargo of steel, approximately 298NM southeast of Mombasa, Kenya. The vessel’s crew consisted of 25 Filipinos and one Ukrainian. Pirates boarded the vessel and set fire to it after the crew retreated to the citadel. A coalition warship rescued the crew; however, the ship was lost. (IMB, UKMTO, Operator)

INDIAN OCEAN: General cargo ship (AN NING JIANG) fired upon by six pirates with AK-47s in one skiff on 17 September at 1035 UTC while underway in position 03:54.6S – 041:04.7E, approximately 86NM northeast of Mombasa, Kenya. A bright white skiff approached the vessel, the crew retreated into the citadel, and the security guards onboard exchanged fire with the pirates for about 45 seconds before the skiff aborted the attack. (IMB, UKMTO)

SOUTHEAST ASIA

INDIA: General cargo ship boarded and robbed 20 September at 2345 LT while anchored in position 17:03N – 082:24E at the Kakinda Anchorage, India. Robbers boarded the vessel unnoticed, stole ship’s stores, and escaped. (IMB)

BANGLADESH: Chemical tanker boarded and robbed 15 September at 2045 LT while berthed in position 22:16.15N – 091:49.19E at the Super Oil Refinery Terminal, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Two robbers with long knives boarded the vessel, held the duty watchman hostage after he tried to stop them, stole ship’s stores, and escaped in a wooden fast craft. (IMB)

Forecast for 22–28 SEP 2011

GULF OF ADEN: Monsoon conditions have ended in the Gulf of Aden. Current winds are from the east-southeast at 5 – 10 knots with seas ranging from 1 – 3 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: Winds will shift by 25 Sep but remain light to moderate from the east-northeast at 10 – 15 knots. Seas will remain minimal through 28 Sep.

SOMALI COAST/NORTH ARABIAN SEA: A localized area of high seas (7 – 9 feet) and moderate winds (SW 15 – 20) remains from the northeastern coast of Somalia through the waters around Socotra Island. Seas and winds quickly decrease through the southern Somalia coast, into the Arabian Sea and the waters off Oman and Pakistan. Conditions will range from 4 – 6 feet with westerly winds of 10 – 15 knots. Expect this to continue in these regions through next 72 hours. EXTENDED FORECAST: The conditions off the northeastern coast of Somalia will remain moderately affected through 28 Sep. Winds and seas will continue to be increased as the effects of the SW Monsoon slowly draw to an end. Arabian Sea conditions will decrease through 28 Sep. Expect seas (3 – 5 feet) and winds (SW 8 – 12) by 25 Sep in the waters off Oman and Pakistan.

INDIAN OCEAN: Increased seas (7 – 9 feet) and winds exist in the southern portion of the Mozambique Channel, due in part to transiting storm systems south of the African continent. Easterly winds in the Indian Ocean have increased seas (4 – 6 feet) south of the equator and along the Kenya and Tanzania border. Expect these conditions to continue for next 72 hours. EXTENDED FORECAST: Through 28 Sep, expect moderate impacts through the Indian Ocean and Mozambique Channel, to include waters off Kenya and Tanzania.

SURFACE CURRENTS: Currents within the Somalia Basin, Gulf of Aden, and into the Indian Ocean are variable with most areas having average speeds of less than 2 knots. A region of increased speed up to 6 knots occurs from 4N to 11N along the Somali coast.