Weekly Maritime Crime and Piracy Update: Week of 22 Sept 2011

Global Summary of Maritime Crime and Piracy, Week of 22 Sep 2011 (Source: ONI)

gCaptain Note: Via our friends in West Africa, it’s certainly clear that this list only scratches the surface of what’s really going on out there, but here’s what’s been reported via official channels…

TOGO:

• A chemical tanker experienced an attempted boarding on 24 September at 0130 UTC while anchored in position 06:01N – 001:15E at the Lome Anchorage. Two small boats approached shipside, the duty officer told them to move away, but was ignored. Later, two more boats approached the vessel from the stern and secured themselves to the ship’s rudder. The master informed the Togo Navy, which responded and detained all four boats. Nothing was stolen from the vessel. (IMB)

RED SEA:

• Chemical tanker (GINGA BOBCAT) experienced an attempted boarding and was fired upon one skiff with an RPG, 28 September at 1258 UTC while underway in position 14:02N – 042:53E, approximately 70NM southeast of Ras Isa, Yemen. Entire attack group consisted of 3–4 skiffs, each with 4–5 pirates onboard. The vessel was damaged and had a hole in the inert gas room. Vessel did not have a security team. The master took evasive maneuvers, pirates chased the vessel for 15 minutes, and the pirates aborted their attack. (UKMTO, IMB)
• Chemical tanker (LIME GALAXY) experienced an attempted boarding by two skiffs on 28 September on 1159 UTC while underway in position 14:18N – 042:50E, approximately 53NM southeast of Ras Isa, Yemen. Pirates fired upon the vessel, one pirate attempted to board it with a ladder, the master raised the alarm and engaged in evasive maneuvers, and the pirates aborted the attack. The vessel did not have a security team. (UKMTO, IMB).
• Cargo vessel (CS CIHAN) boarded by pirates on 25 September at 1342 UTC while underway in position 14:09N – 042:49E, approximately 62NM southeast of Ras Isa, Yemen. The pirates boarded the vessel and damaged it by firing upon it. The crew stopped the ship when the attack occurred and retreated to a citadel for about 3.5 hours before they left and discovered no pirates onboard. The vessel had no security team. (Operator, UKMTO)

 

Weather Forecast for 29 SEP–5 OCT 2011

A. GULF OF ADEN: As the SW Monsoon season comes to an end, winds are out of the east-southeast at 5 – 10 knots with seas ranging from 1 – 3 feet.  EXTENDED FORECAST: Winds will remain light to moderate from the east-southeast at 10 – 15 knots and seas will remain minimal through 5 OCT.

B. SOMALI COAST/NORTH ARABIAN SEA: An area of high seas (5 – 7 feet) and moderate winds (SW 15 – 20) remains along the northeastern coast of Somalia through the waters around Socotra Island.  Seas and winds decrease slightly along the southern Somalia coast. Conditions in the Arabian Sea and the waters off Oman and Pakistan will range from 3 – 5 feet with moderate SW winds of 10 – 15 knots.  EXTENDED FORECAST: The conditions off the northeastern coast of Somalia will remain moderately impacted through 5 OCT.  Winds and seas will continue to be increased as the effects of the SW Monsoon slowly draw to an end.  Expect seas 2 – 4 feet and winds SW 8 – 12 through 5 OCT in the waters off Oman and Pakistan.

C. INDIAN OCEAN: Moderate south-easterly winds (15 – 20 knots) in the Indian Ocean have increased seas (5 – 7 feet) south of the equator and along the Kenya and Tanzania border.  EXTENDED FORECAST:  Through 5 OCT, expect moderate winds of 15 – 20 knots to persist causing moderate impacts through the Indian Ocean and Mozambique Channel, to include waters off Kenya and Tanzania with seas increasing to 7 – 9 feet in areas south of the equator as early as 1 OCT.

D.  SURFACE CURRENTS: Currents within the Somalia Basin, Gulf of Aden, and into the Indian Ocean remain variable with most areas having average speeds of less than 2 knots.  A region of increased speed up to 4 knots occurs from 5S to 11N along the Somali coast.