Weekly Piracy Report: Monsoon Season Is Upon Us

Weekly Incidents by Region: May 31 – June 6

WEST AFRICA

NIGERIA: Tanker boarded on 01 June at 06:19 N – 003:29 E, Lagos Anchorage. Three armed robbers boarded the tanker from a wooden boat. The alarm was raised and the crew retreated into the citadel. After four hours the crew emerged from the citadel and found that the pirates had left. No damage was reported and the crew was reported safe. (IMB)

SOUTHEAST ASIA

INDONESIA: Bulk Carrier boarded on 04 June at 03:57 N – 098:46 E, Belawan Outer Anchorage, Indonesia. Seven robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored bulk carrier at the forecastle. The duty A/B and D/O noticed the robbers and raised the alarm. Seeing the crew’s alertness, the robbers threatened the crew with long knives and escaped empty handed in their boat. Port control and vessels in the vicinity were later informed. (IMB)

SINGAPORE: Fishing vessel boarded while underway on 23 May at 04:50 N – 099:04 E, Malacca Straits. Armed pirates boarded the fishing vessel and took hostage six crewmembers and hijacked the vessel. Upon receiving the information, the MMEA immediately sent their patrol boat and rescued the vessel along with the crewmembers. All of the crewmembers were reported safe. The pirates left the vessel before the patrol boat arrived. (IMB)

Piracy Weather Forecast: June 7-13

GULF OF ADEN: West-southwesterly winds of 10 – 15 knots and seas of 2 – 4 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: West-southwesterly winds of 12 – 16 knots and seas of 3 – 5 feet, decreasing to 2 – 4 feet after 8 June.

SOMALI COAST: Significant impacts throughout the region due strong winds and high seas from the influence of the Southwest Monsoon. Expect south-southwesterly winds of 25 – 30 knots, gusting 35 knots in or near thunderstorms and seas of 9 – 12 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: Expect south-southwesterly winds of 25 – 30 knots, gusting to 35 knots in or near thunderstorms, and seas 10 – 14 feet.

ARABIAN SEA: South-westerly winds of 10 – 15 knots and seas of 7 – 9 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: Expect west-southwesterly winds of 10 – 15 knots and seas of 7 – 9 feet.

CENTRAL AFRICAN COAST/INDIAN OCEAN: Tanzania and Kenyan coastal regions continue to be influenced by the Southwestern Monsoon pattern. During this forecast period the region will also see marginal impact from a tropical cyclone currently located over the southwestern Indian Ocean. Expect south-southeasterly winds of 15 – 20 knots, gusting to 35 knots in or near thunderstorms, with seas of 5 – 7 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: Expect south-southwesterly winds of 25 – 30 knots, gusting to 35 knots in or near thunderstorms, with seas of 5 – 7 feet.

MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL: South-southeasterly winds in the northern channel of 12 – 16 knots and seas of 5 – 7 feet. In the southern channel, variable winds of 4 – 6 knots with seas of 6 – 8 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: In the northern channel, expect southerly winds of 10 – 15 knots, becoming south-southwesterly at 20 – 25 knots after 10 June, with seas of 3 – 5 feet with occasional swells of 5 – 7feet. In the southern channel, expect variable winds of 4 – 8 knots, becoming south-southwesterly at 15 – 20 knots after 10 June, with seas of 5 – 7 feet, increasing to between 9 – 12 feet after 10 June.

SURFACE CURRENTS: Currents within the Somalia Basin, and the Gulf of Aden average approximately 1 – 1.5 knots. Currents speeds along the Somali coast, continuing south off the northern Kenya coastline until about 10 degrees South will average 2 – 3 knots. The Mozambique Channel has an average current of 1 – 2 knots, though the current speed along the northwestern portion of the channel will average 2-3 knots.

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