Weekly Piracy Update – Fallen From (Royal) Grace

Monthly Incidents by Region

WEST AFRICA

NIGERIA: Chemical tanker underway approached on 7 March while underway near position 04:12 N – 006:54 E, approximately 5.8nm off Port Harcourt Fairway Buoy. Seven heavily armed robbers in a speed boat approached the tanker, bridge crew raised the alarm, increased speed and set course away from land. The armed naval guards onboard the vessel made their presence known. Seeing vessel readiness and armed guards, the robbers aborted the attempted attack and moved away. (IMB)

INDIAN OCEAN–EAST AFRICA

ARABIAN SEA: Chemical tanker ROYAL GRACE hijacked on 2 March while underway near position 21:27 N – 062:37 E, approximately 215 nm northeast of Masirah, Island, Oman. (Press)

ARABIAN SEA: Tanker ADVANCE VICTORIA attacked on 6 March while underway near position 14 20 N – 052 45 E, approximately 113 nm northwest of Socotra Island, Yemen. Ship approached by one skiff described as dark in color. Shots fired by suspected pirates aboard the skiff. Embarked security team returned fire, causing the skiff to pull away and withdraw. (UKMTO)

SOUTHEAST ASIA

INDIA: Bulk carrier boarded on 3 March by ten robbers via the forecastle while the ship was anchored at position 17:02 N – 082:25 E, Kakinada Anchorage. Duty watchman saw the robbers and raised the alarm. Seeing crew alertness, the robbers escaped in two waiting boats after stealing a small amount of ship’s stores. Master informed Port Control and local agent. No casualties to crew and no damage to ship. (IMB)

Piracy Weather Forecast for MAR 8 – 14

GULF OF ADEN: Moderate conditions will persist throughout the period. Expect easterly winds of 10 – 15 knots and seas of 1 – 3 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: Winds will maintain easterly at 10 – 15 knots and seas of 1 – 3 feet.

SOMALI COAST: Northeast monsoonal flow off the Somali coast continues to produce moderate to severe impacts in the area. Expect northeasterly winds 13 – 18 knots and seas of 5 – 7 feet, decreasing to 3 – 5 feet by 10 Mar. EXTENDED FORECAST: Winds will maintain northeasterly speed of 13 – 18 knots, and seas of 3 – 5 feet.

NORTH ARABIAN SEA: Northerly winds 13 – 18 knots and seas of 2 – 4 feet, increasing to 5 – 7 feet by 10 Mar. EXTENDED FORECAST: Northeasterly winds of NE 13 – 18 knots, decreasing to 8 – 13 knots by 12 Mar, with seas of 5 – 7 feet, decreasing to 3 – 5 feet by 12 Mar.

CENTRAL AFRICAN COAST/INDIAN OCEAN: Residual swell waves from the southern Somali Basin region continue to impact area but overall conditions will remain moderate, with northeasterly winds 5 – 10 knots and seas of 2 – 4 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: Small boat operations off the Tanzania and Kenyan coasts will have marginal impacts as northeasterly winds will maintain at 5 – 10 knots with seas of 2 – 4 feet.

MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL: Tropical Cyclone Irina has winds sustained 35 knots, gusting 45 knots, and is located in the southern Mozambique Channel moving east-northeast at 6 knots. Expect significant impacts from the storm in the southern Channel through 10 Mar. Expect southwesterly winds in the northern channel of 5 – 10 knots, becoming 8 – 13 knots by 10 Mar, with seas of 2 – 4 feet. In the southern channel there will be southerly winds of 18 – 23 knots, gusting to 28 knots, becoming southerly at 8 – 13 knots by 10 Mar, and seas of 8 – 11 feet, decreasing to 4 – 6 feet by 10 Mar. EXTENDED FORECAST: In the northern channel, there will be southeasterly winds of 8 – 13 knots and seas of 2 – 4 feet, decreasing to 1 – 3 feet by 12 Mar; while in the southern channel, southerly winds of 8 – 13 knots and seas of 4 – 6 feet.

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 1.5 knots. An area of increased current speeds exists along the Somali coast, continuing south off the northern Kenya coastline until about 5ËšS. This NE to SW current is moving along the coastline at speeds up to 3 knots. The Mozambique Channel has an average current of 1 – 2 knots.

Source: Maritime OPINTEL Report, U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence