Weekly Piracy Update: Pirates hovering off coast of Zanzibar and southern Somalia

Global Summary of Maritime Crime and Piracy, week of 13 October 2011 (source: ONI)

NIGERIA:

• Vessel (JOAN CHOUEST) attacked by pirates on 17 October near the offshore Oso oilfield, near Bonny. (Open Source)
• Offshore tug/supply vessel (WILBERT TIDE) boarded by pirates on 17 October while underway near the offshore Oso oilfield, near Bonny. The Bangladeshi master was kidnapped as 20 armed men from two speedboats boarded the vessel.  (Open Source)
• Product Tanker (CAPE BIRD) was hijacked by pirates on 8 October approximately 90 nm south of Lagos, Nigeria, and was released on 13 October. No further information on whether a ransom was paid or the cargo of oil was stolen. (Open Source)

INDIAN OCEAN:

• Container vessel (EMIRATES ZAMBEZI) fired upon by six pirates in one skiff on 17 October at 2100 UTC while underway in position 06:26S – 040:06E, approximately 35 nm east of Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Pirates were armed with guns and an RPG.  The Master raised the alarm, took evasive maneuvers, and all crew except bridge team mustered in citadel.  Onboard armed security team activated deck lights and fire hoses and returned weapons fire, resulting in the pirates moving away. (IMB) 
• Merchant vessel (GAS BALI) reported being attacked on 16 October at 10:57 UTC while underway in position 05:01S – 040:03E, approximately 64 nm northeast of Zanzibar Island, Tanzania.  One skiff closed on the ship and the onboard security team fired a warning shot.  Personnel in the skiff returned fire with an RPG, which did not hit the ship.  Crew mustered in the citadel with exception of bridge team.  Skiff reportedly aborted attack at this point. (Operator)
• Cargo vessel (BURAK A) fired upon with an RPG by pirates in two skiffs on 16 October at 1508 UTC while underway in position 14:26N – 052:49E, approximately 170 nm southwest of Salalah, Oman. Vessel did not have security onboard or a citadel. (Operator)
• Fishing vessel (BERNICA) fired upon by pirates on 15 October at 0324 UTC while underway in position 00:54N – 050:13E, approximately 299 nm southeast of Mogadishu, Somalia. One mothership and two skiffs were involved in the attack. (Operator)
• Fishing vessel (VIA MISTRAL) attacked by pirates on 15 October at 1050 UTC, while underway in position 00:39N – 050:32E, approximately 326 nm southeast of Mogadishu, Somalia. (Operator)

GULF OF ADEN CONVOY SCHEDULES:

Government of Japan (GOJ) convoy schedule for October/November  2011.

Merchant vessels that wish to apply for JMSDF escort operation should visit http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/maritime/maritime_fr2 _000000.html and follow the application procedure. For further information, please contact directly the Anti-Piracy Contact and Coordination Office, Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MILT), Japan: Tel:  +81-3-5253-8932 Fax: +81-3-5253-1643 Email: [email protected] (MSCHOA).

Korean Navy convoy schedule for October 2011.

All merchant vessels wishing to join the convoy group must submit their application forms directly to the ROK naval warship carrying out the mission. The ROK MTG can be reached directly at (INMARSAT: 870-773-110-286), (Email: [email protected]) (MSCHOA).

Royal Thai Navy convoy schedule for September/October 2011.   

For further information, please contact (+66-2101-6136; +66-2101-6137), (EMAIL: [email protected]; [email protected]). To register for the convoy, please e-mail the ship’s information (including ship’s name, IMO number, ship’s type, GRT, master’s name, ship’s flag, country owner, last port, next port, register to MSCHOA (Yes/No), report to UKMTO (Y/N), BMP Awareness (Y/N), practice BMP (Y/N), security team onboard (Y/N) (armed/unarmed), and expected time to join convoy to e-mail address listed above (MSCHOA).

Russian Navy convoy escort schedule for October 2011.

For further information e-mail [email protected]. (MSCHOA).

Chinese convoy schedule for October 2011.

For further information, please e-mail [email protected], [email protected], or call Tel: 86-10-652-92221 (MSCHOA).

Weather Forecast for 20–26 OCT 2011 

GULF OF ADEN:

Expect light and variable winds and 1 – 3 foot seas for next 72 hours.    EXTENDED FORECAST: Impacts will remain minimal within the GOA through 26 October.

SOMALI COAST/NORTH ARABIAN SEA:

Light and variable winds with wave heights of 2 – 4 feet exist along the Somali coast and south through the coast of Kenya.  North Arabian Sea conditions remain minimal (2 – 4 feet) with winds from the north-northeast at 5 – 10 knots.  Expect this to continue for next 72 hours.  EXTENDED FORECAST: Minimal impacts are expected for the central and northern Somali coast and Arabian Sea through 26 October.  Effects of a tropical wave will increase seas off the Kenyan coast and southern Somalia by 23 October through end of forecast period.

INDIAN OCEAN:

Southeast winds 8 – 12 knots and seas 2 – 4 feet currently provide minimal impacts to the waters off of Tanzania.  Calm winds and seas exist within the Mozambique Channel.  Winds and seas increase in the Indian Ocean east of Tanzania by 22 October as a tropical wave transits westward.    EXTENDED FORECAST:  The sheltered waters of the Mozambique Channel show minimal impacts for small boat operations through 26 October.  Expect the approaching tropical wave to produce 5 – 7 foot seas and increased winds through end of forecast period, impacting the waters east of Tanzania.

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 remaining region of increased speed up to 4 knots occurs from 6N to 11N along the Somali coast.

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