Week 40 and 41 – Maritime Weekly Security Snapshot

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

28 September 18: Coalition Forces Intercept Missile Fired Towards Aden, Yemen. Local media reported the target of the attack was believed to be the coalition’s headquarters in the district of Buraigh, Aden. No casualties were reported. 01 October 18: Coalition Forces Intercept Rigged Speedboats Targeting Jazan Port, Saudi Arabia. Local media have reported two rigged speedboats were destroyed by naval coalition forces. Iranian-Houthi militias are attributed with the attempted attack. 7 October 18: Houthis Seize Fuel and Food Cargo Entering Hodeidah. Regional media reported Houthi forces have prevented ships from unloading cargo, such as fuel and food supplies. Some ships have been held in port for up to 6 months. Aid agencies have called for the UN to push for the release of the cargo and vessels. 9 October 18: Pakistan Navy Leave the Anti-Piracy Combined Task Force. The decision to leave was made after the US-led operation refused to pay for fuel for the patrolling warships as part of a previous agreement. Participating in the task force is voluntary. By distancing themselves, Pakistan will be able to conduct independent patrols from the Gulf of Oman to the Gulf of Aden. Pakistan’s warming relations with Iran’s military, combined with security agreements with China, may be a growing cause of concern.

Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

31 August 18: LATE Report – Anchored Vessel Boarded off Kribi, Cameroon. Two intruders were reported seen on the Panama-flagged general cargo ship at 2150LT, in position 2°56’14N, 9°54’27E. The crew raised the alarm and informed the Cameroon navy who deployed a patrol boat to the scene. After searching the ship, one intruder was arrested and handed over to port authorities of Kribi; the other intruder is reported to have escaped the vessel. 30 September 18: MV Boarded in Takoradi Anchorage, Ghana. Two persons boarded the vessel via the anchor chain at 0402UTC, in position 4°54’10N, 1°41’17W. The crew raised the alarm and the intruders left the vessel. No items were reported stolen. The crew and the vessel were safe. 09 October 18: MV Boarded in Takoradi Anchorage, Ghana. One person was reported to board the anchored vessel at 0315UTC, in position 4°53’0N, 1°45’0W. The person left the vessel after being spotted by the security patrol. No items were reported stolen from the vessel. Crew and vessel were reported as safe.

South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

25 September 18: MV Boarded in Tanjung Bulat, Johor, Malaysia. Two armed men with swords boarded a mobile offshore drilling rig and robbed two onboard security guards at 1930UTC in position 1°20’2N, 104°14’81E. The two guards were tied up and their personal items and communications equipment stolen. The intruders then departed the rig. The security guards were released by shore-based staff after they failed to radio in. 03 October 18: Fishing Trawler Boarded near Guimaras Island and Negros Occidental, Philippines. The vessel was underway when it was boarded by three armed perpetrators in position 10°19’48N, 122°51E at 2100LT. The men were armed with firearms; two pistols and one M16 rifle. They boarded the fishing trawler from a blue motor banca with “Juvelin” marked on its freeboard. The fishing catch and other valuable materials were stolen from the vessel. The Philippine Coast Guard was informed and two boats were deployed to patrol the area.
Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 40 and 41 A roundup of maritime security incidents – an easy to read format collating suspicious approaches, vessel attacks, boardings, hijacks and media reports. This week’s Maritime Security Snapshot was compiled by Solace Global’s in-house intelligence team.