Week 42 – Maritime Weekly Security Snapshot
Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents
16 October 18: MV attacked off 340nm east of Mogadishu, Somalia. Four pirates in a speed boat approached an underway bulk carrier at 1234 UTC in position 00°49N, 050°53E. The pirates, armed with AK-47s, fired several shots towards the vessel prompting the Master to raise the alarm, contact local authorities and activate the ship security alarm system (SSAS). The crew mustered and armed guards onboard the vessel returned fire, resulting in the pirates aborting the attack and moving out of site. All crew reported safe. 16 October 18: Alain Goma freed after being held by Houthi rebels for four months in Sana’a, Yemen. Intense negotiations between the French Envoy to Yemen and Houthi leaders resulted in the release of the French citizen. Goma had been held since July when his vessel was damaged on a sailing trip forcing him to dock at the Yemeni port of Hodeida which was being occupied by the Houthi rebels. He was later transferred to Sana’a’s main prison. French authorities thanked both Omani and Saudi authorities for their subsequent intervention in negotiations.Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents
14 October 18: Vessel boarded at Lagos Anchorage. Two suspected criminals boarded an anchored product tanker at 0045 LT in position 6°17°2N – 3°13°87E in Lagos’ Secure Anchorage Area, Nigeria. The duty watchman was alerted to their presence and quickly raised the alarm and sounded the ships horn, both intruders subsequently disembarked the vessel. The tanker was searched and the incident was reported to local authorities who dispatch a patrol vessel. This latest incident highlights an uptick in the number of vessels being bordered while at Lagos port or anchorage. Since January 2018, 14 intrusions have been reported, a clear rise from the six reported throughout 2017.Mediterranean – Maritime Security Incidents
12 October 18: Italian Prime Ministers announces that two Italian vessels seized by Libya forces will return home. On 10 October the Libyan National Army released a statement saying that they had seized the vessels in Libyan territorial waters and brought them to Ras al-Hilal port. The two fishing vessels and their crews have now been authorised to return back to Italy.Asia – Maritime Security Incidents
10 October 18: LATE Anchored LPG Tanker boarded off Kandla. Criminals bordered the LPG tanker in position 22°48°1N, 68°58°3E at Deedayal Anchorage and raided the ships stores before escaping. The theft went unnoticed by the ships crew and was only realised on a routine stowaway search at 17.30 UTC on 10 October. The incident was reported to Port Control.Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 42 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.