In 2010 Solace Global started out as Solace Global Maritime – providing armed security on vessels transiting the High Risk Piracy Area’s. Throughout the years the company has diversified its tasks ranging from anti-narcotics vessel searches in Colombia to bespoke Oil and Gas projects Globally. Solace Global Maritime supports a variety of tasks on a daily basis and with our in-house team of analysts we are able to report on events that could create change, threat or risk to our clients.

Here we look at piracy and maritime insecurities in the 21st Century. Maritime security is affected by a myriad of causes worldwide, including territorial disputes, conflict, environmental degradation and severe crime.

Despite years of national and international counter proliferation efforts, modern piracy remains a key issue affecting global maritime trade, as well as the oil & gas industry, and is present in most continents. Often concentrated around key transit and shipping routes and chokepoints, piracy and robbery at sea play a central role in fuelling instability and violence both on the water and on land.

Freedom and safety of navigation remain two of the core priorities for the international community, as evidenced by the effect of any threat of blockading one of the world’s straits or channels.This report aims at providing an overview of the main piracy hotspots, its root causes, impact and any efforts in combatting it.

POVERTY:Endemic poverty, unemployment and exploitation comparatively increase the profitability of piracy.

LAWLESSNESS: Lack of effective state control, law enforcement allows illegal activities and the expansion criminal networks both on land and sea.

CONFLICT: Prolonged warfare and internal conflict deteriorate governance, rule of law and state control, as well as day to day business functions. Maritime instability can also be advantageous for its tactical value.

RESOURCES: Critical resources such as oil & gas guarantee immediate profit in the black market. Also, the lack or depletion of key resources such as fishing stock, which are necessary for economic and societal sustainability, can also fuel illegality.

GEOGRAPHY: A complex and fragmented territorial composition, such as river deltas and vast archipelagos allow an easy escape for criminal elements and require high levels of manpower to be effectively policed by the authorities.

The Indian Ocean is considered the birthplace of modern piracy and armed robbery at sea. The proliferation of piracy led to the establishment of “High Risk Area” (HRA): a stretch of ocean off the coast of Somalia and Yemen that suffers from a level of piracy and it is considered critically dangerous for shipping and transit. The monitoring of the HRA is a concerted effort by maritime authorities and the global shipping and oil industries to minimise the threat of piracy: it requires vessels to adopt additional security measures (BMP5), including the use of armed guards, and to notify their passage to maritime authorities. Since 2008, the UN anti-piracy mandate has sanctioned international naval protection initiatives, as well as capacity building efforts on land.

The causes of Somali piracy are fundamentally rooted in the country’s crisis, its lack of rule of law and high level of poverty concentrated in the coastal communities. The collapse of the regime in 1991 led to a loss of control and effective policing of the country’s waters. This allowed activities like smuggling, illegal fishing and piracy to foster and further erode the rule of law in peripheral areas.

As the illegal fishing depleted the Somali fish stocks, local fishermen were increasingly attracted by the profitability of piracy. The influx of money generated by hijacking, kidnappings and robberies at sea greatly destabilised the economy and increased the cost of living, pushing even more fishing communities to embrace illegality. In this sense, while the international maritime efforts have succeeded in drastically reducing the incident rates, they only represent a short-term solution, ultimately ineffective without addressing the core issues on land.

The war in Yemen also represents a source of maritime instability in the region. This is, however, mostly unrelated to piracy and rather motivated by strategic considerations in the ongoing civil war. The Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, causes vessels to transit in the vicinity of Houthi-controlled coastal territories. While Houthi forces have refrained from deliberately threaten the shipping lines, they have conducted maritime attacks against vessels belonging to the Saudi-led coalition, the opposing faction in the civil war.

While the Somali coast has historically represented the world’s piracy hotspot, in recent years it has been overshadowed by the increasingly dangerous pirate activities in the Gulf of Guinea. The oil and gas-rich region of West Africa lacks the necessary refineries to process its production and the continuous exports of crude oil have represented a profitable market for robberies at anchorage points and illegality on the high seas.

Moreover, the basic economic inequalities within these societies have led to only a small elite benefiting from the oil & gas exploitation, creating a disenfranchised and exploited coastal population that turned to “Petro-Piracy”

The extreme fluctuations in market prices have, however, caused the West African pirates to transition towards the more profitable kidnap for ransom operations. The size of the Gulf, with its 6,000km long coastline, represent an area that is extremely hard to police, while the lack of an effective and coordinated effort by regional stakeholders has allowed piracy and armed robbery at sea to grow exponentially.

Moreover, the geography of areas such as the Niger Delta allows for a quick escape through its multitude of inlets, rivers and mangroves, where most of the illegal refineries and black-market centres are based.

While the condition of crisis and conflict in East Africa has allowed for integrated efforts by international navies and a subsequent reduction of piracy, the stronger governance and rule of law in countries like Nigeria, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea has led to the resistance of most foreign maritime protection initiatives, which are perceived as a violation of national sovereignty.

South East Asia has been the theatre of the oldest forms of piracy. Dating back to the 19^th century, the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, as well as the vast archipelagos, have represented perfect hunting grounds for pirates. Now, the 800km long Straits, hosts 1/3 of the maritime commerce worldwide and 1/4 of the global oil trade, consisting in mostly imports from China and Japan. While most of the attacks in recent years are related to occasional crime, such as looting and robberies, the more complex efforts in the past have caused multimillion losses in oil revenue, consisting in large-scale military-like operations. International naval efforts have been successful in reducing the number of incidents, but, due to the vastness of the South East Asian waters, the issue persists.

In 2016, an Asian contingent of the so-called Islamic State established a territorial enclave in the southern Filipino city of Mindanao and caused an entirely new type of piracy to spread in the Borneo area. The vicinity of the archipelagos allowed a network of active and sleeping cells to develop and unify under the leadership of Aby Sayyaf’s Isnilon Hapilon.

With the small island formations facilitating movement and populated by impoverished fishermen, the IS introduced the concept of kidnap for ransom. This method was commonly used in the Middle East caliphate to finance ISIL activities and, due to the large influx of foreign fighters and Asian combatants, the knowledge was applied to the regional context of South East Asia. The Islamic State would encourage local fishermen to kidnap vessels and tourists in exchange for a small section of the profit, causing incidents to skyrocket in the years between 2016 and 2017.

To effectively police the Borneo area, being removed from the main shipping routes going to the South China Sea, represented an unjustifiable cost to regional government until the criminality developed into a complex and lethal operation. It was, however, an effort conducted mainly on land and that resulted in the notorious Marawi siege against the Asian caliphate. While IS piracy has been effectively reduced, occasional incidents continue to take place.

Central America and the Caribbean also represent another of the world’s piracy hotspots, characterised by widespread illegality on land that spills over to the seas, as well as the Venezuelan crisis, which plays a key role in the deteriorating security environment.

The region’s piracy has revolved around a different type of criminality, connected to the illegal activities on land and, in particular, the northbound smuggling of drugs and weapons. The endemic issues of organised crime, poor state control and widespread poverty, as well as the proximity of the islands has allowed the establishment of a Caribbean route to Florida. While the American war on drugs has been successful in demolishing sea-based narcotrafficking routes, it also fuelled violence and crime, causing states like Honduras and Guatemala to reach levels of violence comparable to active warzones.

As seen in the African continent, the high levels of poverty and unemployment in the region play a direct role in encouraging more desperate measures to obtain profit, such as armed robbery.

More recently, however, the political instability, unrest and economic crisis raging throughout Venezuela has become the centre of maritime violence in the region. As the economy collapses, the criminality in the Caribbean seas allows Venezuelan citizens to smuggle goods, food and currency in the country, devastated by inflation levels that risk causing mass starvation amongst the poorest parts of the population.

Desperate coastal communities, suffering from a disastrous attempt by former president Hugo Chavez to nationalise the fishing industry, have increasingly targeted other fishermen, oil rigs and yachts anchored in proximity to Venezuelan waters.

The growing availability of firearms, the spreading lawlessness and the presence of critical resources such as oil & gas is likely to continue to elevate the Venezuelan threat level, unless serious international action is taken.

According to the latest intelligence, on 12 May, four ships were targeted, two Saudi vessels and two others, off the coast of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Speculation remains rife regarding who was behind the attack, with US Intelligence blaming Iranian backed proxies. Despite continued social media chatter stating that the attack happened in the port of Fujairah, it appears the vessels were targeted off the Emirati coast. Regardless, operations at the port of Fujairah continue to function normally and have suffered no interruptions. At this time, there is no clear evidence to suggest that Iran or any other actor was behind the incidents; however, Iranian backed proxies are believed to be the main suspect. There have also been no official claims of responsibility.

The precise nature of the incident still remains unclear at this time. There continues to be a large amount of misinformation on social media stating that an attack occurred in Fujairah port. Indeed, any attack on the port has been denied by the port authorities, and both locals and port workers that have been contacted by Solace Global have stated that it does not appear that any major attack occurred in the port.

Instead, at this time, it appears that four tankers were attacked off the coast of Fujairah. It appears that these vessels, all oil tankers, were subject to some sort of “sabotage” attack whilst anchored near Fujairah; and not in the port.

At the time of writing, there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities on board the vessels and one photo appears to show a light spill of some kind; however, the authenticity of the image could not be verified. The UAE foreign ministry has declared that all acts of sabotage on civilian vessels which threatens the safety of those on board “is a serious development”. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing and, at this time, no group or actor has been blamed for the attack and no suspects have been identified; likewise, no group has claimed the attacks. Though US officials are speculating that Iran-backed proxies have some responsibility in the attacks.

The Iranian Foreign Minister has stated that the incident was “alarming and regrettable”. A senior Iranian MP has also stated that the saboteurs appear from “a third country” and has urged a probe into the incident. The UAE Ministry of Energy has stressed the need for increased cooperation within the international community, who are responsible to ensure the safety and security of oil tankers in the region, due to the possible serious impacts on the world economy should navigation in the area be disrupted.

An important note in the incident is that the UAE was flooded with media reports linked to Russia and Iranian servers and social media accounts that claimed the attack occurred on land at Fujairah’s port. While it remains unclear if these fake reports were part of the attack, they included that “seven to ten tankers were in flames”. There were also claims of the US or other aircraft flying over the port at the time. These claims were immediately refuted by the UAE government and the Fujairah port authorities. The Iranian state-funded broadcaster Press TV used the incident as an opportunity to link the “attacks” with the ongoing war in Yemen. Regardless, the incident appears to show a concentrated effort to spread misinformation during and after the incidents.

The incident comes at a time of heightened tension in the region. The US has deployed a carrier battle group, B-52 strategic bombers and patriot defence missile systems to the Persian Gulf. The deployment by the US is understood to be in response to a possible threat to US forces in the region by Iran in response to the increasing tensions over the collapse of the Iran deal.

The deployment of the forces increases the risk of a “miscalculation” by military forces in the Gulf. It is feared that an incident between the two countries’ navies could result in an escalation in the region, including a possible military confrontation. It has also increased the rhetoric from both sides with Iran describing the deployment as a potential “target” and not a threat. Indeed, a former US defence official warned on 12 May that the threat of a miscalculation by either side was now a very “real risk”.

Attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf have been a rare occurrence since 1991. Saudi Arabia did not halt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in the 1981-88 conflict between Iraq and Iran when both sides attacked vessels in the Gulf; in what was known as the “tanker war”. Additionally, oil exports continued during the first Gulf War in 1990-91. The risk to tankers in the Straits of Hormuz region remains LOW for the time being. However, additional incidents or attacks will alter the security environment greatly, likely leading to the deployment of additional maritime assets by numerous countries, which, in turn, raises the risk of an international incident.

The most notable recent incident was in 2010, when a Japanese tanker, the M. Star, was damaged in an explosive attack whilst docked around 14 miles (22 kilometres) off the coast of Fujairah, UAE. This attack was claimed by the Brigades of Abdullah Azzam, a militant jihadist group. More recently, in September 2018, the Saudi military reportedly foiled attacks by Houthi militants at Jizan’s port. According to reports, the military foiled an attack by two explosives-laden remote-controlled boats at the port. The attacks were reportedly in response to Saudi air raids in Yemen. Additionally, in July 2018 a UAE navy vessel was reportedly attacked off the coast of Yemen by Houthi rebels. The vessel is understood to have caught fire and was close to sinking following the attack. Finally, in 2016, Houthi rebels attempted to hit a US destroyer that was launching cruise missiles on rebel positions.

The nearby Straits of Hormuz is bordered by Iran, Oman and the UAE and is the single most important waterway for global oil shipments; making it an attractive target for sabotage or other forms of attack on oil shipments. However, due to the waterway’s strategic importance, it is also one of the most heavily patrolled regions in the world; with significant American naval assets already in the area, not to mention the deployment of a new carrier group.

The main area of activity in the past two weeks has been in the Gulf of Guinea. There have been numerous boardings and attacks; this includes a kidnapping that required Nigerian Navy intervention. By contrast, the Indian Ocean HRA has been relatively quiet over the past weeks with no significant incidents since the attack on 16 October off the Somali coast and the two suspicious approaches in Bab el Mandeb Strait at the beginning of November. Elsewhere, the Mediterranean has been seeing GPS outages near Port Said and Cyprus since March. While it remains unclear what is causing these disruptions, it is likely that military operations by both the Egyptian military and the Russian Navy are the cause. Please see below for more:

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Gulf of Guinea

11 November: Vessel attacked and boarded by armed men near Bonny, Nigeria. A drifting UK-flagged bulk carrier was attacked and boarded by armed pirates at position 4°7’0 N 7°0’0 E. The boarders stole ship stores, robbed the vessel and kidnapped 10 members of the crew before escaping. Nigerian Navy vessels intercepted the pirates and freed the hostages. 11 November: MV attacked by armed men in blue boat, Niger River, Nigeria. A MV was attacked by eight armed men at 0600 UTC 2nm off the mouth of the River Niger, Nigeria. The attackers were in a small blue-coloured boat, wore black/dark clothes, and covered their faces. The security team onboard the vessel thwarted the attack; however, the assailants escaped. 14 November: Tanker boarded near Lagos, Nigeria. An intruder was spotted onboard by a crewmember who sounded the alarm. As the crew gathered, the intruder fled by jumping overboard. No items were stolen and no injuries to the crew were reported. The authorities are investigating the incident. 14 November: A black speedboat with six armed men onboard sighted in Emeroke Channel, Nigeria It is unclear what the target of the suspicious vessel was. This is the second such sighting of a suspicious vessel in the area.  On 5 November a similar vessel with armed men on board was sighted near Akwa Ibom Creeks. 19 November: The Nigerian Navy has impounded 52 vessels and arrested 40 people for alleged piracy. According to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Habila Ngalabak, the arrests have occurred over the past two to three months as part of a push against piracy-related activities in this period. 22 November: Nigerian flagged vessel boarded by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, south of Kwa Ibo. The crew took refuge in the citadel as the pirates boarded the vessel. The boarders left via a blue hulled boat before a security vessel managed to intervene. The crew is reported safe and no crewmen were kidnapped. However, there was some damage to the bridge. The direction that the pirates escaped in is unknown.

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Bab El-Mandeb Strait 

November: Arab Coalition Forces destroy 16 naval mines off Yemen’s west coast. According to Arab coalition sources, the mines had been planted by Houthi militants in international waters. It is unclear if further mines remain in the area.

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Mediterranean

11 November: Multiple instances of GPS interference reported by vessels and aircraft operating in the Eastern Mediterranean. These reports have been concentrated near Port Said and the Suez Canal, Egypt, as well as in the vicinity of the Republic of Cyprus. Additional instances of similar interference were reported in October 2018 near Jeddah Port, Saudi Arabia.  This interference results in the loss of, or altering of, GPS signals; affecting bridge navigation, GPS-based timing and communications equipment. 17 November: Six Greenpeace activists boarded tanker Stolt Tenacity in Gulf of Cadiz Greenpeace reportedly targeted the vessel as a sign of protest against rainforest destruction in Indonesia; as the ship was carrying palm oil products from Wilmar International. According to Greenpeace, Wilmar is a major supplier to global snack food giant Mondelez; one of the world’s largest purchasers of palm oil. The captain of the vessel detained the borders.

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Persian Gulf and India

17 November: Boarding at Kakinada Anchorage in India. Unnoticed, robbers boarded an anchored product tanker, stole ship’s stores and escaped. The theft was noticed during routine rounds. Port control and agents were informed. 18 November: Iranian Navy vows to maintain its presence on the high seas. An Iranian Navy commander has vowed that Iran’s navy is vital to secure the country’s interests despite threats from the US and a recent incident with UK destroyer HMS Diamond. He also insisted that the country’s “strong” navy would maintain its presence on the high seas so that other countries will not “take advantage”. There was also talk of the Iranian navy operating in the Atlantic “whenever necessary”.

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Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 46-47 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.

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

28 October 18: Pirate whaler seized and destroyed by EU NAVFOR: EU NAVFOR military personnel seized an active Pirate Action Group (PAG) whaler on 28 October before destroying the vessel in a controlled explosion.  The whaler had been under surveillance since a merchant vessel was attacked off the coast of Somalia on 16 October (see maritime advisory). Following investigations by EU NAVFOR it was concluded that it was likely that the vessel would be used to launch further attacks on maritime shipping transiting the area.  The vessel was tracked to a small bay off the Somali coast, where it was seized and destroyed. 23 October 18: Royal Navy vessel intercepted by Iranian attack boats in the Persian Gulf.  HMS Dragon, a Royal Navy type 45 Destroyer, was intercepted by three Iranian gun boats while escorting British vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The incident sparked a stand-off between the two naval forces. The Iranian gunships demanded that the British vessels remain 1000 yards clear of their port side.  Following communications between the Officer of the Watch and the Iranian authorities the Iranian vessels eventually moved aside however, the incident highlights ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf.

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Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

22 October 18: Vessel boarded at Pointe Noire.   Suspected criminals boarded an anchored MV at 23.28 LT in position 4°46°46N – 11°47°30E off Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo.  The two armed men boarded the vessel via the anchor chain and proceeded to steal ropes before disembarking.  Crew and vessel have been reported safe. 27 October 18: MV attacked 60nm from Bonny, Nigeria. At 04.00 LT a distress call was received on the Emergency Broadcast Channel 16 from a MV in position 03°21N 006°30E.  The vessel declared that it was being chased by two skiffs before it started moving in a circular motion.  The attack has since been confirmed by the Nigerian Navy. 11 crew members are suspected to have been kidnapped, nine further crew members were left on board, unharmed.  An investigation by Nigerian authorities is underway. 29 October 18: Two MV under attack 102nm of Pointe Noire.  Two vessels were reported under attack at 12.50 LT in position 04°47S 010°07E.  One MV and its crew are safe however the second MV is reported hijacked.  Last position recorded at 14.24 LT at position 04°42S 010°04E.  A further report indicates a third vessel was subsequently hijacked but has now been released.

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Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

17 October 18: Anchored Bulk Carrier boarded by criminals at Muara Berau Anchorage, Samarinda   Two armed men boarded an anchored bulk carrier.  The duty seaman notified the duty officer after noticing intruders on forecastle deck.  The alarm was raised and crew mustered.  On investigation, the ship stores were reportedly stolen.  The relevant authorities were notified of incident.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

20 September 18: MV Approached in Lagos Anchorage, Nigeria. Two boats approached the MV at 2345UTC in position 6°16’51N, 3°13’16E. At 2358UTC, two unauthorised persons were sighted on the main deck. When challenged, they escaped using a rope tied on board. No items were reported stolen. 22 September 18: Bulk Carrier Attacked by Pirates 54nm Southwest of Bonny Island, Nigeria. The vessel was underway on its transit from Lagos to Port Harcourt when it was attacked by pirates in a speedboat at 0450LT in position 3°37’0N, 6°40’0E. The embarked Nigerian Navy security team fired warning shots twice, resulting in the pirates breaking their pursuit of the vessel. 22 September 18: Vessel Attacked 45nm Southwest of Bonny Island, Nigeria. An underway bulk carrier Glavus was attacked by armed pirates at 0505UTC in position 3°45’32N, 6°43’1E. The master raised the alarm, increased speed and carried out anti-piracy measures. After a prolonged chase, pirates boarded the vessel using long ladders. They cut the wire on deck to gain access to the vessel and eventually the bridge. Communications equipment was destroyed and between 12 to 19 crew members were kidnapped. The nationalities of the crew members includes Philippines, Slovenia, Ukraine, Romania, Croatia and Bosnia. The Nigerian Navy despatched a patrol boat to assist the vessel. Remaining crew sailed the vessel under naval escort to safe anchorage. 25 September 18: Tanker Attacked by Pirates 100nm Southwest of Bonny Island, Nigeria. Armed pirates in a speedboat attacked the vessel at 1151UTC in position 2°45’55N, 6°39’19E. The speedboat had seven persons on board, and shots were fired at the vessel. A local security vessel arrived and fired warning shots. The speedboat moved away in a southwest direction. Crew and vessel were reported as safe. 25 September 2018: MV Boarded in Pointe Noire Anchorage, Congo. The vessel was in position 4°41’0S, 11°45’6E at 0100UTC when it was boarded by two robbers armed with knives. The alarm was raised and ship property was reported stolen.

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South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

18 September 2018: Vessel Boarded in Sandakan, Malaysia. The Malta-flagged bulk carrier was boarded via the port side anchor chain whilst at berth in position 5°45’45N, 118°4’9E at 2015UTC. Another two accomplices were waiting in a craft nearby. No items were reported stolen. 18 September 2018: Underway Tanker Boarded by Robbers, Singapore Straits. The LPG tanker was boarded in position 1°14’87N, 103°57’92E at 2145UTC, Westbound lane of TSS. Three persons were sighted at the stern of the ship. The chief engineer sustained injuries to his face and hands after being confronted with the perpetrators when they stole his gold chain. The alarm was raised and the robbers escaped. The remaining crew were reported safe. 18 September 2018: Armed Robbers Board Anchored Bulk Carrier in Muara Berau Anchorage, Indonesia. The armed robbers boarded the vessel twice in three hours at 1915UTC in position 0°14’20S, 117°39’40E. On both occasions, the duty watchman noticed the robbers on the forecastle deck and raised the alarm. The robbers escaped with ships stores. Indonesian Marine Police and Indonesian Navy were informed, and an investigation on board took place.

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Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 39 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.

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

07 September 18: WBIED Seized by Saudi-led Coalition. Yemeni national forces, supported by the Saudi-led international coalition, intercepted a remote-controlled water-borne improvised explosive device in the Red Sea. The device was built into the hull of a speedboat, and reached speeds of 35kts. It is highly likely that the Houthi sought to target Saudi/UAE vessels with the device. There were no indications of other Houthi vessels in the vicinity of the device, possibly indicating that this version of WBIED has a longer stand-off range than devices deployed in late 2017/early 2018, which were generally controlled from a nearby mothership. September 18: Increased small boat activity. Vessels transiting the HRA reported a significant increase in small boat activity. This increase has likely been driven by the end of the monsoon season. The improving sea conditions may permit an increase in criminal use of small boats in the region.

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Mediterranean – Maritime Security Incidents

10 September 18: Militants Assaulted National Oil Corporation, Tripoli.  A group of Islamic State insurgents attacked the NOC in Tripoli. At least four people, including two of the attackers, were killed. It remains unclear if the previous armed unrest set the conditions which enabled the attack.

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Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

05 September 18: Nigerian Navy Deployed New Vessels. The Nigerian Navy inaugurated and deployed 16 new vessels, including coastal patrol boats and high-speed RHIBs. The vessels were immediately deployed to patrol areas around key oil installations in the Niger Delta. The deterrent effect of these vessels in coastal waters may drive thieves and pirates to conduct more ambitious attacks in deep water.

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South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

04 August 18: LATE REPORT – Armed Robbery from Tanker near Sarawak. A tanker underway at 03°24’N 112°54’E was boarded by armed robbers at 2300LT. The attackers stole cash and personal belongings, before fleeing within 20 minutes. No crew were harmed. Perpetrators arrested by police on 17 August. 10 September 18: Armed Kidnap near Semporna. A fishing vessel underway at 04°40’N 118°43’E was boarded by armed kidnappers in the early hours, who boarded their vessel from a speedboat.  Two crew members were taken, as they were unable to hide in time. Remaining crew saw the kidnappers depart in the direction of Philippine waters. 11 September 18: Fishermen Kidnapped off Sabah. Three fishermen were reported kidnapped at 0100LT. The attack occurred whilst their vessel was docked at Pulau Gaya. Local law enforcement are investigating the possibility of Philippine groups  being responsible.

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Iran to Move Primary Oil Terminal. The Iranian government announced its intent to establish a new oil terminal on the coast of the Oman Sea. This move would place the terminal outside the Straits of Hormuz, reducing Iranian dependence on the strategically contested waterway.

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Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 36 A roundup of maritime security incidents – an easy to read format collating suspicious approaches, vessel attacks, boardings, hijacks and media reports. The week 36 Maritime Security Snapshot was compiled by Solace Global’s in-house intelligence team.

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

August 18: Yemeni Government Issued Warning to Fishermen. The Yemeni government issued a warning to fishermen operating in their waters, advising them to avoid approaching coalition warships. The warning follows Houthi threats to conduct further attacks against shipping, making it likely that warships would resort to force more rapidly when confronted by suspicious small craft. 15-22 August 18: Offensive Operations Continued around Al Hudaydah. The Yemeni government and Saudi-led coalition continued to escalate offensive  operations against Al Hudaydah, including a series of missile strikes which resulted in civilian casualties. Such attacks have previously resulted in the Houthi retaliating against Saudi merchant shipping and warships.

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Mediterranean – Maritime Security Incidents

15 August 18: Three Killed as Smugglers Sought to Evade Coastguard off Sfax, Tunisia. A migrant smuggler, piloting a small boat with 19 illegal migrants, attempted to repel the Tunisian Coastguard using petrol bombs. He mishandled the devices resulting in the deaths of himself and at least two other migrants before the coastguard succeeded in rescuing the remaining passengers. 15 August 18: Italian Coastguard Vessel denied access to Italian Ports. An Italian coastguard vessel carrying 177 rescued migrants was denied access to Italian ports. The vessel was eventually granted access on 20 August, however the migrants were not permitted to disembark. Matteo Salvini, the Interior minister has indicated that the migrants must be resettled in other EU countries or returned to their country of origin, likely Libya.

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Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

21 August 18: UPDATE Vessel and 17 Crew Confirmed Missing off Gabon. A 7000 tonne, dual-purpose tanker was confirmed missing off Gabon, with at least 17 crew aboard. The missing vessel, Panelena, vanished from AIS on 14 August, and a potential distress signal was detected by other shipping in the area. The nature of the vessel’s disappearance is broadly inline with that expected following a pirate attack. 21 August 18: Theft From Vessel in Onne Anchorage, Nigeria. A merchant vessel at 04°40”N, 007°09”E was boarded by four armed men who stole a number of oil cans before escaping. No effort was made to enter the ship.

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South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

20 August 18: Impounded Vessels Sunk in Indonesia. 125 vessels impounded for participating in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing were sunk by Indonesian authorities at 11 locations around the country. The vast majority of these vessels were foreign flagged, and the sinkings were only announced afterwards in an effort to minimise political repercussions. Further efforts to impose effective control of Indonesian waters are highly likely.

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Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 33 A roundup of maritime security incidents – an easy to read format collating suspicious approaches, vessel attacks, boardings, hijacks and media reports. The week 33 Maritime Security Snapshot was compiled by Solace Global’s in-house intelligence team.

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

01 August 18 Iranian Navy Exercises in Straits of Hormuz. The Iranian Navy and maritime elements of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps conducted a mass exercise aimed at demonstrating their capability to seal the Straits of Hormuz against international shipping. The likelihood of them conducting such an attack unprovoked remains low, however regional tensions remain high. 02 August 18: Mass Casualties in Al Hudaydah Airstrike. At least 60 civilians were killed by a coalition airstrike against Houthi-held areas of the port. There is a realistic possibility that the Houthi will seek to target Saudi or coalition vessels in response for the attack.

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Mediterranean – Maritime Security Incidents

August 18: Korean and Philippine Warships Deployed to the Libyan Coast. Both the Philippine and South Korean navies have directed warships to the Libyan coast following the kidnap of nationals from both counties from an infrastructure project in the south of the country. It is possible they will seek to conduct rescue operations. August 18: Korean and Philippine Warships Deployed to the Libyan Coast. Both the Philippine and South Korean navies have directed warships to the Libyan coast following the kidnap of nationals from both counties from an infrastructure project in the south of the country. It is possible they will seek to conduct rescue operations.

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Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

01 August 18: NNRC Report Extent of Crude Theft in Nigeria. The Nigerian National Resource Charter issued a report highlighting that crude thefts from the Delta region exceeded the value of the state’s combined health and education budgets. Whilst the data used to support the conclusions is not completed up to date, the report demonstrates the industrial scale of criminal activity against extractive industries in the region.

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South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

26 July 18: Attempted Boarding in Bantangas Anchorage. A lone individual aboard a small boat attempted to board a bulk carrier at 13°44’N 121°02’E using a hook and rope. Crew members raised the alarm and the attacker fled 02 August 18: Abu Sayyaf Insurgents Surrender in Sulu. Up to 11 members of the Abu Sayyaf group surrendered to security forces in the Sulu Sea area of the Philippines. The group previously relied on kidnapping of seafarers to fund its operations. 04 August 18: Additional US Security Funding Announced. US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, announced an additional $300 million of funding towards maritime security cooperation and humanitarian support between ASEAN states.

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Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 31 A roundup of maritime security incidents – an easy to read format collating suspicious approaches, vessel attacks, boardings, hijacks and media reports. The week 31 Maritime Security Snapshot was compiled by Solace Global’s in-house intelligence team.

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

22 July 18: UPDATE Attack Reported near Baraawe, Somalia. A merchant vessel conducting resupply operations to African Union forces was attacked by mortar fire on approach to Baraawe. The attackers were believed to be Al Shabaab insurgents. No significant harm to the vessel or crew was reported. 25 July 18: UPDATE Saudi Vessel Attacked near Al Hudaydah. Houthi rebels conducted attacks against two Saudi tankers transiting the Red Sea. The Saudi coalition reported that the attack was conducted with explosive-laden fast boats. Neither vessel suffered severe damage, and all crew were reported safe. The Saudi state oil producer indicated that they intend to suspend oil shipments through the Bab el Mandeb in order to minimise the threat to their vessels.

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Mediterranean – Maritime Security Incidents

28 July 18: Spanish Coastguard Rescue 1,000 Migrants in Two Days. A significant spike in attempted migrant crossings between Morocco and Spain resulted in maritime rescue services recovering upwards to 1,000 migrants between 26 and 28 July. Vessels transiting the area may experience disruption from ongoing rescue operations. There is no indication why this two day period attracted so many crossing attempts.

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Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

24 July 18: IMB Report Shows Gulf of Guinea as Kidnap Hotspot. The International Maritime Bureau’s quarterly report confirmed that the Gulf of Guinea was the only area in which crew kidnap incidents were reported through 2018 to date. The report also assessed that significant numbers of kidnaps, beyond the 25 reported, have taken place. Crews are advised to maintain a high level of awareness throughout the region and make all efforts to report criminal activity.

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South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

26 July 18: Attempted Boarding from Vessel near Bontang, Indonesia. Duty crew members spotted robbers seeking to climb the hawse pipe of a vessel at 00°04’S 117°35’E. The crew mustered and raised the alarm, forcing the robbers to flee empty handed

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Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 30 A roundup of maritime security incidents – an easy to read format collating suspicious approaches, vessel attacks, boardings, hijacks and media reports. The week 30 Maritime Security Snapshot was compiled by Solace Global’s in-house intelligence team.

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

13 June 18: Assault on Al Hudaydah. Yemeni government forces have begun offensive operations aimed at seizing the port of Al Hudaydah from the Houthi, following the expiry of a ceasefire. An increase in military activity in the vicinity is highly likely. The Houthi may seek to attack Saudi vessels in response. June 18: Piracy Threat During Monsoon Season. The International Maritime Bureau released a statement indicating that the impeding monsoon season may drive pirate attacks in the more sheltered waters of the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. Storm conditions are likely to force IUU fishermen from elsewhere into this region, and the increase in competition may lead to an increase in ad-hoc piracy.

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Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

03 June 18: Theft at Anchor, Lagos. Two robbers boarded a bulk carrier anchored at 06°16’N, 003°21’E. Crew members and armed security spotted the robbers and fired a warning shot. Robbers fled with ship’s stores. 12 June 18: Naval Operations in Delta. The Nigerian naval officer in command of forces in the Delta region reported that amphibious operations efforts to clear out illegal oil refineries in the region would push ahead. Operations in the preceding month have been deemed successful, despite widespread reports of pollution from destroyed facilities.

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South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

08 June 18: India Called for Enhanced Intelligence Sharing. The Indian Prime Minister called for enhanced intelligence sharing in order to better combat threats to maritime security in Asia. He was addressing the East Asia Summit. 12 June 18: ReCAAP 2018 Conference. The ReCAAP 2018 Piracy and Sea Robbery Conference was held in Hong Kong, focused on developing proactive and intelligence-led anti-piracy operations. Efforts were also made to encourage engagement from Chinese ship owners. 31 May 18: -Late Report- Robbery at Anchor, Mersing, Malaysia. Two crew members were wounded when up to 14 men boarded a tanker at 02°25’N, 104°25’E. The   robbers escaped with ship stores, but were later apprehended by the Malaysian Navy

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Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 23 A roundup of maritime security incidents – an easy to read format collating suspicious approaches, vessel attacks, boardings, hijacks and media reports. The week 23 Maritime Security Snapshot was compiled by Solace Global’s in-house intelligence team.

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

24-27 May 18: Cyclone Mekunu. Cyclone Mekunu crossed between Socotra and Salalah during 24-27 May. The storm resulted in extreme weather conditions, making landfall at Salalah as a category three storm. Disruption to air travel was widespread, and significant flooding was also reported, severely limiting land travel. At least 50 people were reported missing or killed. 30 May 18: Suspicious Approach near Merca, Somalia. A merchant vessel at 01°38’N, 044°42’E reported an approach by six skiffs carrying an unspecified number of persons onboard. No attempted boarding was reported, and the vessel and crew remain safe.

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Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

13 April 18: – LATE REPORT – Stores Stolen from Vessel at Apapa Port, Nigeria. Four men aboard a skiff boarded a container ship anchored at 06°26’N 003°24’E. Crew members raised the alarm and the robbers fled. Upon searching, bosun stores lock was found to be broken, and stores were missing. 22 May 18: Attempted Boarding Against Tanker 130 NM South of Lome, Togo. Seven pirates in a skiff attempted to board a drifting tanker at 03°46’N 001°30’E. They aborted their attempt when the alarm was raised. The tanker’s master reported a potential mothership near their location. 23 April 18: Attempted Robbery in Lagos. A lone intruder was reported on the deck on a merchant vessel at 06°16’N 003°12’E. The intruder jumped overboard when challenged. 25 May 18: Tanker boarded near Lagos, Nigeria. Two men boarded a tanker at  06°18’N 003°20’E. They fled empty handed when the alarm was raised. 26 May 18: Robbery from Ro-Ro Vessel in Lagos, Nigeria. Seven men boarded a Ro-Ro vessel berthed at 06°27’N 003°22’E. The duty crewman was tied up and his radio taken. The robbers then broke into the paint store and escaped with ship’s properties. Crew & vessel reported safe.

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South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

05 May 18: – LATE REPORT – Theft at Anchor near Bintan Island, Indonesia. Stores were discovered missing from a tanker anchored at 01°24’N, 104°36’E. The theft was discovered during routine emergency drills. 15 May 18: Theft at Anchor Reported in Uban, Indonesia. Stores were discovered missing from a product tanker anchored at 01°06’N, 104°11’E. The theft was discovered during routine rounds.

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Click link to Download PDF:  Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 21 A roundup of maritime security incidents – an easy to read format collating suspicious approaches, vessel attacks, boardings, hijacks and media reports. The week 21 Maritime Security Snapshot was compiled by Solace Global’s in-house intelligence team.

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

18-19 May 18: Tropical Storm Sagar. Tropical storm Sagar moved west across the Gulf of Aden, causing severe sea conditions, before making landfall near Djibouti and Somalia. The official toll has not been confirmed, however several dozen are likely to have been killed across Yemen, Somalia, and Djibouti. Economic difficulties resulting from the storm may result in an increase in pirate activity. “Operation Red Thunder”. The Saudi-led coalition operating in Yemen is presently conducting Operation Red Thunder, a concerted effort to seize control of Al Hudaydah from the Houthi rebels. It is possible that the Houthi may seek to target Saudi and coalition shipping in response to this offensive.

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Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

19 May 18: Crew Kidnapped near Bonny, Nigeria. An offshore supply vessel was attacked in position 03°54’N 006°42’E, in Okwori field. The attackers destroyed communications equipment and stole crew possessions. Four crew members remain missing, remaining crew unharmed. 19 May 18: Attempted Boarding, Lagos Anchorage. Seven persons sought to board a bulk carrier anchored at 06°26’N 003°23’E, in Lagos Anchorage. Crew members spotted the boarding and raised the alarm. The robbers abandoned their attempted attack. 21 May 18: Attempted Boarding, Lome, Togo. One man sought to board an anchored merchant vessel at 03°46’N 001°30’E, in Lome. A crew member raised the alarm and the robber fled in a skiff with six others onboard.

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South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

Abu Sayyaf Released hostages in Sulu, Philippines. The Abu Sayyaf Islamist group released at least three hostages recently taken in the Sulu region, including two female police officers. It remains unclear if a ransom was paid, or the group submitted to military pressure. 19 May 18: Tanker Boarded near Karimun Kecil, Indonesia. Six men boarded a tanker underway at 01°10’N 103°27’E at the western end of the Singapore Strait. The crew raised the alarm, causing the robbers to flee empty handed. 19 May 18: Theft at Anchor Reported in Merak, Indonesia. Three men carrying knives boarded a merchant vessel anchored at 05°52’S, 106°05’E. A crew member was threatened, whilst the thieves made away with engine room spares.

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Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 20 A roundup of maritime security incidents – an easy to read format collating suspicious approaches, vessel attacks, boardings, hijacks and media reports. The week 20 Maritime Security Snapshot was compiled by Solace Global’s in-house intelligence team.

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

12 May 18: Merchant Vessel Attacked near Eritrea. A bulk carrier reported coming under attack at 14°40’N 041°45’E, off the Eritrean coast. Crew and vessel reported safe, the vessel was reportedly carrying grain to the Yemeni port of Saleef. Vessels seeking entry to Yemen are advised to comply with all instructions from UN or Saudi coalition vessels.

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Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

08 May 18: Attempted Boarding near Brass, Nigeria. Six persons onboard a skiff attempted to board a merchant vessel at 03°37’N, 006°16’E. The attackers hooked a ladder over the MV’s sides, but were prevented from boarding by hardening measures and evasive manoeuvres. Vessel and crew safe. 11 May 18: Tug with Stolen Cargo Seized, Bonny, Nigeria. Nigerian naval forces reported the seize of a 1,000 tonne barge containing stolen diesel fuel.  Six suspected thieves were also detained from aboard the tug boat.

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South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

Abu Sayyaf Clashed with Troops in Sulu, Philippines. Philippine troops clashed with suspected members of the Islamist group Abu Sayyaf whilst seeking to recover hostages taken by the group. This marks the most recent attack by the terror organisation which has previously directly targeted seafarers in kidnap-for-ransom attacks.

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Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 19 A roundup of maritime security incidents – an easy to read format collating suspicious approaches, vessel attacks, boardings, hijacks and media reports. The week 19 Maritime Security Snapshot was compiled by Solace Global’s in-house intelligence team.

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

CTF 151 Seeks to Engage Non-Commercial Seafarers. Combined Task Force 151 has launched an effort to actively engage with non-commercial vessels transiting the HRA. Previous efforts have focused on countering piracy towards commercial shipping, and the new effort is aimed at filling a perceived gap in coverage. Pakistani Vessels Provide Logistical Support. Pakistani warships assigned to CTF 151 reported providing assistance to both a stranded fishing boat with a mechanical issue, and a yacht which ran out of fuel and food due to recent adverse conditions in the region.

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Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

06 May 18: Attempted Boarding near Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Six persons onboard a skiff attempted to board a merchant vessel at 03°37’N, 006° 16’E. Vessel and crew reported safe.

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South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

06 May 18: Attempted Boarding at Chittagong, Bangladesh. Robbers aboard a small wooden boat boarded a bulk carrier at 22°15’N 091°45’E using a rope and hook. The crew raised the alarm and robbers left the vessel empty handed. 06 May 18: Attempted Robbery at Muara Berau, Indonesia. Robbers aboard a small boat boarded a bulk carrier at 00°14’S 117°34’E. The crew raised the alarm and   robbers left the vessel empty handed. 29 Apr 18: Vessel Boarded at Tanjung Berakit, Indonesia. Robbers successfully boarded a heavy lift vessel anchored at 01°25’N, 104°47’E. They broke several stores throughout the vessel, but investigation reported nothing stolen.

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Click link to Download PDF: Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 18 A roundup of maritime security incidents – an easy to read format collating suspicious approaches, vessel attacks, boardings, hijacks and media reports. The week 18 Maritime Security Snapshot was compiled by Solace Global’s in-house intelligence team.

Indian Ocean HRA – Maritime Security Incidents

Apr-May 18: Coalition Preparing Operations Against Al-Hudaydah. Yemeni government forces, supported by the Saudi-led Gulf coalition appear to be preparing for a direct offensive against the Houthi-held port of Al Hudaydah. Previous operations in the area have been countered by attacks against Saudi shipping by shore-based missile systems, and waterborne IEDs. It is highly likely  that future offensives will see a similar response.

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Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Security Incidents

21 Apr 18: Vessel Boarded off Bonny Island, Nigeria. Preliminary reports suggest a merchant vessel was attacked and boarded at 03°33’N 007°02’E, approximately 40nm south of Bonny Island.

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South East Asia – Maritime Security Incidents

18 Apr 18: Robbery At Anchor  in Samarinda Indonesia. A vessel anchored at 00°15’S 117°38’E discovered the forecastle store had been broken into. Robbers were believed to have boarded via the anchor chain. 17 Apr 18: Attempted Theft at Anchor in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Six robbers attempted to board a vessel at 22°11’N 091°42’E. One crew member was threatened with a knife before the alarm was raised and the attackers fled. 12 Apr 18: Theft at Anchor in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Robbers boarded a vessel at 22°13’N 091°45’E, assaulted the vessel’s watchkeeper, and fled with ship’s stores. 05 Apr 18: Suspicious Approach against Sailing Vessel, South China Sea. A small vessel containing two men approached a 14m catamaran at speed to within 200m at 17°16’N 111°16’E. The catamaran issued a Mayday and was responded to by a cruise liner. The suspect vessel moved away.

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Click link to Download PDF:  Solace Global Maritime Security Snapshot – Week 15 & 16 A roundup of maritime security incidents – an easy to read format collating suspicious approaches, vessel attacks, boardings, hijacks and media reports. The week 15 & 16 Maritime Security Snapshot was compiled by Solace Global’s in-house intelligence team.