Weekly Piracy Report 7 – 13 August 2001

The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast to all shipping by the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre on the safetyNET service of Inmarsat-C from 7 – 13 August 2001. For statistical purposes the IMB defines Piracy as: "An act of boarding or attempting to board any ship with the intent to commit theft or any other crime and with the intent or capability to use force in the furtherance of that act". This definition thus covers actual or attempted attacks whether the ship is berthed, at anchor or at sea. Petty thefts are excluded, unless the thieves are armed.

Latest reported incidents 13.08.2001 at 0030 LT at Tanjung Priok anchorage, Indonesia. Whilst at anchor, four pirates boarded a bulk carrier and stole a large quantity of ship's stores. Pirates jumped overboard and escaped.

11.08.2001 at 1955 UTC in position 29:39N - 048:43.7E, Umm Qasr pilot station, Iraq. Several pirates boarded a container vessel from a wooden boat. They broke in to forward locker, stole ship's stores and escaped.

10.08.2001 at 0622 LT in position 01:24N - 104:28E, Singapore straits. While underway, six pirates armed with long knives boarded a bulk carrier, held hostage the second and third officers, engineer and duty seaman and robbed them of their personal valuables. Master raised the alarm and the pirates escaped. No injuries to crew.

10.08.2001 at 0010lt in position:01:28N - 104:32E, Singapore straits. While underway, duty lookout observed a small wooden boat approaching a container ship on her port side. The captain went to the port side to check the situation. The lookout flashed a searchlight and found there were four pirates inside the boat. At the same time another boat also with four pirates approached from the starboard quarter of the ship. The master raised the alarm and switched on all deck lights. The unlit pirate boats reduced their speed and moved away.

09.08.2001 at 0220 LT at Belawan anchorage, Indonesia. About 8-10 pirates armed with long knives boarded a chemical tanker at anchorage and assaulted the duty A/B and threatened him with a knife. The A/B informed the duty officer who raised the alarm and alerted all crew. Pirates broke open stores and threw a lot of paint tins into the water. When crew were mustered on deck the pirates jumped overboard and fled in their boat.

07.08.2001 at 0150 - 0230 LT at Tema anchorage, Ghana. While at anchor, the duty oiler on watch at the forecastle deck was attacked and threatened by pirates armed with guns and knives. His hands and legs were tied and he was laid face down on deck. The pirates stole his personal belongings. When the oiler did not respond to the duty officer's call via radio, he instructed the duty watch to go forward and check. They found the oiler lying on deck and raised the alarm. By then the pirates had escaped with ship's stores.

04.08.2001 at 0230 LT whilst anchored at Balikpapan inner roads, Indonesia. Armed pirates attempted to board a general cargo vessel. They were observed by the ship's watchman and by hired police constables. The policemen fired warning shots to which the pirates fired back twice as they fled. No one was injured on board.

Warnings Increasing number of attacks have been reported in the Malacca straits between the coordinates 01 to 02N - 101 to 103E. The most risk prone area is within 25 nm radius surrounding 02N - 102E, where the same armed gang of pirates seems to have repeatedly attacked ships.

Ships are advised to avoid anchoring along the Indonesian coast of the Malacca straits unless required for urgent operational reasons. The coast near Aceh is particularly risky. Pirates recently boarded a vessel carrying out engine repairs and kidnapped the master of a tanker who is being held ashore for ransom.

Ships calling at Indonesian ports of Belawan, Dumai, Merak, Samarinda and Tanjong Priok have reported numerous attacks whilst at berth and at anchor. Recently a number of ships have been hijacked in Indonesian waters.

In view of the recent spate in hijackings, ship owners are advised to install a satellite tracking system on board. IMB recommends installation of Shiploc, which has proved to be invaluable in the location and recovery of hijacked vessels. Details can be found at www.shiploc.com.

Attacks have been reported at Chittagong, Mongla and Chennai while at anchor. Ships at ports in Bangladesh have been subjected to theft of zinc anodes welded to ship's sides and the stern.

Somalian waters continue to be a risk prone area for hijackings. Ships should keep at least 50 miles and if possible 100 miles from the Somali coast. Use of radio communications including the VHF in these waters should be kept to a minimum.

Advice to all ships Ships are advised to maintain anti-piracy watches and report all piratical attacks and suspicious movements of craft to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel ++ 60 3 2078 5763 Fax ++ 60 3 2078 5769 Telex MA 31880 IMBPCI 24 Hours Anti Piracy HELPLINE Tel : ++ 60 3 2031 0014 E-mail ccskl@imbkl.po.my

-- Rich Marsh (marshr@airmail.net), August 15, 2001