Weekly IMB Piracy Warnings Report

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Weekly Piracy Report 28 August - 3 September 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 28 August - 3 September 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

02.09.2001 at 0142 LT anchored two miles NW of Cochin port, India. Persons in two unlit fishing boats attempted to climb on board a tanker. Anti piracy watch on deck spotted them and raised the alarm. Perpetrators abandoned the attempt.

01.09.2001 at 0300 LT in position 03:00S - 107:30E, Gelasa straits, Indonesia. While underway, two speedboats approached a LPG carrier from port quarter. The vessel altered course but the boat followed before abandoning the chase due to rough seas.

31.08.2001 at 0915 LT in position 12:43N - 043:19E, 5 nm NW off Mayyum (Perim Island), Gulf of Aden. Persons in four small fast fibreglass boats tried to board a general cargo ship. The ship raised the alarm, zig zagged course, increased speed and mustered all crew on deck. As a result the pirates aborted attempted boarding.

30.08.2001 at 0230 LT in position 01:24.2N - 104:39.8E, Singapore straits. While underway about 8-10 pirates armed with knives boarded a container ship and robbed the officers and crew of personal belongings and cash USD10, 000. The master and chief engineer were injured.

29.08.2001 at 2315 LT at berth no. 6/7, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Two pirates tried to climb aboard a general cargo ship using a pole hooked to the ship's railing. On seeing the alert crew pirates jumped into the water and escaped in their boats.

29.08.2001 at 0430 LT at inner anchorage, Balikpapan port, Indonesia. While at anchor waiting for pilot, duty A/B on a bulk carrier noticed two long boats near ship's side and three persons at the poop deck who had lowered a mooring rope into the water. Alert crew chased the pirates who jumped overboard and escaped.

28.08.2001 at 0328 UTC in position: 20:37N - 071:40E, India. Pirates from a fishing boat boarded a general cargo ship under tow. The pirates later left the ship. Further details are awaited. Earlier on 26.08.2001 at 1400 UTC in position: 20:22N - 071:23E pirates in two fishing boats had boarded the same ship and stole ship's stores. The tug towing the ship raised alarm but failed to foil the boarding. 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 Extra caution is advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel, Vung Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian ports and Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic. 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 http://www.iccwbo.org/ccs/imb_piracy/weekly_piracy_report.asp

-- Rich Marsh (marshr@airmail.net), September 05, 2001


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