Vessel thought attacked turns up safe and sound in GoG

Dryad Global has confirmed that the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) activated on the Panamanian flagged M/T Errina ‘appears to have been in error’ and the vessel has subsequently been shown to be at a location South of Lagos.

Indications were that the vessel position was 200nm West Sao Tome. According to Dryad Global, this position would have been irregular to her known trading pattern.

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Source: bunkerspot.com

MarsecNews: This article updates a story we ran on Oct. 23rd which can be found here. Happy to see the situation resolved.

Three piracy attacks in S’pore Strait over 2 ½ hours

Nothing stolen; latest incidents bring Oct tally to six, highest monthly figure this year

Fabian Koh

Armed pirates stormed three ships in the Singapore Strait in the span of 2 ½ hours between Sunday night and yesterday morning.

But nothing was stolen from the bulk carriers in the three separate incidents, which took place in close proximity to one another in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the waterway.

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Source: straitstimes.com

MDAT-GoG issues attack alert

After two initial alerts overnight, MDAT-GoG has updated its latest report to the following:

1. CATEGORY: ATTACK IN PROGRESS

2. TIME: 23 Oct 2020 0730UTC.

3. DESCRIPTION: MDAT-GOG has received an SSAS alert from a MV which may be under attack in this position 043812N 0032818E. Local authorities are aware of this situation. Please be advised this is the last confirmed position of this vessel and is several hours late.

4. POSITION: 043812N – 0032818E.

There was clear concern when no update was received from the vessel, which Dryad Global believe is the tanker, MT Errina, which led some media outlets to speculate that it had been hijacked. However, this remains unconfirmed and we await an update from MDAT-GoG on the vessel and crew’s status. The new position was confirmed by the vessel’s AIS, according to MDAT-GoG.

CTF151 and Pakistan Navy hold talks ahead of CTF Command takeover

Media release

The Turkish-led Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) held a recent engagement with the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Ops) of the Pakistan Navy, two months ahead of the Pakistan takeover of CTF 151 command.

Rear Admiral Nejat Inanir of the Turkish Navy, the Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces’ CTF 151, followed the current Covid-19 trend of using Zoom conference calling to discuss matters of mutual cooperation and security in the region. Pakistan will be assuming command of CTF 151 in December for a record ninth time, marking this time as a key preparation period.

RAdm Inanir thanked the longstanding support and contribution of the Pakistan Navy to the Combined Maritime Forces for its provision of personnel and maritime assets which contribute to counter piracy operations in the region.

“I am so pleased to see Pakistan contribute to CMF so effectively. Their support aids how we maintain maritime security and ensure the free flow of commercial maritime trade,” said RAdm Inanir said. “We are seeing a large increase in small vessel activity now that the monsoon season is transitioning and it’s vital that CTF 151 continues to suppress any piracy activity early.”

Cdre Faisal commended the strong leadership of Turkish-led CTF 151: “All support will be provided to CTF 151 for Counter Piracy Operations as and when required,” he said.

Both Commanders agreed to provide further assistance and collaboration to achieve their common goal of providing maritime security in the region and making the seas safe for legitimate mariners and seafarers.

The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a multinational maritime partnership which exists to counter illicit non-state actors on the high seas, promoting security, stability and prosperity in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman. CTF 151 is one of three CMF task forces with the mission to deter piracy across the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman, protecting the free flow of maritime commerce. Pakistan last led CTF 151 in 2016.

ENDS

ReCAAP issues 2020 3rd Quarter Report

A total of 75 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 73 actual incidents and two attempted incidents) were reported in Asia during January-September 2020 compared to 54 incidents (comprising 49 actual incidents and five attempted incidents) during January-September 2019. This accounts for an increase of 39% in the total number of incidents reported during January-September 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Of the 75 incidents, 71 were incidents of armed robbery against ships and four were piracy incidents. The increase of incidents during January-September 2020 occurred in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, South China Sea and Singapore Strait. However, there was improvement at the ports/anchorages in China and Malaysia during January-September 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

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Source: recaap.org

Army to deploy assets, platoons to ESSZone

TAWAU: The army will deploy two platoons and 18 boats to strengthen security in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) Commander Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman said that the matter was relayed to him by the Chief of Defence Force General Tan Sri Affendi Buang in a video conference yesterday.

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Source: thesundaily.my

Pirates Cart Away 16 Fishermen’s Boats In Andoni

By: Chinedu Wosu

Rampaging armed sea pirates terrorising fishermen in Andoni communities in Rivers State have carted away 16 engine boats belonging to fishermen in the area. The sea robbers who have been terrorising waterways in the communities also attacked the helpless fishermen and made away with their valuables.

The attacks happened at the weekend, with no arrest made by the Marine Police or the Navy.
The attacks created fears among the fishermen from Oyorokoto community, making some of them desert the river for safety.

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Source: thetidenewsonline.com

Do not switch off the AIS in Nigerian waters

Despite the elevated piracy risk in the Gulf of Guinea, ships operating in the region should maintain their automatic identification systems (AIS) in operation at all times.

ALERT

16 OCT 2020

On 5 October 2020, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) issued a notice warning its clients and other stakeholders that the Nigerian Navy will investigate, and has arrested, ships that switch off their automatic identification system (AIS) when operating in Nigerian waters. It further reminds masters of their obligations under SOLAS Reg.V/19 to maintain their AIS in operation at all times, when underway or at anchor. The NNPC notice can be viewed here.

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Source: gard.no

Two GoG incidents reported over weekend

Media reports state that a vessel believed to be the LNG carrier, Methane Princess, was attacked by pirates on Saturday 17th October, off Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Sources suggest that two crew were initially kidnapped, with one managing to escape from the pirates before they fled the area.

On Sunday Oct. 18th, MDAT-GoG issued an alert that pirates had boarded a merchant vessel off Lome, Gulf of Guinea, in position 040858N-0012400E at 1100 UTC. They later updated to report that all crew were reported as safe and that the vessel was being escorted to Lome by Togolese Navy assets. Dryad Global has identified the vessel as the PTI Nile.

Troops impound stolen products, destroy illegal refining sites in South-South

The Defence Headquarters says the troops of Operation Delta Safe have impounded a large quantity of stolen petroleum products and destroyed many illegal refining sites in the South-South zone in the last one week.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, stated this while giving the weekly update on the activities of the military across theatres of operation on Thursday in Abuja.

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Source: guardian.ng