Pirate attack – Bonny, Niger Delta (April 15th)

Four persons in a speed boat armed with automatic weapons approached an anchored product tanker at 2020 UTC in position 04:28.1N – 007:10.1E, Bonny River Inner Anchorage, Nigeria. Two persons managed to board the tanker and open fire towards the accommodation. The onboard Nigerian naval guards returned fire resulting in the persons retreating into their boat and escaping. Alarm raised, PA announcement made and crew mustered in the citadel. Bonny Signal Station and Nigerian Navy notified. One guard was injured during the shooting and was given first aid by the crew. Two security boats responded and approached the tanker. The injured guard was transferred to a security boat and taken ashore for medical assistance. Remaining crew reported safe. Reported (IMB) 15 Apr.

Via: OCEANUSLive.org

Pirate attack – Trinidad (April 4th)

Late report: Underway Trinidad & Tobago-flagged monohull yacht approached by open piroque with 8 POB at 1030 LT in position 11:24N – 061:36W, around 39nm North of Trinidad coast. Pirates, in white/blue and orange bow 40ft boat w/ 2 large O/B motors approached from eastward direction, fired warning shots into the air and indicated they wanted the yacht to stop. Yacht w/ 2 POB continued resulting in pirates firing further warning shots.Due to high sea state the pirogue was able to approach the yacht for boarding. Yacht maintained full speed and began zigzag manoeuvres. Addition shots fired which damaged yacht hull and coach roof; no injuries sustained. Reported (S&S Net) 4 Apr. Via OCEANUSLive.org

Spanish Patrol Boat Rescues Hijacked Ship Off Nigeria

A SPANISH patrol boat rescued a Nigerian merchant ship which had been kidnapped by pirates in the Guinean Gulf, reports the ministry of defence.

The P-71 Serviola is based on the west African coast and was carrying out security operations on Tuesday when its crew located the ship, which was navigating ‘erratically’ and without transmitting via the Automatic Identification System (AIS). Spanish Naval officials radioed the ship’s crew, who confirmed they had been hijacked four days ago.

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Source: oceanuslive.org

ATTACKED BY PIRATES AND JAILED: HOW I SAVED MY HUSBAND … BUT LOST OUR SON

By Aditi James

On July 16, 2013, I was out to dinner with my family, celebrating my uncle’s birthday. Usually, Sunil, my husband, is the kind of guy who never forgets anyone’s birthday — even though he was away at sea with the merchant navy. But he never sent congratulations. I didn’t worry too much at the time. I thought he probably had weak network or was just busy. Two days later, I learned that his ship, Ocean Centurion, had been attacked.

The pirates — they’re now thought to have been a Nigerian gang — kicked open Sunil’s cabin door, blindfolded and beat him. When Sunil, the captain, and his crew came to, the ship had been ransacked. The pirates were gone, but the ship was now drifting aimlessly at sea. Using nautical charts, Sunil guided the ship to the nearest port, Lome in Togo. But there, officials (who couldn’t speak English) made Sunil and two of his fellow sailors sign statements in French (a language they didn’t know). And then: Sunil and the sailors were jailed on suspicion of colluding with the pirates. It turned out that I was his only hope.

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Source: ozy.com

Crew Kidnap – Cameroon (March 30th)

MV attacked at 2140 UTC in position 03:53N – 009:30E, around 15nm Southwest of Douala, Cameroon. Vessel reported safe. Reported (MDAT) 30 Mar. Via OCEANUSLive.org

Additional sources report that the incident also saw four crew (three Ukranian and one Filipino) kidnapped by the pirates from the Liberia-flagged containership.

The United Kingdom lowers the European flag on Northwood

Maritime Security News note: This article has been automatically translated into English by Google. As such, errors may remain.

(B2) The European Union flag will be lowered at Northwood HQ. The United Kingdom loses control of the EU’s anti-piracy operation, which it has been commanding since the beginning, a good decade ago in December 2008. At issue: Brexit.

It will be effective March 29, 2019. And there, there is no postponement. Everything has already been decided and endorsed for several months already. The command returning to the Spaniards, with the French in support. Which is just a return of things. Since without Paris and Madrid, this operation would never have seen the day (Read: France and Spain decided to act on maritime piracy).

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Source: bruxelles2.eu

Bourbon PSV Escapes Pirate Attack off Nigeria

In late February, the Bourbon Offshore PSV Bourbon Explorer 502 escaped an attempted pirate attack that bore remarkable similarity to the boarding and kidnapping that occurred off Nigeria on March 10.

On the morning of February 28, as the Bourbon Explorer 502 was operating about 30 nm southwest of Bonny Island in the Gulf of Guinea, she was approached by 16 armed pirates in two speedboats. In response, her bridge crew increased speed and started evasive maneuvers. All non-essential personnel mustered in the vessel’s citadel.

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Source: maritime-executive.com

Pirate Attack – Gulf of Guinea (March 9th)

Underway OSV attacked by two speedboats at 1550 UTC in position 03:50N – 006:30E, approx 21nm SSE of Brass, Nigeria. Speedboats w/ 6 armed POB in each fired upon escorting security vessel. Unconfirmed report states several pirates and one security personnel killed. Pirates in second speedboat reportedly boarded OSV (status unverified) Awaiting further details. (Reported (MDAT/Source) 9 Mar. Via OCEANUSLive.org

Niger Delta: APC distances self from alleged killing of Navy personnel

The Bayelsa chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied allegations linking it to the killing of a Navy personnel during Saturday’s House of Assembly election in the state.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had accused APC of complicity in the death of the officer, who was escorting a boat conveying election materials to Brass Local Government Area. The boat was said to have been attacked in the sea by suspected pirates who shot the naval personnel.

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Source: pulse.ng

Navy Foils Pirate Attack On Iranian Oil Tanker

Iran’s naval forces saved one of the country’s oil tankers from a pirate attack in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, a Navy official said.

According to the official, the pirates launched the attack early on Thursday on board 11 speed boats.

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Source: iranian.com

Maritime Security News Note:

Well. It’s been quite some time since the Iranian Navy claimed to have foiled a pirate attack. Few navies have killed as many invisible pirates as Iran’s, and the location of this incident is curious to say the least. It’s unlikely that Somali pirates would transit that far our of the Gulf of Aden, given the military traffic around Yemen’s coast. Additionally, for Somali pirates to muster 11 skiffs to attack… in 2019? There isn’t a pinch of salt big enough, frankly. Generally, contact in this area is usually from elements of the Saudi coalition, who often patrol the anchorages off Mocha and Hodeidah by speed boat, or Houthi militants. It’s also unlikely that the Iranians would engage Houthis in combat.