Statement on RCGS RESOLUTE incident

In the early morning hours of the 30th of March 2020 (local time), the cruise vessel RCGS RESOLUTE has been subject to an act of aggression by the Venezuelan Navy in international waters, around 13.3 nautical miles from Isla de Tortuga with 32 crew member and no passengers on board.

When the event occurred, the cruise vessel RCGS RESOLUTE has already been drifting for one day off the coast of the island to conduct some routine engine maintenance on its idle voyage to its destination, Willemstad/ Curaçao. As maintenance was being performed on the starboard main engine, the port main engine was kept on standby to maintain a safe distance from the island at any time.

Shortly after mid-night, the cruise vessel was approached by an armed Venezuelan navy vessel, which via radio questioning the intentions of the RCGS RESOLUTE’s presence and gave the order to follow to Puerto Moreno on Isla De Margarita. As the RCGS RESOLUTE was sailing in international waters at that time, the Master wanted to reconfirm this particular request resulting into a serious deviation from the scheduled vessel’s route with the company DPA.

While the Master was in contact with the head office, gun shots were fired and, shortly thereafter, the navy vessel approached the starboard side at speed with an angle of 135° and purposely collided with the RCGS RESOLUTE. The navy vessel continued to ram the starboard bow in an apparent attempt to turn the ship’s head towards Venezuelan territorial waters.

While the RCGS RESOLUTE sustained minor damages, not affecting vessel’s seaworthiness, it occurs that the navy vessel suffered severe damages while making contact with the ice-strengthened bulbous bow of the ice-class expedition cruise vessel RCGS RESOLUTE and started to take water.

Ready to support anytime, the RCGS RESOLUTE remained for over one hour in vicinity of the scene and reached out to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Curaçao. This is an international body which oversees any maritime emergencies. All attempts to contact those on board the navy ship have been left unanswered.

Only after receiving the order to resume passage full ahead by the MRCC and that further assistance is not required, the RCGS RESOLUTE, currently safely moored in the port of Willemstad, continued sailing towards her destination at Curaçao. A full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident will now be carried out.

Source: columbia-cs.com

Captain murdered on oil tanker off Venezuela: port authority

CARACAS (Reuters) – Armed assailants murdered the captain of an oil tanker after boarding his ship while it was anchored off the coast of eastern Venezuela, according to a local union leader and a report from a Venezuelan port authority.

Six armed individuals boarded the San Ramon tanker early Monday morning in Pozuelos Bay and shot the captain, Colombian national Jaime Herrera Orozco, a report from the Puerto La Cruz port authority seen by Reuters said.

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Source: reuters.com

Relatives of fishermen in fatal Corentyne piracy battling to come to terms with loss

On October 5th, 2019, four Corentyne fishermen left home to head out to sea to ply their trade with the intention of returning with an income to take care of their families.

Those families are now left to not only fend for themselves but to also mourn the loss of their loved ones as one week after leaving home, the men’s boat was found aback of Cromarty Village, Corentyne. There was no sign of the fishermen.

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Source: stabroeknews.com

Councillor: Cedros fishermen escaped pirate attack

Seeta Persad

At around 6 am on Monday, fishermen who took to the sea for an early-morning catch reported being run down by pirates off the Cedros coast.

Councillor for the area Shankar Teelucksingh was called out to the shores of Cedros, where fishermen were docking their boat. They reported seeing what they said were Venezuelan pirates approaching them at sea.

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Source: newsday.co.tt

Icacos fishermen freed after US$13,000 ransom paid

by Sharlene Rampersad

Three fishermen kidnapped by Venezuelan bandits and held for ransom were released late Wednesday night after US$13,000 was paid for their safe return.

Fishermen Ramkissoon Harricharan, 64, Carlo Sneider, 61, of Lovers Lane, Icacos and a 24-year-old Venezuelan man identified as Amelto were released by their captors on Wednesday night, shaken but in otherwise good health.

The three were snatched at gunpoint around 7 am on Tuesday while fishing off Galfa Point in Icacos about half a mile from the shore.

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Source: guardian.co.tt

Kidnappers now want US$20,000 for missing fishermen

POLICE on Wednesday confirmed that US$20,000 is now being demanded for the safe release of three Icacos fishermen who were abducted at sea on Tuesday morning.

But Sgt Rishi Ramsaran told Newsday, reports that relatives of the men were robbed when they went to pay the initial ransom of US$10,000 were untrue. “It was discovered that it is a hoax. But a family member reported that they received a telephone call that the captors increased the ransom from US$10,000 to US$20,000,” Ramsaran said.

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Source: newsday.co.tt

T&T: Three fishermen kidnapped

Venezuelan pirates who operate out of Patos Island, one of Venezuela’s small uninhabited island, have reportedly kidnapped three Icacos fishermen for ransom.

The island is located in the northwestern Gulf of Paria and is said to be one of the hideouts for desperate Venezuelan pirates who kidnap and smuggle drugs and guns in exchange for basic necessities.

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Source: guardian.co.tt

Maritime security training for Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is the latest IMO Member State to receive maritime security training. A self-assessment and audit training workshop took place in in Port of Spain, Trinidad (23-27 September).

Participants were trained in self-assessing how two key IMO maritime security instruments – SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code – are implemented at the port facility level. This is done using established, industry-standard IMO and ISO procedures to identify areas for improvement.

The course addressed outcomes of a previous workshop on ISPS Code responsibilities delivered by IMO in Port of Spain last year.

The workshop included theoretical lessons for participants to understand the certification process involved in obtaining the Statement of Compliance of a Port Facility, presentations on audit processes and techniques, and practical exercises on role playing the review of a port facility security plan.

Source: imo.org

Top Cop recommends changes to maritime, piracy acts

Commissioner of Police Leslie James yesterday gave testimony at the Commission of Inquiry into the piracy attack in which over a dozen fishermen were killed off the coast of Suriname last year May.

As part of his testimony in Berbice, he recommended changes to the maritime and piracy acts in order to better enforce the acts as well as improve the fishing sector. He also stressed the need for aerial surveillance of the high seas.

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Source: stabroeknews.com

Trinidad & Tobago Orders 2 Cape-Class Patrol Boats From Austal

Xavier Vavasseur

Austal has signed a contract worth approximately A$126 million to construct two Cape Class Patrol Boats (CCPB) for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago (GORTT). The vessels will be delivered in the second half of 2020.

Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said the award of the contract confirmed an important defence export opportunity for Austal and consequent workflow for the Company’s Henderson operations.

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Source: navalnews.com