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U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat To Shipping (WTS) Report 15 March - 13 April 2016
U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat To Shipping (WTS) Report 15 March - 13 April 2016
2. (U) Summary
A. (U) NIGERIA: On 11 April, eight pirates armed with rifles in a speed boat boarded the chemical tanker PULI
118 nm south-southwest of Port Harcourt, and kidnapped six crewmen.
B. (U) NIGERIA: On 11 April, pirates boarded the container ship CMA CGM TURQUOISE 30 nm southwest of the
Bayelsa coast, kidnapping 2 crewmen.
C. (U) NIGERIA: On 10 April, seven pirates in a skiff attempted to board a drifting tanker 74 nm southwest of Brass.
D. (U) NIGERIA: On 7 April, seven pirates in a wooden speed boat, armed with automatic weapons attempted to
board a drifting tanker 78 nm southwest of Brass.
E. (U) SEYCHELLES: On 8 April, an armed security guard onboard Spain-flagged tuna fishing vessel TXORI
GORRI shot and killed another guard and shortly afterward shot himself.
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C. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Chinese Navy convoy schedule for April 2016. For further information,
please e-mail planavy@navy.mil.cn, or call Tel: 00870 773 120 044; or 441 221 061. (MSCHOA)
D. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Indian Navy convoy escort schedule for April 2016. To register, email
dgcommcentre-dgs@nic.in; or visit www.dgshipping.com. Telephone numbers for contact are: 91-2222614646 or fax at 91-22-22613636. (MSCHOA)
E. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Russian Navy convoy escort schedule for April 2016. For further
information e-mail smb@msecurity.ru; isps@msecurity.ru; or fax +7 (499) 642-83-29. (MSCHOA)
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5. (U) NIGERIA: On 6 April, two soldiers were killed and two expatriate workers were kidnapped as they worked on
a road construction project in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Six gunmen reportedly
ambushed the men, killing the soldiers and taking the hostages before escaping in a boat into the extensive creek
systems of the area. (The Sun - Nigerian Online News)
6. (U) NIGERIA: On 1 April, duty officers onboard a chemical tanker underway near position 03:54 N - 005:41 E, 41
nm southwest of Brass noticed a black speed boat approaching. Master raised the alarm, sent distress messages,
took anti-piracy preventive measures and crew members locked all entrance doors. As the boat closed, nine pirates
armed with AK-47s opened fire at the tanker and attempted to board the tanker several times using ladders and a
grappling hook attached with a rope. All non-essential crew members mustered in a safe room. The navy was
contacted but received no response. The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre received information from the ships owners
and immediately informed the Nigerian Navy for assistance. Due to the hardening measures taken by the tanker,
the pirates aborted the attack and moved away. No injuries to crew members. (IMB; MTISC-GOG)
7. (U) NIGERIA: On 1 April, the Nigerian Navy seized two wooden boats used in transporting about 100,000 liters
of illegally refined diesel fuel. A Nigerian Navy senior officer told journalists in Port Harcourt that three suspects
were arrested on board one of the wooden boats while crew members of the second boat fled on sighting the naval
patrol and that the boats were seized at Akuku-Toru Local Government Area during a routine patrol of waterways in
the state. (www.allafrica.com)
8. (U) NIGERIA: On 31 March, the Nigerian Navy announced that it was working hard to tackle the menace of
piracy on the Bayelsa waterways, having arrested two suspected river pirates. Commodore Yakuku Wanbai,
Commander of the Nigerian Navy Base, Brass, told press reporters at the base that one of the suspects died
shortly after he was arrested. He further said the suspect was part of a four-man gang that recently attacked Ekeni
village in Ezetu Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa. He added that the Navy would
continue to ensure a safe environment for communities within the coastal areas to exist without fear of intimidation
from hoodlums. (www.pulse.ng)
9. (U) NIGERIA: On 26 March, pirates attacked the chemical tanker SAMPATIKI near position 04:20 N - 005:10
E, approximately 30 nm from the Bayelsa coastline. The pirates ransacked the ship and kidnapped five
crewmembers. (www.fleetmon.com)
10. (U) NIGERIA: Chemical tanker MAXIMUS was hijacked 11 February off Abidjan, Ivory Coast. There were 18
crew members from India, Pakistan, China, South Korea, Sudan and Ghana when the ship was boarded. The
pirates intended to sell the ships 4,700 tons of diesel fuel on the black market and had renamed the ship MT ELVIS
5. On 21 February, the Nigerian Navy boarded the ship and rescued the crew, however; two crew members are still
missing, one Pakistani and one Indian. (www.newsmaritime.com) UPDATE: The kidnapped crewmen were
reportedly released on 20 March. (IMB)
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1. (U) VIETNAM: On 4 April, Vietnamese authorities announced that Vietnam's Coast Guard has seized a Chinese
vessel for intruding into its territorial waters. The ship, carrying more than 100,000 liters of fuel, was stopped near
the northern maritime border the previous week. Vietnamese media say the crew admitted they were supplying fuel
to Chinese fishing boats in the area. The government-owned Vietnam News Agency said the seized vessel had
been disguised as a fishing boat. (www.marinelink.com)
2. (U) INDONESIA: On 3 April, five robbers boarded an anchored container ship using a hook attached with a rope
near position 05:59 S - 106:54 E, Jakarta Anchorage. Alert crew noticed the robbers and raised the alarm. Seeing
the alerted crew, the robbers jumped overboard and escaped. Nothing reported stolen. Incident reported to pilot
station and local agent who then reported to the port police, who went aboard for an investigation. (IMB)
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3. (U) INDONESIA: On 1 April, duty officer onboard a bulk carrier anchored near position 00:15 S - 117:34 E,
Samarinda Anchorage heard voices on the forecastle deck. Alarm raised and an announcement was made on the
PA system. As crew rushed to the location, the robbers escaped with stolen ships stores. Master tried to contact
the coast guard but received no response. (IMB)
4. (U) MALAYSIA: On 1 April, eight armed pirates in a speed boat boarded an underway tug near position 04:07 N 118:55 E, 17 nm east of Pulau Sipadan. They stole crew personal belongings then kidnapped four crew members
and escaped. The remaining crew members sailed the vessel to the vicinity of Semporna and soon after a
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Authority patrol boat escorted the vessel to a safe port. (IMB;
www.m.gulfnews.com)
5. (U) BANGLADESH: On 1 April, the Bangladesh Navy detained six robbers from the outer anchorage of the
Chittagong Port and rescued 10 fishermen from their captivity. The Navy in a statement said one of their ships, the
DURJOY was patrolling in the Bay of Bengal when they heard reports about the fishermen being taken hostage.
The robbers initially demanded a large ransom, but the Navy rescued them within an hour. (www.bdnews24.com)
6. (U) INDONESIA: On 30 March, three small boats approached and attempted to board an anchored bulk carrier
near position 06:00 S - 106:54 E, Tg. Priok, Jakarta Anchorage. Alarm raised and crew mustered. The crew
managed to deter the robbers by using the water cannon. (IMB)
7. (U) INDONESIA: On 22 March, an unknown number of robbers boarded a berthed product tanker during cargo
operations near position 01:26 N - 125:11 E, Samudra Jetty No.2, Bitung Port. They broke into the safety locker,
stole ships equipment and escaped unnoticed. The incident was noticed during routine inspection upon departure.
Incident reported to Owners. (IMB)
8. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 27 March, a joint military task force intercepted motor launch FATIMA RADZ-AUNA and
its crew of nine in the waters off Arena Blanco, near Zamboanga. The security forces boarded and searched the
vessel, finding 15,000 pounds of smuggled sugar. The crew of the motor launch could not present import
documents on the shipment of sugar, which came from Sandakan in Sabah. (www.philstar.com)
9. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 26 March, the tug BRAHMA 12 and barge ANAND 12 were attacked and the crew of 10
Indonesian sailors was kidnapped. The crew was transporting coal from Indonesia to the Philippines when they
were hijacked. Subsequent reporting indicates that they were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf Group, a Philippinesbased Islamist group notorious for bombings and kidnappings which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State
group. A large ransom has been demanded for the safe return of the sailors. The tug has been found, while the
barge is still missing. (The Daily Tribune News - Philippines; www.fleetmon.com)
10. (U) MALAYSIA: On 23 March, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency authorities found two ships carrying
approximately 330,000 liters of smuggled diesel fuel near Bintulu. The two vessels involved, the MAJU KERTOU
and SRI PAKNAKHON were also confiscated and both crews detained in the operation. (www.theborneopost.com)
11. (U) INDONESIA: On 22 March, five robbers boarded an anchored bulk carrier near position 06:07 S - 106:52 E,
Tg. Priok, Jakarta. Duty crewman on routine rounds was attacked and hit on the head. One robber stood guard
near the crewman, while the remaining robbers entered the accommodation area. The crewman managed to call
the bridge on a handheld radio. Alarm was raised and crew was mustered. Hearing the alarm and seeing the
alerted crew, the robbers escaped with items stolen from the engine room. (IMB)
12. (U) VIETNAM: On 18 March, the Vietnam Coast Guard caught three vessels from Thailand illegally transferring
fuel to three Vietnamese fishing boats in the southern waters off Khoai Island. One of the Thai boats was carrying
approximately 500,000 liters of diesel with four Thai crewmen and five Cambodians aboard. The two vessels, which
were carrying a total of 190,000 liters of diesel, had five Thai people and 11 Cambodian people on board. There
were no documents for the fuel, according to the Coast Guard Command in the area. All of the boats were escorted
to An Thoi Port in Phu Quoc Island for further investigation. (www.thanhniennews.com)
13. (U) MALAYSIA: On 15 March, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency authorities broke a diesel fuel
smuggling operation about 75 nautical miles from Mukah. They stopped a vessel carrying 100,000 liters of diesel
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fuel and found that the crew did not have the proper permits for the cargo. It is believed that the vessels crew
bought diesel from other vessels and resold it to third parties at sea. This was based on the findings of a
transaction book record, receipts of purchase and other documents found on the vessel. (www.theborneopost.com)
J. (U) NORTHEAST ASIA:
1. (U) HONG KONG: On 23 March, Hong Kong Customs authorities inspected a container arriving from Vietnam,
manifested as scrap metal, and instead found 14,000 pounds of giant clams, an endangered species, and 50,000
pounds of dried sea shells. (www.7thspace.com)
K.
(U) Attempted Boarding Close approach or hull-to-hull contact with report that boarding paraphernalia were
employed or visible in the approaching boat.
(U) Blocking Hampering safe navigation, docking, or undocking of a vessel as a means of protest.
(U) Boarding Unauthorized boarding of a vessel by persons not part of its complement without successfully
taking control of the vessel.
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(U) Hijacking Unauthorized seizure and retention of a vessel by persons not part of its complement.
(U) Kidnapping Unauthorized forcible removal of persons belonging to the vessel from it.
(U) Robbery Theft from a vessel or from persons aboard the vessel.
(U) Suspicious Approach All other unexplained close proximity of an unknown vessel.
(U) Sourcing
(U) ONI derives information in this report from direct reporting and analysis of reports from the following agencies
and commercial sources.