October 2003 Maritime Piracy Reports

IMB via Cargolaw.com ^ | October, 2003 | International Maritime Bureau

[Rebelbase]

IMB PIRATE REPORTS

27 Oct. 2003 at 1520 LT at Texaco berth, Georgetown, Guyana. Pirates boarded tanker at forecastle during cargo operations -- stole ship's stores & escaped in boat waiting below with 3 accomplices. Master informed port police & police officers came onboard for inspection. (Fri. Oct. 31 2003)

26 Oct.2003 at 2000 - 2030LT in position 04:33.5N - 099:22.4E, Malacca Straits. Pirates boarded fishing trawler underway -- stole stores & property of crew & escaped. (Fri. Oct. 31 2003)

26 Oct. 2003 at 0430 LT in position 07:20N - 103:20.5E, Gulf of Thailand. Pirates boarded general cargo ship underway. Pirates could not enter accommodation or bridge as all doors were bolted from inside. Pirates left when deck lights switched on. (Fri. Oct. 31 2003)

25 Oct. 2003 2240lt in position 03:37S - 107:00E, Selat Leplia, Indonesia. Eight pirates armed with guns & long knives boarded chemical tanker underway -- entered bridge & tied up 3/o -- went to master's cabin & tied him up. Pirates stole ship's cash & property -- took master to poop deck & jumped overboard -- escaped. (Fri. Oct. 31 2003)

25 Oct. 2003 at 0420 UTC in position 04:56.7N - 098:06.2E, Indonesia. Pirates in speedboat opened gunfire at general cargo ship underway. Master took evasive manoeuvres & averted boarding. Bridge window smashed & 12 gun shot holes seen in wheelhouse. (Fri. Oct. 31 2003)

25 Oct. 2003 at 0315 LT at Teluk Semangka anchorage, Indonesia. Duty A/B on tanker sighted pirate armed with knife onboard & another in process of climbing using bamboo poles. He raised alarm -- crew mustered. Pirates fled empty handed. (Fri. Oct. 31 2003)

23 Oct. 2003 at 0530 UTC in position 06:07S - 106:53.6E, Tg. Priok anchorage, Indonesia. Four pirates boarded & stole ship's safety equipment. Alert A/B raised alarm -- pirates jumped overboard & escaped in waiting boat. (Fri. Oct. 31 2003)

23 Oct. 2003 at 0430 LT at Belawan port, Indonesia. Pirates started boarding container ship using ropes attached to hooks. Alert crew raised alarm & pirates threatened duty officer 7 fled. At 1315 LT 4 pirates boarded & entered engine room -- broke into storeroom & tried to steal spares. Alert duty crew raised alarm --pirates fled. At 2230 pirates started to board but aborted attempt seeing alert crew. Master contacted authorities -- who did not respond. (Fri. Oct. 31 2003)

19 Oct. 2003 at 1500 UTC in position 01:08.5N - 104:53.5E, east of Bintan Island, Indonesia. Five armed pirates in black speedboat boarded bulk carrier underway from stern -- broke stbd accommodation door, entered master's cabin & held him at knifepoint. Alert crew raised alarm & resisted pirates. As result pirates left empty handed. Master received knife injuries. (Oct. 24 2003)

19 Oct. 2003 at 1436 UTC in position 01:16.2N - 104:55.7E, east of Bintan Island, Indonesia. Pirates armed with knives boarded bulk carrier underway from stern -- held one A/B hostage & stole his walkie-talkie. Another duty A/B raised alarm & crew mustered. Pirates jumped overboard & escaped. (Oct. 24 2003)

19 Oct. 2003 at 0220 LT at Conakry Roads, Guinea. Ten pirates armed with machine guns & revolvers boarded general cargo ship --- rounded up crew & threatened to kill them if they did not cooperate. Some crew severely beaten. Pirates stole ship's equipment & entire crew personal belongings. Master contacted authorities but did not receive any assistance whatsoever. (Oct. 24 2003)

18 Oct. 2003 at 1500 UTC in position 01:07N - 105:06E, east of Bintan Island, Indonesia. Ten pirates armed with pistols & knives boarded bulk carrier underway -- took 2nd officer & A/B as hostages -- forced 2nd officer to call Master & open his door. Master opened door & pirates tied him & stole ship's cash & his personal belongings. Pirates also stole cash & personal belongings of Ch. Engineer, Ch. Officer & few other crew & fled at 1620 UTC. No injuries to crew. (Oct. 24 2003)

18 Oct. 2003 at 0015 LT in position 03:17.7N -105:25E, SW of Anambas Island, Indonesia. Pirates boarded chemical tanker underway & entered master's cabin -- tied him with ropes, broke open ship's safe & stole ship's cash, property & master's cash and personal belongings. After 45 minutes -- took master to poop deck -- jumped overboard & escaped. Master injured. (Oct. 24 2003)

17 Oct. 2003 at 1405 UTC in position 03:11.5N - 105:27E, vicinity of Anambas island, Indonesia. About12 pirates in narrow beam speedboat attempted to board container ship using long pole. Ship zigzagged course & crew mustered. Pirates aborted attempt. (Oct. 24 2003)

17 Oct. 2003 at 0040 UTC at 16 miles SW of Lagos, Nigeria. Four pirates from small boat armed with 2 feet long machetes boarded chemical tanker at anchor -- cut 3 mooring ropes & lowered them in their boat. Crew sounded alarm & pirates fled. (Oct. 24 2003)

12 Oct, 2003 at 0322 LT at inner Buenaventura anchorage, Columbia. Four pirates boarded bulk carrier & tried to take duty A/B hostage. He managed to escape & raise alarm. Pirates escaped empty handed in boat. Master reported incident to coast guard who did not take any action. (Fri. Oct. 17 2003)

10 Oct. 2003 at 0405 LT at Sagar inner anchorage, Haldia, India.-- Pirates boarded RoRo ship at stern. 2nd officer challenged pirate & he escaped empty handed in boat waiting below. (Fri. Oct. 17 2003)

08 Oct. 2003 at 1910 LT at Guanta port, Venezuela. Three pirates armed with steel bars boarded general cargo ship at berth -- broke open paint store & stole ship's stores. Crew confronted pirates -- they jumped overboard & escaped. (Fri. Oct. 17 2003)

07.10.2003 at 0210 LT at anchor in posn: 20:42.1N - 107:13.1E, Haiphong, Vietnam -- pirate boarded via anchor chain -- lowered ropes in boat waiting with 7 pirates -- all pirates armed with long knives. Alert crew raised alarm & pirates escaped. Attempts to contact port control unsuccessful. (Fri. Oct. 17 2003)

[Rebelbase]

Interesting stuff. Any FReepers wanting to be a charter member of a Piracy ping list let me know.

[CWOJackson]

This is pretty much SOP in those waters.

[Rebelbase]

I want to read a report that ends with "pirates fled overboard to a small boat that was promptly blown out of the water by the ship's defense cannon."

[CWOJackson]

Twenty years ago it was worse, particularly in Malaysian waters but even areas in the Caribean were getting pretty bloody. Fortunately now it tends to be more a show of force and some quick plunder.

[Rebelbase]

"even areas in the Caribean were getting pretty bloody"

IIRC, that was at the height of the cocaine wars, pre- crack....Miami Vice days.

[Brian Mosely]

Arrr...sign me up for the ping list, mate!

[CWOJackson]

Those were the days.

The Coast Guard actually ran some anti-piracy operations in a few areas in conjunction with other Caribean countries. They had mixed results and did result in a few smoking holes in the water.

[jdub]

Please put me on the list. As someone who hopes to oneday live aboard, piracy is something I am concerned about, even in the Caribbean. As someone noted, Indonesia is the main trouble area, but Jamaica, Dominican Republic/Haiti, and areas of the coast of Venezuala are known trouble areas. I read a report in a sailing mag recently that the pirates in Venezuala are thought to be members of the military. One good thing to note in the reports is that the pirates did not kill anyone, which suprises me. Does anyone know what the different island nations in the Carib laws are regarding fireams? I certainly want to bring them, but I don't want to have to always stay at sea or risk problems if they are discovered.

[tdadams]

How about "Pirates fell overboard with gaping wounds from 12 gauge shotgun and were quickly devoured by sharks."

[tdadams]

I seem to recall one incident about 4 or 5 years ago off the west coast of Mexico of a yachtsman who was killed by pirates. I can't recall any more details than that though.

[El Gato]

Looks to me like those ships could do with a couple of Ma Dueces and a few 12 gauge shotguns for repelling boarders.