THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT - REPORT SNIPPET - QUOTE:
http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php
Weekly Piracy Report
25-31 July 2007
The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast by the IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre to ships in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions on the SafetyNET service of Inmarsat-C from 25 to 31 July 2007.
ALERT
Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh
Fifty two incidents have been reported since 28.01.2006. Pirates are targeting ships preparing to anchor. Ships are advised to take extra precautions.
The 2006 Annual IMB Report on Piracy and Armed Attacks against Ships is now published. Please see the end of this page to order.
Suspicious crafts
16.07.2007: 2000 UTC: Off Somalia
Inspite of rough weather, one suspicious boat tried to approach a ship underway. The boat stopped altered course and moved away when she noticed alert crew on board
Recently reported incidents
26.07.2007: 2350 LT: Posn: 22:16.2N – 091:49.1E Dry Dock Berth No. 2, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Robbers from two boats boarded the general cargo ship from the stbd side and stole ship’s stores. When spotted by crew, robbers escaped. Port control and coast guard informed.
23.07.2007: 1030 LT: Prointal, Merak, Indonesia.
Robbers boarded a berthed chemical tanker unnoticed. The third engineer noticed the boat store unlocked, moreover, some electrical spares were missing. The crew was alerted and a thorough inspection carried out. All doors / stores were found to be secured. It was suspected that the robbers could have boarded via the stern mooring rope One shore security guard was constantly on duty.
Piracy prone areas and warnings
S E Asia and the Indian Sub Continent
Bangladesh : Chittagong anchorages and approaches – Though the number of attacks have fallen the area is still listed as very high risk.
Indonesia : Balongan, Balikpapan, Belawan, Tanjong Priok (Jakarta). Generally be vigilant in other areas. Many attacks may have gone unreported.
Malacca straits : Though attacks have decreased due to increased patrolling by the Littoral States, ships advised to maintain strict anti piracy watches when transiting the area.
Singapore Straits
Vietnam: Vung Tau
Africa and Red Sea
Lagos (Nigeria): Crew kidnapped and robbed. Generally be vigilant in other areas in Nigeria.
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania): Sixteen incidents reported since 5 June 2006. Pirates targeting ships in port and anchorages
Gulf of Aden / Red Sea : Numerous pirate attacks have been reported by ships and yachts in the Gulf of Aden. Some of the vessels were fired upon.
Somalian waters : Piracy has made a come back in Somalia. Pirates fire automatic weapons and on one occasion, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired force the ship to stop. Eastern and North eastern coasts are high risk areas for attacks and hijackings. Ships not making scheduled calls to ports in Somalia should keep as far away as possible from the Somali coast, ideally more than 200 nautical miles.
THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT - BRIEF - QUOTE:
http://www.icc-ccs.org/main/all_piracy_al.php
Suspicious boat activity - Somalia
23 July 2007
A number of suspicious boats have been reported along the coast of Somalia, some as far as 260 nm.
The boats, around 20 – 50 meters in length, approach the ships on a collision course and usually abort when evasive manoeuvres and alert crew are noticed. As there is a high risk of vessels being hijacked and crew abducted in this area, all masters are advised to maintain strict anti piracy watches at all times while transiting the area and to report the sighting of all suspicious craft to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre