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Please find below our most recent Weekly Maritime Report. If you have any queries about our reports please contact us at africaops@castorvali.com

• One alert reported this week.
  1) Armed Robbery aboard Tanker South-southwest of Cape Verde on 17 May.
• Despite recent drop in incident reports, vessels and their crew members operating in the wider West African/Gulf of Guinea region remain at risk.
• An advisory issued on 12 December 2023 by MDAT-GoG warning of a Pirate Action Group (PAG) operating in the Gulf remains in effect.
• Ships in the area are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.

A report has been received by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) about a robbery aboard a Tanker while it was underway approximately 363NM South-southwest of Nova Sintra, Cape Verde.

Ten armed individuals, all reportedly wielding AK-47 variant rifles, boarded the Tanker. They entered the bridge, destroyed all communication equipment, and confined all crew members in a room. After two hours, the crew managed to free themselves and found that the intruders had fled, taking cash and various ship's property. The crew managed to repair some of the communication equipment and proceeded to the next port.

No crew injuries were reported, and the incident was reported to the authorities in Cape Verde.

Analysis: This is the first incident to be reported in this general area, and this far North, this year. However, boardings and kidnappings/attempted kidnappings continue to be reported in the greater West African/Gulf of Guinea region.

All vessels transiting within the area are advised to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant, retain an enhanced local surveillance, maintain strict Anti-Piracy Watch,

• Three alerts reported this week.
   General Alert - report of potential Somali/Yemeni PAG activity off coast of Somalia on 18 May .Attack on vessel Northwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen on 17 May.Coalition Forces intercept Houthi ASBM and UAV North of BAM on 13 May.
• Attacks continue to escalate in both frequency and in targeting of non-Israeli linked vessels, posing significant risk to vessels transiting Northern Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea.

• Retaliatory strikes launched by Iran and increase in harassment of vessels by IRGC is expected.

• Somali based piracy, has surged with regional instability, with deep strikes in the Indian Ocean being reported.

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has been informed by the Puntland Police of a potential Pirate Action Group (PAG) in operation.

This group, reportedly consisting of two boats manned by Somali and Yemeni nationals, may be active in an unspecified area off the coast of Garacad, Somalia since 18:26 UTC on May 17, 2024.

Vessels are strongly advised to avoid this area and exercise extreme caution if nearby.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has issued a warning regarding a maritime attack which occurred 76NM Northwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen.

A report was received from the vessel's master confirming minor damage after the ship was hit by an unidentified object on its port quarter.

As of 23:40 UTC on the same day, authorities had begun an investigation into the incident. The crew and the vessel have been reported safe and are proceeding to their next destination.

Vessels in the area are advised to proceed with caution in this area and report any unusual activities to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

According to open-source reports, a US warship successfully intercepted and destroyed an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) between 14:51 and 15:02 UTC.

Additionally, US Coalition Forces successfully engaged an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle launched by Iranian-backed Houthi militants.

No damage or injuries were reported by the US Coalition or merchant vessels.

Vessels in the area are advised to proceed with caution in this area and report any unusual activities to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

• Two alerts were reported from last week.
  1) Robbery aboard Tanker at Chattogram Anchorage, Bangladesh on 13 May.
• 2)Attempted Robbery of anchored Cargo Ship near Dumai, Indonesia on 14 May.
• Overall decrease in reports in region - 14 this year to date.
• Despite the decrease, Phillip Channel remains key area of robberies and boardings within Singapore & Malacca Straits.
• Decrease in incidents in areas within and surrounding Singapore territorial waters may be due to recent increased patrols by Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

While waiting to load cargo at anchor, a vigilant deck officer noticed a small boat next to the port stern of the vessel. Simultaneously, he spotted three individuals near the ship's funnel. The officer immediately yelled at the intruders and alerted the duty officer, who then informed the ship's captain. An alarm was triggered and an announcement was made about the intruders on board.

The duty officer later saw the three individuals jump off the ship and flee in their small boat. All crew members remained safe and no items were reported stolen.

Analysis: This is the fifth reported incident this year which occurred in this area. In 2023, 10 reported incidents took place within an Indonesian port, and at least 67 incidents occurred within, or near, the Singapore & Malacca Straits.

Incidents within this region typically involve individuals armed with small knives or blunt objects. These robbers usually escape upon detection, with stolen ships' properties, stores or cargo, with minimal violence occurring between crew and robbers. However, based on the volume of incidents, vessel's operating in this region should remain vigilant, implement proper security measures, and report any suspicious activities to authorities.

In the early hours of the morning, a tanker at Chattogram anchorage in Bangladesh was boarded by six robbers. The duty crew noticed unusual activity on the poop deck and sounded the alarm. Upon mustering the crew and conducting a search, four watchmen were discovered bound. The lock on the paint store was broken and ship supplies were missing.

The incident was subsequently reported to the Coast Guard.

Analysis: This is the third reported incident in a Bangladeshi port this year. The second in Chattogram anchorage.

• No alerts reported this week.
• Last reported alert - Panamanian-flagged Cargo Vessel hit by gunfire while docked at Port Au Prince, Haiti on 18 Mar.
• Haiti remains area of instability and ever-worsening security conditions
• Callao Anchorage, Peru remains an area where there is a higher frequency of reported incidents in the region; specifically, commercial vessels at anchor.
• Among the 13 incidents reported this year in the Americas, 8 occurred within Callao Anchorage; all between 0000-0800 hrs UTC.

[Last reported alert]

According to open-source reports, an unnamed Panamanian-flagged General Cargo Vessel was hit by gunfire while docked at Port Au Prince, Haiti. The exact time of the incident is not specified.

Following the attack, the vessel left the port and started drifting approximately 40NM offshore. No injuries to the Crew, or significant damage to the vessel have been reported.

Analysis: The escalating instability and worsening security conditions in Haiti have led the French container line CMA CGM to suspend its services to Port Au Prince. Similarly, the US-based Royal Caribbean company has halted its cruise ship services to Labadee, located on the island's Northern coast.

All findings are predictive and estimative. To communicate these findings clearly and in order to accurately compare threat levels, the report uses a variation of terminology used by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Piracy: CV has adopted the definition of piracy similar to that given in the BMP. Content within this document uses the term ‘piracy’ which includes all violent and non-violent acts against vessels, her crew and cargo which have taken place either in internal waterways, territorial waters or deep offshore. CV classifies piracy incidents into six categories:

Hijacking – Crew lost control of the vessel for a sufficient period of time and then pirates kidnapped at least one crewmember and/or passenger(s).

Pirate Attack – Vessel was attacked with gunfire or RPG fire and/or then boarded the vessel with the intent to hijack and/or kidnap at least one crewmember(s) and/or passenger(s).

Robbery – Vessel is boarded with criminal intent, theft does not have to occur.

Suspicious approach/vessels – Suspicious activity reported (i.e. a vessel was approached by unidentified craft with one or more persons on board) or sighting of firearms and boarding equipment on board a suspicious vessel and/or sighting of a confirmed pirate mother ship.

General Alert – A reported incident has been released by authorities to notify seafarers of a possible incident which is still being investigated/confirmed. This can also be a warning of an imminent Danger to seafarers.

Caution – An unconfirmed warning of an incident that could affect seafarers.

With our head office in the UK, and regional offices in East, West and South Africa, the Castor Vali Group specialises in International Protective Services, Corporate Security and Risk Management services to governments, multinational organisations and the energy sector in emerging and high risk markets. We have extensive experience and a thorough understanding of the risks when operating in remote and hostile environments with safety at the heart of our operations and we are proud to consistently deliver the most complex projects safely, on time and on budget. Our security and advisory experts are highly experienced and qualified to provide a dedicated, client focused service, delivering risk mitigation solutions carefully tailored to project priorities.

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You have received this report as part of your organisation’s subscription. Castor Vali assessment and advice is given based on the information received and processed by us and the surrounding circumstances known to us to exist at the time. Subsequent changes to relevant information or the surrounding circumstances may affect the reliability of our assessment and advice, but we do not accept responsibility for that effect. We do not accept responsibility for the outcome of any action taken or not taken as a result of our assessment and advice unless the possibility of that action being taken or not taken is set out in specific terms in our instructions.