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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.
• Robbery of Cargo Ship at anchor near Conakry Anchorage, Guinea on the 22nd of June.
• Recent incidents underline continued risk faced by vessels and their crew members operating in this area, and the inability of regional authorities to respond expeditiously.

MDAT GoG have been made aware that a Marshall Islands-flagged Cargo Ship at anchor in position 09138N - 013507W (16NM South of CONAKRY) has been boarded by 4 armed persons. The armed persons used force to take money from the safe. The armed persons have left the vessel; all crew and vessel safe.

ANALYSIS: This is the first incident of this type reported near Conakry this year. However, similar incidents involving armed assailants did occur in September 2022 near Conakry Anchorage. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution when transiting this area.

• No alerts reported this week.
• Last reported alert was a Live Firing Exercise on the 12th of June in the Red Sea, taking place from the 12th to the 15th of June.
• Despite an overall reduction in reported piracy incidents, recent sightings, suspicious approaches, and attacks related to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, as well as Iran’s continued interference with maritime shipping, highlight vessels’ continued need for vigilance when transiting the region.
• Continued verified reports of AIS spoofing and “ghost” targets in and around Strait of Hormuz; possibly with intent to divert vessels into Iranian territorial waters.
• Increase in Live Firing Exercises in Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, and coastal areas of Pakistan may pose a risk to maritime shipping in the area.

[Last Reported Period]

FIRING PRACTICE WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 0500-1000 UTC FROM 12 TO 15 JUN 23 IN AREA BOUNDED BY FOLLOWING COORDINATES.

20-46.50N 039-00.00E

20-46.50N 038-38.00E

20-26.50N 038-38.00E

20-26.50N 039-00.00E

ANALYSIS: Ships and craft are to keep well clear of assigned danger areas on the above specified schedule. All vessels in the vicinity are advised to remain vigilant and requested to report any incidents to UKMTO. All vessels are requested to inform UKMTO if any interference is noted on Radios/Radars/GPS

One alert reported this week.

• Attempted Robbery aboard an underway Tanker in Phillip Channel, Singapore Strait on the 21st of June.

Two incidents occurred outside this reporting period..

• Robbery of an underway Bulk Carrier in the Singapore Strait on the 18th of June.
• Robbery of an underway Supply Vessel in Eastbound lane of the TSS Singapore Strait near Pulau Karimun Kecil on the 16th of June.

Phillip Channel, Singapore Strait, remains key area where robberies or boardings take place within Singapore & Malacca Straits.

• Phillip Channel, Singapore Strait, remains key area where robberies or boardings take place within Singapore & Malacca Straits.
• Of 93 incidents reported in the vicinity of Singapore Strait in 2022, 58 took place in, or near, the TSS.

An attempted Robbery has been reported aboard Maltese-flagged Tanker SEAVIGOUR underway in the Phillip Channel, Singapore Strait.

Tanker reported to Singapore VTIS that two perpetrators armed with machetes were sighted at the poop deck. The master raised the ship's alarm and mustered all crew. Subsequently, a search on board the ship was conducted with no sighting of the perpetrators. The ship was transiting the TSS and was bound for port of Singapore.

Safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were notified of the incident. Information was shared with the Indonesian authority.

Upon ship's arrival at Singapore, the Singapore Police Coast Guard officers boarded her for investigation and cleared the ship at about 0739 hrs. All crew are safe and accounted for. Nothing was declared stolen.

ANALYSIS: This is the 42nd incident reported within the vicinity of the Singapore & Malacca Straits since the beginning of the year, and the ninth incident reported in June.

Five similar incidents were reported in May. Property was stolen aboard five of the vessels, including scrap metal and engine parts. All but two of the incidents occurred while vessels were underway. In most cases, robbers were discovered by duty crew in or near the vessels' engine room, and armed with knives.

[Previous Reporting Period]

A robbery has been reported aboard Philippines-flagged Bulk Carrier VINCENT TRADER while underway in the Eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), Singapore Strait.

Master reported to Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) that four perpetrators armed with knives were spotted in the engine room. The master sounded the alarm and mustered the crew, and conducted a search on board. It was discovered that some engine spares were stolen. No further sighting of the perpetrators. However, a crew was assaulted with minor head injury in the process. The master informed that no further assistance is required and resumed the passage to the next port of call in South Korea.

Safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The RSN's MSTF and Singapore Police Coast Guard were notified of the incident. Information of the incident was shared with the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities.

ANALYSIS: This is the 41st incident reported within the vicinity of the Singapore & Malacca Straits since the beginning of the year, and the eighth incident reported in June.

Five similar incidents were reported in May. In most incidents property was stolen aboard the vessels, including scrap metal and engine parts. All but two of the incidents occurred while vessels were underway. In most cases, robbers were discovered by duty crew in or near the vessels' engine room, and armed with knives.

[Last reported Period]

A Robbery has been reported aboard Vietnam-flagged Supply Vessel HAI DUONG 55 while underway in the Eastbound Lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of Singapore Strait, approximately 3nm Northwest of Pulau Karimun Kecil. On board security search was carried out with no sighting of perpetrators.

The master confirmed some items from a container (ship properties and store) and one coil of mooring rope were stolen. There was no confrontation between the perpetrators with crew. All crew members were safe. The master reported the incident to local agent and Singapore upon arrival in Singapore on 17 Jun 23.

Safety navigational broadcast was initiated. The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard were notified of the incident. Information was shared with the Indonesian authorities.

The Singapore Police Coast Guard boarded the ship upon receiving information from Singapore Focal Point. At 1951 hrs, the ship was cleared with no sighting of perpetrators on board.

ANALYSIS: This is the 2nd incident reported in the vicinity of Pulau Karimun Kecil in a week; the 40th incident reported within the vicinity of the Singapore & Malacca Straits since the beginning of the year, and the sixth incident reported in June.

Five similar incidents were reported in May. Property was stolen aboard five of the vessels, including scrap metal and engine parts. All but two of the incidents occurred while vessels were underway. In most cases, robbers were discovered by duty crew in or near the vessels' engine room, and armed with knives.

• No alerts reported this week.
• Last reported alert was a robbery of a Chemical Tanker at Callao Anchorage, Peru on the 3rd of June.
• Callao anchorage remains area of increased reported activity for commercial vessels at anchor in the vicinity of Peru. Out of 8 incidents reported this year, 5 took place at anchor in Callao Anchorage between 0000-0800 hrs UTC.

[Last Reported Period]

A robbery has been reported aboard a Chemical Tanker while anchored at Callao Anchorage, Peru. According to reports, a thief boarded the ship and removed the cover to the hawsepipe, enabling more criminals to come aboard. The crew on duty noticed the robbers near the fo'c'sle storage area and alerted others, causing the criminals to flee with stolen items from the ship's stores.

ANALYSIS: This is the fifth incident of this type to be reported in Callao anchorage this year, with eight similar incidents occurring in the anchorage last year. In most reported cases in this area, robbers were armed with knives and were able to escape with ship's and/or crew property.

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.

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