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Monday 25 December 2023 to Monday 01 January 2024 |
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Dear
Please find below our most recent Weekly Maritime Report. If you have any queries about our reports please contact us at africaops@castorvali.com
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Total no of incidents: 09 |
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Incident mapping - Overview |
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Threat Level
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Total of Incidents
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- No alerts reported this week.
- Last reported incident of active piracy action group (PAG) in Gulf of Guinea on 12th Nov.
- Incidents involving local craft in Nigeria usually involves significant use of violence as part of the incident.
- 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.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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12/12/2023
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1011 UTC
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GENERAL ALERT
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1° 15' 36.00"N
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8° 52' 46.00"E
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[Last Reported Incident]
MDAT-GOG has issued a security notification for the Gulf of Guinea, indicating heightened risks in the region, and has advised that a Piracy Action Group (PAG) is operating in the Zone D area.
Analysis: An ongoing security operation in the Gulf of Guinea has identified several vessels of interest operating in the waters of Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, and Togo over the past 12 months. Notably, one vessel, initially flagged for persistent AIS signal disruptions, was recently intercepted and detained by Nigerian authorities. The vessel was found engaged in illegal activities, siphoning approximately 500MT of crude oil at the Ebesan Oil Field, off the coast of Awoye, Nigeria.
These latest developments in the Gulf of Guinea, despite a relatively quiet season, underscore the continued and persistent maritime security challenges that exist in the region. The interception of vessels involved in illicit activities also emphasizes the need for continuous vigilance and proactive measures to mitigate risks.
It is strongly recommended for all vessels transiting this area to exercise extreme caution when operating in these waters, implement enhanced security measures, maintain local surveillance, and apply BMP WA procedures.
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West Africa Weekly Comparison |
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2023-2024 West Africa Monthly Comparison |
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2022-2023 West Africa Monthly Comparison |
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Threat Level
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Total of Incidents
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9 alerts reported this week.
- Firing exercise notice off Pakistan on 1 Jan 2024.
- Explosion in Red Sea on 31 Dec.
- Small vessel attack in Red Sea on 31 Dec.
- Missile attack on 30 Dec.
- Hijacking of Dhow off Somalia on 30 Dec.
- Military action in Red Sea on 26 Dec.
- Explosion onboard Tanker in Mombasa on 26 Dec.
- Incident in Red Sea on 26 Dec.
- Suspicious Approach off Oman on 25 Nov.
Severe risk level due to recent attacks on international shipping related to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Region related to the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
Operation Prosperity Guardian - A multinational coalition to patrol the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to protect international shipping has formed and is beginning to conduct patrols intercepting attack vectors on international shipping.
Continued verified reports of AIS spoofing, drone and small boat harassment, missile strikes and hijacking of vessels within the region by Houthi rebel groups.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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01/01/2024
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0400 UTC
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CAUTION
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25° 7' 52.00"N
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65° 57' 16.00"E
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Naval vessels are scheduled to conduct live surface and anti-aircraft firing exercises from 0400 to 1700 UTC on the 1st to 5th, 8th to 12th, 15th to 19th, 22nd to 26th, and 29th to 31st of January in the following areas:
A. 24-24.30N 066-42.00E 24-19.00N 066-58.00E 24-00.00N 066-39.00E 24-11.00N 066-27.00E
B. 24-36.02N 062-30.03E 24-36.02N 063-15.03E 24-21.02N 062-15.03E 24-21.02N 062-30.03E
C. 24-36.02N 061-45.03E 24-36.02N 062-30.03E 24-21.02N 062-30.03E 24-21.02N 061-45.03E
D. DEPTH CHARGE FIRING AREA
24-22.00N 066-27.00E 24-16.30N 066-33.00E 24-10.30N 066-27.00E 24-16.18N 066-20.50E
Analysis: Ships and craft are to keep well clear of assigned danger area on 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.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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31/12/2023
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1200 UTC
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GENERAL ALERT
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12° 56' 14.00"N
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43° 7' 54.00"E
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The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a warning on 30th December 2023 following a report of an incident approximately 55NM Southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. The ship's Master reported hearing a loud bang and seeing a flash on the port bow of the vessel.
Several more explosions were observed in the vicinity of Al Hudaydah. No damage was reported to the vessel, which has since left the area at full speed towards its next destination.
Analysis: All crew members are reported to be safe. Vessels are advised to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.
The Castor Vali team will continue to provide updates and analysis to support informed decision-making in navigating these waters.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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31/12/2023
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0000 UTC
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ATTACK
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17° 4' 57.00"N
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40° 30' 58.00"E
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A maritime warning was issued on 31st December 2023, following a reported attack 60 nautical miles northwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. The vessel's captain reported an attack by three small boats on the port side of his ship, during which gunfire was exchanged. All crew members have been accounted for and there were no casualties.
Assistance was provided by coalition forces, and US authorities reported engagement with several small vessels. The captain confirmed the safety of the vessel and crew, and the ship has since left the area and is continuing its journey to the next port. Vessels in the area are advised to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.
Analysis: Additional research indicates the vessel that was attacked was the Singapore-Flagged Hangzhou container ship. Further, responding helicopters from the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely were involved in sinking three of four small boats, after being fired upon.
Vessels are advised to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.
The Castor Vali will continue to provide updates and analysis to support informed decision-making in navigating these waters.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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30/12/2023
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1058 UTC
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HIJACK
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10° 22' 0.00"N
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51° 13' 60.00"E
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Reports have emerged of a dhow being seized in the area around Hafun, Somalia, with the exact location unspecified. The hijacked vessel is reportedly moving south. An update has been received that the seized dhow has been sighted in Afbarwaqo, an anchorage situated between Eyl and Hobo, Somalia.
Analysis: This is the third reported Somali piracy-related incident in this area within the last two weeks. A ship was approached by two small boats approximately 65NM Southeast of Duqm, Oman on 25 December.
There have been at least five confirmed incidents likely involving Somali pirates reported since the beginning of November as well as several additional unconfirmed reports of dhows being hijacked or stolen. In addition, the UKMTO issued a warning on 15 December indicating the presence of a Somali Pirate Action Group (PAG) operating in the area off Puntland and the northern Arabian Sea. This resurgence is significant as there have been no confirmed incidents of Somali piracy in the Indian Ocean region since 2017, and raises concerns about the reemergence of piracy threats in the region.
Further deterioration of regional stability, related to the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict and Houthi attacks on international shipping may in part be a cause of the recent resurgence. The Castor Vali team will continue to provide updates and analysis to support informed decision-making in navigating these waters. Ships in the area are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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30/12/2023
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1730 UTC
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ATTACK
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14° 11' 60.00"N
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42° 13' 0.00"E
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Open-source intelligence indicates that two US Navy vessels, the USS Laboon and USS Gravely, responded to a distress call from a Singaporean container ship in the Southern Red Sea. The container vessel reported a missile strike in its vicinity. While responding to the incident, the USS Gravely intercepted two anti-ship ballistic missiles launched from areas in Yemen under Houthi control.
Analysis: Current ongoing operations within the Red Sea as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian continues to demonstrate rapid response to reported incidents within the region from affected international vessels.
Further, deterrence has been indicated in at least one reported incident in Castor Vali records, in addition to continued interceptions and interventions by US, UK and French naval vessels.
Ships in the area are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities. The Castor Vali team will continue to provide updates and analysis to support informed decision-making in navigating these waters.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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26/12/2023
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0530 UTC
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GENERAL ALERT
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4° 4' 21.66"S
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39° 39' 42.14"E
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An explosion occurred aboard the Gabon-flagged Oil Tanker EAST WIND II (IMO: 9227211) while it was moored near the African Marine Terminal in Liwatoni, Likoni, Mombasa. This incident, which led to one injury, was reported to have been caused by a buildup of gases in the oil tanks of the vessel, following its unloading of fuel in Zanzibar.
Analysis: The explosion, notable for sending shock waves to buildings as far as two kilometers away, prompted a rapid response from the Kenya Ports Authority, mitigating further damage. Investigations involving multiple security agencies, including anti-terrorism and bomb disposal units, have been initiated to ascertain the full scope of the incident. The EAST WIND II, identified with a history of multiple identity and flag changes, is currently sailing under the flag of Gabon. These changes are often associated with maritime smuggling activities, raising concerns about the vessel's operations.
While the explosion appears to be accidental, the EAST WIND II's history and connections imply potential involvement in illicit activities. The incident demands thorough investigation due to the vessel's associations with entities and individuals linked to smuggling and other illegal activities.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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26/12/2023
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0330 UTC
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GENERAL ALERT
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14° 0' 0.00"N
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42° 30' 0.00"E
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Open-source intelligence reveals that the USS Laboon, while on patrol in the Southern Red Sea, intercepted and neutralized multiple threats over a ten-hour period starting from 03:30 UTC on 26 December. Assisted by F/A-18 fighters from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, the USS Laboon successfully shot down twelve Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles.
Analysis: All threats were reportedly launched from Houthi-controlled territory. No damage to any vessels in the vicinity or casualties were reported following the incident.
The Castor Vali team will continue to provide updates and analysis to support informed decision-making in navigating these waters. Ships in the area are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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26/12/2023
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0000 UTC
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GENERAL ALERT
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14° 37' 0.00"N
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42° 2' 60.00"E
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A maritime security warning has been issued by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) following a report of an incident approximately 50NM West of Al Hudaydah. The incident is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities.
Update 1. Additional reporting in the vicinity has indicated a captain of a ship reported sighting missiles and hearing an explosion about 4 nautical miles from the ship. This report places this ship approx. 74 NM from Hodeidah.
Update 2. An update from the Company Security Officer revealed that another explosion was observed in the sea about 0.5 nautical miles from the ship at 12:40 UTC. Confirmed reports indicate that the ship involved in the incident is a Liberian-flagged container vessel, which was targeted by the Houthi regime.
Analysis: All vessels in the vicinity are advised to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activities to the UKMTO. The Castor Vali team will continue to provide updates as they become available.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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25/12/2023
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0001 UTC
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SUSPICIOUS APPROACH
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18° 37' 60.00"N
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58° 11' 48.00"E
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A ship was reportedly approached by two small, white-hulled boats approximately 65NM Southeast of Duqm, Oman. The small boats were launched from a dhow located about 2NM from the ship. The ship and its crew are reported to be safe.
Analysis: This is the second suspicious approach reported in this area within the last two weeks. There were reports on 13 December of an approach approximately 90NM off the coast of Duqm, where five or six small boats, each equipped with a machine gun on the bow, trailed a ship for approximately 90 minutes.
There have been at least four confirmed incidents likely involving Somali pirates reported since the beginning of November as well as several unconfirmed reports of dhows being hijacked or stolen. In addition, the UKMTO issued a warning on 15 December indicating the presence of a Somali Pirate Action Group (PAG) operating in the area off Puntland and the northern Arabian Sea. This resurgence is significant as there have been no confirmed incidents of Somali piracy in the Indian Ocean region since 2017, and raises concerns about the reemergence of piracy threats in the region.
Further deterioration of regional stability, related to the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict and Houthi attacks on international shipping may in part be a cause of the recent resurgence.
The Castor Vali team will continue to provide updates and analysis to support informed decision-making in navigating these waters.Ships in the area are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
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Indian Ocean Weekly Comparison |
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2023-2024 Indian Ocean Monthly Comparison |
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2022-2023 Indian Ocean Monthly Comparison |
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Threat Level
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Total of Incidents
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- No reported incidents this week.
- Last reported incident was robbery of anchored container ship at Manila Bay, Philippines on 25th Nov.
- Phillip Channel remains key area of robberies and boardings within Singapore & Malacca Straits.
- There have been at least 63 incidents reported in the vicinity of Singapore Strait this year. 93 incidents were reported in the vicinity in 2022; 58 of which occurred in, or near, the TSS.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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25/11/2023
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1845 LT
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ROBBERY
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14° 36' 43.20"N
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120° 49' 33.60"E
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[Previous Reported Period]
Reports indicate that an anchored container ship was boarded by five robbers at Manila Bay anchorage in the Philippines. The robbers gained access to the ship through the hawse pipe. The duty crew spotted the robbers during their rounds, prompting them to raise the alarm. The robbers managed to escape with stolen ship properties. Local authorities were alerted about the incident and a patrol boat was dispatched to search the surrounding area.
Analysis: This is the eighth reported incident in the vicinity of Manila this year. However, four similar incidents were reported in the area of Batangas Port last year (2022); all but one aboard anchored or berthed vessels. Incident times vary but range from 1600-2200 hours for all reported incidents this year.
Most incidents report unidentified personnel attempting theft undetected and escaping in the event of detection without altercation.
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Southeast Asia Weekly Comparison |
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2023 - 2024 Southeast Asia Monthly Comparison |
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2022 - 2023 Southeast Asia Monthly Comparison |
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Threat Level
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Total of Incidents
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- No alerts reported this week.
- Last reported incident was a robbery of anchored bulk carrier in Callo Anchorage, Peru, on the 16th of Nov.
- 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 12 incidents reported this year in the Americas, 8 occurred within Callao Anchorage; all between 0000-0800 hrs UTC.
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Date
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Time
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Incident Type
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Latitude
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Longitude
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16/11/2023
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0540 UTC
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ROBBERY
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11° 58' 60.00"S
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77° 13' 0.00"W
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[Last Reported Incident] Reports indicate that a Bulk Carrier anchored at Callao, Peru was boarded by two armed robbers who stole from the ship's stores at the forward station. The incident was reported to the local port authorities. All crew members are confirmed to be safe.
Analysis: This is the eighth 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.
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Americas Weekly Comparison |
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2023 - 2024 Americas Monthly Comparison |
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2022 - 2023 Americas Monthly Comparison |
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Weekly Alert Comparison by Area |
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2023 - 2024 Overall Monthly Comparison |
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2022 - 2023 Overall Monthly Comparison |
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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).
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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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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.
Contact us:
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Disclaimer
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.
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