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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

• Three alerts reported this week.

1.    Piracy attack in the vicinity of the Agbami Oilfield on the 27th of June.
2.     Robbery of a cargo ship at anchorage in vicinity of Takoradi, Ghana on the 28th of June.
3. Kidnapping of personnel on a general cargo vessel at Douala anchorage, Cameroon on the 1st of July.

• Intelligence suggests a pirate action group (PAG) may have recently put to sea. PAGs have been known to operate for multiple days offshore before engaging a target vessel.

• 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.

Based on recently received information, a likely pirate attack has occurred in the vicinity of the waters between Equatorial Guinea and the Agbami Oilfield (exact position not reported). The threat to shipping within this general area is therefore considered high.

ANALYSIS: Further details of the incident will be reported as they are received.

This is potentially the fourth incident of this type to be reported in the GoG region within the past three months. All vessels transiting within the area are advised to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant, retain an enhanced local surveillance, maintain strict Anti-Piracy Watch, and apply BMP WA procedures. Report any suspicious activity to authorities.

At anchorage, approximately 5nm off Takoradi, Ghana, 3 persons were spotted on the Main Deck of a Cargo Ship near Bay 02 aft Starboard side, lowering paint buckets into a boat. An alarm was raised, and port control was informed about the robbery. All crew mustered in the muster station, and a thorough search of the vessel was carried out. It was found that 12 paint drums, including hardener, were missing from the paint locker.

ANALYSIS: This is the third incident of this type to be reported in Takoradi Anchorage this year; the previous occurring March 2nd. More than ten incidents similar to this were reported in the location in 2022, occurring aboard anchored vessels between 23:59 and 06:00 UTC.

MDAT GoG have reported that a General Cargo Vessel was attacked at 22:45 UTC 30th June 2023 at Douala anchorage, near buoy 27. A number of individuals boarded the vessel and reportedly abducted six members of the crew. Remaining crew and vessel are now safe. Cameroon Navy, and Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) of the Cameroonian Armed Forces have responded and are investigating the incident.

ANALYSIS: Further details of the incident will be reported as they are received.

This is the fifth incident of this type to be reported in the GoG region within the past three months. All vessels transiting within the area are advised to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant, retain an enhanced local surveillance, maintain strict Anti-Piracy Watch, and apply BMP WA procedures. Report any suspicious activity to authorities.

GoG navies operating in the region have recently alerted shipowners to an increased threat of pirate attacks off West African coast and Gulf of Guinea regions. The navies assessed a credible threat and risk to merchant vessels exists, especially to those vessels transiting waters off Nigeria, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

Intelligence suggests a pirate action group (PAG) may have already put to sea. PAGs have been known to operate for multiple days offshore before engaging a target vessel.

• Two alerts reported this week

1.          Suspicious approach near Port Hodeidah, Yemen on the 27th of June.
2.          Notice of Firing Exercise in Gulf of Oman throughout the month of July reported on the 1st of July.

• 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.

The UKMTO has reported that Naval ships will conduct surface, anti-aircraft, and depth charge live firing practice from 0400 - 1700 from 03-07, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28, and 31 Jul 23 in the following areas:   

A. 24-19.00N 066-58.00E    24-00.00N 066-39.00E    24-11.00N 066-27.00E    24-24.30N 066-42.00E   

B. 24-36.02N 063-15.03E    24-36.02N 062-30.03E    24-21.02N 062-30.03E    24-21.02N 063-15.03E   

C. 24-36.02N 062-30.03E    24-36.02N 061-45.03E    24-21.02N 061-45.03E    24-21.02N 062-30.03E  

D. DEPTH CHARGE FIRING AREA    24-16.18N 066-20.50E    24-22.00N 066-27.00E    24-16.30N 066-33.00E    24-10.30N 066-27.00E

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.

UKMTO have been made aware of a suspicious approach 21nm South of Port Saleef and approx. 24nm Northwest of Port Hodeida, Yemen. A vessel was approached by two small craft with a closest point of approach (CPA) of 50m on the Port side. Weapons were sighted on the small craft (3-4 POB on each), but no shots were fired. The vessel increased speed and carried out maneuvers to evade the small craft. The small craft have now reportedly departed the vicinity. The Master has reported vessel and all crew safe.

ANALYSIS: At least three incidents similar to this, and in the direct vicinity, were reported in 2022, and one thus far in 2023. UKMTO have not to confirmed ATT whether the incident was due to piracy or militant activities. All vessels transiting Red Sea/Gulf of Aden are advised to stay clear of the Yemeni coast, and report all attacks and suspicious sightings to local authorities, UKMTO, and IMB PRC as per IMO CIR 1334.

• One alert reported this week.

1.     Robbery of an underway bulk carrier Phillip Channel, Eastbound lane TSS, Singapore Strait on the 26th of June.

• One alert occurred outside this reporting period.

1.       Robbery of an underway bulk carrier in the Eastbound lane TSS, Singapore Strait on the 23rd of June.

• 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.

While underway in the Eastbound lane of the TSS, Phillip Channel, Singapore Strait, the Master of an Iranian-flagged Bulk Carrier reported to Singapore VTIS of a breach of security on board the ship. One perpetrator was sighted in the Engine Room by ship's crew. The master sounded the alarm and mustered the crew. A search on board was subsequently carried out, and at about 2327 hrs the Master confirmed no further sighting of perpetrator on board. All crew members were reported safe and accounted for, and nothing was reported stolen. No further assistance was required. The vessel continued her voyage to China.

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

ANALYSIS:  This is the 44th incident reported within the vicinity of the Singapore & Malacca Straits since the beginning of the year, and the eleventh incident reported in June.

Five similar incidents were reported in May, in which property was stolen aboard five of the vessels, including scrap metal and engine parts. Most incidents occurred while vessels were underway, with robbers being discovered by duty crew in or near the vessels' engine room, and often armed with knives.

[Previous Reporting Period]

While underway in the Eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait TSS, the Master of a Hong Kong-flagged Bulk Carrier reported to Singapore VTIS via VHF that four perpetrators were sighted in the Engine Room. The Master raised the ship's alarm and mustered all crew. Subsequently, a search on board the ship was conducted with no further sighting of the perpetrators. Some engine spares were stolen, but all crew are safe and accounted for. The Master declared no assistance was required and resumed passage to the next port of call in China.

A 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 also shared with the Indonesian authority.

ANALYSIS:  This is the 43rd incident reported within the vicinity of the Singapore & Malacca Straits since the beginning of the year, and the tenth incident reported in June.

Five similar incidents were reported in May, in which property was stolen aboard five of the vessels, including scrap metal and engine parts. Most incidents occurred while vessels were underway, with robbers 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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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.