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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 intruders boarded LPG Tanker anchored at Owendo Anchorage, Gabon on 2 July.

• Despite recent overall 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.

On 02 July 2024, two vessels reported via VHF that a Panama-flagged LPG Tanker anchored at Owendo Anchorage, Gabon was boarded by three intruders. The perpetrators were reportedly armed with knives and long firearms. The Officer of the Watch (OOW) spotted the intruders, the alarm was raised, all external doors were locked, and the crew sheltered in the citadel.

The perpetrators left the vessel empty-handed on a speed boat which was seen alongside the ship. The vessel and the crew are reported safe. Local authorities have since boarded and confirmed the vessel was clear, allowing the crew to leave the citadel, and the authorities are investigating the incident.

• No alerts reported this week.
• Last reported alert – Suspicious approach on a Marshall Islands-flagged Bulk Carrier SUMMER LADY (IMO: 9184938 on 30 June
• 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.
• Continued reports of Pirate Action Group (PAG) operating in the region. Somali based piracy has surged with regional instability, with deep strikes in the Indian Ocean being reported. It is assessed that this PAG is likely seeking additional ships to target.

[Last Reported Incident]

On 30 June 2024 at 03:10UTC, a Marshall Islands-flagged Bulk Carrier SUMMER LADY (IMO: 9184938) informed UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) that she was being approached by twelve small craft, including a mix of fast boats and smaller kayak-type boats (some of which were uncrewed, a sign of potential suicide-drone capability) approximately 13NM Southwest of Al Mukha, Yemen. The closest point of approach (CPA) was 1.5NM from the vessel. The small craft remained in the vicinity for approximately one hour before departing.

The vessel and crew are reported safe, and the vessel is continuing to its next port of call. Authorities are investigating the incident.

Analysis: This is at least the third reported incident in two weeks involving the use of Houthi uncrewed waterborne improvised explosive devices (WBIED). On June 12 in the Red Sea an uncrewed WBIED, thinly-disguised as a "fishing boat," struck and disabled the Liberian-flagged Bulk Carrier TUTOR, killing one crewmember and flooding the engine room. The group returned with another WBIED to inflict further damage, and TUTOR ultimately sank after additional Houthi intervention. The group also claimed a strike on the Maltese-flagged Bulk Carrier SEAJOY on June 27. In these encounters, Houthi remotely-controlled WBIEDs reportedly attacked one by one.

Later in the day, US Central Command announced that American forces had destroyed three unmanned surface vessels in the Red Sea. CENTCOM's announcement did not specify whether these unmanned vessels were related to the SUMMER LADY incident but stated the targets "presented an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region."

All vessels in the area are advised to proceed with caution and to report any suspicious activities to the UKMTO.

• No alerts reported this week.
• Last reported alert - Attempted Robbery aboard Liberian-flagged Bulk Carrier in Philip Channel on 26 June.
• Overall decrease in reports in region - 18 this year to date.
• Despite 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).

[Last Reported Incident]

An attempted robbery occurred aboard a Liberia-flagged Bulk Carrier while it was underway in the Philip Channel. While underway, the Master of the IVESTOS 8 (IMO: 9357755) reported to Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) that one perpetrator was sighted in the ship's steering gear room. The alarm was raised, and all crew mustered to search for the ship. The master declared that nothing was stolen, the crew was safe, and no further assistance was required. The ship was en route from Santos, Brazil to pick up her pilot from Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia.

Analysis: 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. Information of the incident was shared with the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities.

There have been at least eight similar incidents reported this year in this area. In 2023 at least 67 incidents occurred within, or near, the Singapore & Malacca Straits; most in the vicinity of Phillip Channel.

• 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 Incident]

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.