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

• One alert reported this week.
• Robbery of anchored tug at Luanda anchorage, Angola on the 4th of Sept.
• 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.

A robbery has been reported at Luanda anchorage, Angola on the 4th of September. Two robbers in a canoe approached and boarded an anchored tug. The duty crew on routine rounds discovered the robbers and raised the alarm resulting in the robbers escaping with items of stolen ships properties (lifebuoys).

Analysis: This is the fifth incident in Angolan ports this year, and the third reported out of Luanda, Angola, this year. In 2022, 7 reported incidents out of 43 in the region took place in Angola, all at anchorage, between either Soyo or Luanda Anchorage.

Modus operandi among these incidents remains the same, wherein robbers attempt to access via anchor chains, or by boarding smaller crew/OSV/tug/barge vessels, steal ship properties, then depart on small vessels.

• Three alerts reported this week.

1. Advisory of suspicious activity in Gulf of Aden on the 7th of Sept.
2. Firing exercise from the 8th-9th of Sept. off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
3. Firing exercise from the 10th-13th of Sept. off the coast of Saudi Arabia.

• Iran’s continued interference with maritime shipping in the SOH, as well as recent sightings, suspicious approaches, and attacks related to the ongoing conflict in Yemen 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.

UKMTO reported that firing Practice will be conducted between 0630-1500 UTC on 08 and 09 September 2023 in area bounded by the following coordinates: 27-50.00N 049-36.00E 27-26.00N 049-51.00E 27-27.00N 050-27.00E 27-37.00N 050-22.00E 27-51.00N 049-52.00E

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 reported that firing Practice will be conducted from 10th to 13th September 2023 in area bounded by the following coordinates: 21-06.00N 038-58.50E 21-05.58N 039-07.00E 21-13.40N 038-58.50E 21-13.50N 039-06.20E

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.

An advisory has been issued by the UKMTO on the 7th of September regarding suspicious activity. UKMTO has been made aware of an entity impersonating The United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen (UNVIM) directing that merchant vessels in the vicinity of Aden anchorage divert to Hodeidah port.

REF: ADVISORY 001/SEP/2023

Incident Date: 25/AUG/2023

Source: International Authority

Issued: 07 SEP 23 1220UTC

Analysis: Vessels in the vicinity are advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.

• No alerts reported this week.
• Last reported incident was a robbery of a Bulk Carrier berthed at Belawan Port, Indonesia on the 29th of August.
• Phillip Channel remains key area of robberies and boardings within Singapore & Malacca Straits.
• There have been at least 59 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.

It has been reported that a robbery occurred on a bulk carrier whilst berthed at Belawan Port, Indonesia. The duty crew noticed three robbers armed with knives on the forecastle. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. Upon hearing the alarm the robbers escaped with stolen ship's stores. The incident was reported to the local authorities.

Analysis: This is the 9th incident reported this year taking place within an Indonesian port, and the 59th incident reported near the Singapore & Malacca Straits since the beginning of the year; the fifth in August.

Ten similar incidents were reported in July, in which property was stolen aboard several 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.

• No alerts reported this week.
• Last reported alert was a robbery of a Bulk Carrier at Callao Anchorage, Peru on the 26th of July.
• 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 9 incidents reported this year in the Americas, 6 occurred within Callao Anchorage; all between 0000-0800 hrs UTC.

[Previous Reporting Period]

A robbery has been reported at Callao, Peru on the 2nd of September. Four robbers all armed with knives managed to board an anchored tanker. They took one duty crew man as hostage and tied him up. The alarm was raised resulting in the robbers escaping with items of stolen ships properties and stores. The incident was reported to Port Control. The Coast Guard boarded the vessel to investigate.

Analysis: This is the seventh 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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