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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

• No alerts reported this week.

1. Most recent incident: Boarding aboard Motor Vessel in Gulf of Guinea on February 1

• 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.

A Fishing Trawler, AMERGER 7, located 15NM off the coast of Gabon was boarded by an unknown number of armed individuals while it was reportedly engaged in fishing activities within Gabonese territorial waters, near Ngombé Point.

Multiple reports indicate that a group of armed, hooded assailants boarded the vessel and overpowered the crew through force and coercion. The attackers reportedly forced the crew to kneel, physically assaulted them, seized their phones to cut off communications, and destroyed the vessel's own communication systems. During the attack, three Senegalese crew members—the Captain, Mechanic, and AB—were reported to have been kidnapped.

A Gabonese military vessel was dispatched to the location. The AMERGER 7 subsequently returned to Port Gentil, arriving at the jetty on the morning of February 1, 2025. Gabonese authorities are conducting an ongoing investigation.

ANALYSIS: Vessels are advised to keep well clear of the area if possible and exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant, retain an enhanced local surveillance, maintain strict Anti-Piracy Watch, and apply BMP WA procedures.

• One alert reported this week which occurred during previous reporting period.

1. Piracy aboard Fishing Vessel off Eyl, Somalia on February 7.

• A pause in attacks by Yemen’s Houthis continue, however, stated targeting of Israeli linked vessels continues to pose 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. It is assessed that this PAG is likely seeking additional ships to target.

A Yemen-flagged Fishing Vessel, AL NAJMA, was hijacked by six perpetrators off the coast of Eyl, Somalia. The attackers seized control of the vessel and took 12 crew members hostage. A Somali guard was later released by the hijackers. The perpetrators reportedly stole personal belongings and two skiffs before abandoning the vessel.

ANALYSIS: On 13 February 2025, EUNAVFOR Atalanta forces boarded the vessel and liberated it, ensuring the safety of all 12 crew members, who were found unharmed.

Helicopter support played a decisive role in securing the vessel and deterring the hijackers. The incident remains under investigation by EUNAVFOR authorities.

This incident highlights ongoing piracy threats in the Horn of Africa, particularly off Somalia’s Puntland region. The quick response from EUNAVFOR Atalanta also underscores the importance of international naval presence in deterring maritime crime. Further vigilance is advised for vessels transiting the area.

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

• Two alerts reported this week.

1. Robbery/Theft aboard Bulk Carrier in Singapore Strait on February 13.
2. Robbery/Theft aboard Tanker in Singapore Strait on February 11.

• Eight confirmed incidents in the region this year to date.
• Six exhibited similar characteristics and occurred within the Singapore Strait area.
• Phillip Channel remains key area of robberies and boardings within Singapore & Malacca Straits.
• Decrease in incidents in areas within Singapore territorial waters likely due to recent increased patrols by Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

While underway in the Singapore Strait, the Liberian-flagged Bulk Carrier CANCUN (IMO: 9587269) experienced an intrusion by four perpetrators, one armed with a gun and three with knives, who were sighted in the engine room.

The crew raised the alarm and mustered to conduct a search, but the perpetrators were not seen again. No crew members were injured, and nothing was reported stolen.

ANALYSIS: The vessel was en route to Pilot Eastern Boarding Ground B (PEBGB). The incident was reported to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS), prompting a safety navigational broadcast. The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) were notified. The Singapore PCG boarded the vessel, conducted a search, and found no perpetrators onboard. Information about the incident was shared with Indonesian authorities.

While underway in the Singapore Strait, a Tanker experienced an armed robbery incident involving four perpetrators armed with knives who were sighted in the engine room.

The crew raised the alarm and conducted a search, but the perpetrators were not found. All crew members were accounted for, and no injuries were reported. However, some engine spare parts were stolen.

ANALYSIS: The Tanker, which had departed Malaysia and was en route to Indonesia, did not require further assistance. The incident was reported to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS), and a safety broadcast on anti-piracy watch was initiated to alert all vessels to maintain vigilance in the area. The Republic of Singapore Navy's Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) were notified, and information was shared with Indonesian authorities.

• No alerts reported this week.        
• Most recent incident: Robbery aboard Offshore Supply Vessel in Campeche Bay, Mexico on October 25, 2024.
• 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 alert]

A robbery occurred aboard a Mexican-flagged Offshore Supply Vessel operating in Campeche Bay, Mexico. The perpetrators boarded the vessel from a small fishing boat, stealing vessel equipment and crew valuables before making their escape.

ANALYSIS: At least three of the armed robbers reportedly fired warning shots, injuring some crew members and forcibly transferring funds from crew members’ savings accounts. This marks the second such incident in ten days, with both events following a similar modus operandi: assailants armed with handguns approached the vessel, coerced crew members into transferring funds, and assaulted crew.

The report’s 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 which AB Watchkeepers have received.

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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.