Weekly Piracy Report 17 - 23 July 2001

The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast to all shipping by the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre on the safetyNET service of Inmarsat-C from 17 - 23 July 2001.

For statistical purposes the IMB defines Piracy as: "An act of boarding or attempting to board any ship with the intent to commit theft or any other crime and with the intent or capability to use force in the furtherance of that act". This definition thus covers actual or attempted attacks whether the ship is berthed, at anchor or at sea. Petty thefts are excluded, unless the thieves are armed.

Latest reported incidents 24.07.2001 at 0115 LT at Tg. Priok, Djakarta, Indonesia. While at anchor, pirates armed with knives boarded a bulk carrier, entered into the engine room and tied up the duty watchman. They stole a large amount of engine spares before escaping.

21.07.2001 at 2300 LT at outer anchorage, Vang Tau, Vietnam. Persons in an unlit boat boarded a container ship and stole ship's stores.

21.07.2001 at 1815 LT at Abidjan anchorage, Ivory Coast. One pirate armed with a long knife boarded a chemical tanker from a boat and threatened the watchman. Later five more pirates boarded, stole safety equipment and escaped.

19.07.2001 at 1930 UTC at Panjang port, Indonesia. Two pirates boarded a bulk carrier from a small boat. They entered the engine room, threatened the motorman on watch with a knife, manhandled him and tied his hands. The deck watch noticed the boat and raised the alarm. As a result the pirates fled taking ship's stores.

Suspicious craft 23.07.2001 1550 UTC in position 01:40 N - 102:45E, Malacca straits. While underway, an unlit small craft closed up to five meters and followed her. Alert crew switched on lights and as a result the craft retreated.

18.07.2001 at 2125 LT in position 23:00N - 119:51E, East China Sea. While underway, a craft resembling a naval patrol boat approached a supply vessel and ordered her to stop. The master mustered the crew and replied he was in contact with the U.S. Navy at Okinawa. The person in the craft answered, "ok no trouble, we pull out, may we catch you next time". The craft, with no flag or official number, moved away at 2140 LT.

Warnings Increasing number of attacks have been reported in the Malacca straits between the coordinates 01 to 02N - 101 to 103E. The most risk prone area is within 25 nm radius surrounding 02N - 102E, where the same armed gang of pirates seems to have repeatedly attacked ships.

Ships are advised to avoid anchoring along the Indonesian coast of the Malacca straits unless required for urgent operational reasons. The coast near Aceh is particularly risky. Pirates recently boarded a vessel carrying out engine repairs and kidnapped the master of a tanker who is being held ashore for ransom.

Ships calling at Indonesian ports of Belawan, Dumai, Merak, Samarinda and Tanjong Priok have reported numerous attacks whilst at berth and at anchor. Recently a number of ships have been hijacked in Indonesian waters.

In view of the recent spate in hijackings, ship owners are advised to install a satellite tracking system on board. IMB recommends installation of Shiploc, which has proved to be invaluable in the location and recovery of hijacked vessels. Details can be found at www.shiploc.com

Attacks have been reported at Chittagong, Mongla and Chennai while at anchor. Ships at ports in Bangladesh have been subjected to theft of zinc anodes welded to ship's sides and the stern.

Somalian waters continue to be a risk-prone area for hijackings. Ships should keep at least 50 miles and if possible 100 miles from the Somali coast. Use of radio communications including the VHF in these waters should be kept to a minimum.

Advice to all ships Extra caution is advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel, Vung Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian ports and Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic.

Ships are advised to maintain anti-piracy watches and report all piratical attacks and suspicious movements of craft to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel ++ 60 3 238 5763 (After 29 July 2001, this will be changed to 60 3 2078 5763) Fax ++60 3 238 5769 (After 29 July 2001, this will be changed to 60 3 2078 5769) Telex MA 31880 IMBPCI 24 Hours Anti Piracy HELPLINE Tel : ++ 60 3 201 0014 (After 29 July 2001, this will be changed to ++ 60 3 2031 0014) E-mail ccskl@imbkl.po.my http://www.iccwbo.org/ccs/imb_piracy/weekly_piracy_report.asp

-- Rich Marsh (marshr@airmail.net), July 26, 2001