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The Maritime Intelligence Report Series focuses on:

• Areas of instability which could affect the passage or port call of your vessel;

• Changes or impediments to navigation/restrictions of; and

• Charts and analysis detailing piracy, suspicious ap-proaches and hijackings.

MAST has a global reach and presence, delivering first hand, accurate and exclusive intelligence. MAST is entrenched and committed in continuing to support and promote the awareness of the very real risks that seafarers and stakeholders face.

This Intelligence Report Series is a brief snapshot of MAST’s Intelligence capabilities. MAST Intelligence specialises in providing clients with a suite of prod-ucts, including; detailed port and vessel security briefs, vessel passage plans, threat and risk mitigation, travel risk management.

Working closely in conjunction with a host of experts, MAST Intelligence offers a market leading service per-taining to all maritime affairs.

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Editor: David Rider

www.mast-security.com

28th September 2016

Issue 44 of the series reviews, analyses and threat assesses the fragile and conflict affected coastal states Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The Mediterranean migrant crisis, incidents affecting maritime security and influencing maritime news are also reported and analysed, focusing on the keys theatres of maritime instability.

“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

Issue 44

Contents:Indian Ocean region

Somalia

Yemen

Yemen Ports

Mediterranean

Libya

Gulf of Guinea

South East Asia

Central & South America

Mast Services

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“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

Indian Ocean Region According to reports seen by MAST in the last 24 hours, a legal change from Malta could have huge implica-tions for Floating Armouries and the wider maritime security industry. Sources suggest that Malta is poised to alter new End User Certificates (EUC) with the line: “Weapons/ammunition cannot be loaded on any floating armoury”. In effect, this could mean that many floating armouries and PMSCs are no longer compliant with the terms of their EUCs. There are strong indications that Djibouti may follow suit, which could have signifi-cant ramifications not only for PMSCs operating in the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA) but also for the shipping companies who rely on them. MAST will be following developments with interest.

1. Crew onboard a berthed crude oil tanker noticed a robber stealing ship’s properties and raised the alarm at 0350 LT in po-sition Jetty No 10, Beira, Mozambique. Seeing the alerted crew, the robbers escaped. Reported (IMB) 6th Sept.Somali pirates plead guilty in India119 Somali pirates arrested in four operations by the Coast Guard and Navy off Lakshadweep in 2011-12, have pleaded guilty to offences against them. The trial began in 2012 and 70 witnesses have been deposed. Around 50 of the pirates could face the death penalty. Somalia/Kenya maritime boundary disputeSomalia has asked the International Court of Justice to deter-mine the “precise geological co-ordinates” of the maritime boundary in the Indian Ocean between itself and Kenya. Valu-able mineral deposits are at stake in the region.Threat AssessmentWhile the merchant marine waits to hear results from the Fo-cussed Operation Taegeukgi intelligence gathering and piracy disruption operation, which ended on the 23rd, reports remain at a low level. The presence of the Focus operation and SANDF

in the Mozambique Channel do suggest, however, that coali-tion forces are preparing for the possible launch of Pirate Action Groups as sea states improve. MAST continues to recommend heightened watches and secu-rity routines whilst transiting the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA). Recent incidents of illegal fishing off the Somali coast are a concern. The action by Saudi coalition forces to secure over-watch sites on the Yemen coast will go some way to ensuring safe passage through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, although we continue to recommend vigilance. Convoy Escort ProgrammeSeptember’s military convoys are provided by Japan, Korea, China, India and Russia. To view speeds and timetables, please visit mschoa.org

For further information, please contact:Japan MSDF: info-piracy@mlit.go.jpKorean Navy: bluegun21@navy.mil.krChinese Navy: planavy@navy.mil.cnIndian Navy: dgcommcentre-dgs@nic.inRussian Navy: isps@msecurity.ru

Hijack

Kidnap

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity Theft

1.1st December 2015 HRA limits

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SomaliaIn a surprising move, on Sept. 24th, Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Abdisalam Omer, told the UN General Assembly that due to successful operations conducted by Somalia military and AMISOM, “we have mili-tarily defeated the evil that is Al Shabaab.” According to Omer, the terrorist group now controls under 10 per cent of the country and has returned to asymmetric warfare tactics as a result. The forthcoming elections will prove to be the greatest test of this claim, with security increased around the country.

Under control of Al Shabaab and allies

Under control of neutral forces

Under the control of Government and allies

Somaliland Government

Control of Somali territory (27th September 2016) Source: Wikimedia Commons

Further election delayMedia reports from Somalia on Sept. 26th suggest the forth-coming election has been postponed again following a dispute on how to select future members of parliament and security issues. No new date had been set at the time of writing.Al Shabaab threatens Somalia elders over coming pollsOn Sept. 21st, the extremist group has threatened the 135 el-ders who will elect 275 members of parliament this month, with an ‘iron hand’. The threat was made by a spokesman in an audio message.

Somali Police kill 8 militantsOn Sept. 25th, Somali Police engaged Al Shabaab terrorists in the Idale province of Bai. Eight militants were killed and a num-ber of weapons recovered in the operation.

Al Shabaab• Al Shabaab militants attacked a Kenyan police station in Garis-sa County, Kenya. Their spokesman claimed six officers were killed and two kidnapped. • Militants detonated a car bomb in Mogadishu on Sept. 21st. One person was killed and another wounded. • Puntland has sentenced 54 AS fighters captured in March 2016. Around half of the fighters were aged between 10 and 15 years of age and will be placed in deradicalisation pro-grammes. The others (ages ranging from 15-20) will serve 10-15 year jail terms. • At least 7 AS fighters and 3 Somali soldiers died during fight-ing at an AS base in Lidale district on Sept. 25th.

Analysis

The ongoing attacks by Al Shabaab close to the capital underlines their ability to operate across the country with little challenge. Somali intelligence sources fully expect Al Shabaab fighters to infiltrate Mogadishu as the election nears, and have begun operations to root out militants, with arrests and vehicle-borne IED sei-zures. Unfortunately, it is highly likely that terror attacks will continue in an attempt to destabilize the election process, particularly in the capital where the PR value of attacks is higher.

Threat Assessment

The Somali National Army and AMISOM continue to struggle to maintain security over Mogadishu. Moga-dishu Port continues to be operational. After earlier warnings in March that an attack on Somali ports is likely, the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency stated that it has implemented further security measures in Somali ports to protect business continu-ity. To date this seems to have worked, although the AS push into the coastal town of Merca is a cause for concern. The Rand report suggests that while gains have been made by AMISOM and the SNA, further ac-tion is needed to ensure the situation is not reversed. Tensions between Puntland and Somaliland continue, with checkpoint closures and regular press attacks by each region on the other. The potential further delay to the country’s election could be seen as a PR victory for Al Shabaab, given their recent losses on the ground. However, maintaining security during the process is paramount to Somalia.

“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

4

Control of Yemen territory (26th September 2016)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

YemenOn Sept. 26th, Yemen’s Foreign Minister Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi asserted that President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi had met with U.S. and U.N. officials this week and had agreed in principle to a 72-hour ceasefire. In an interview with Reuters conducted in New York, al-Mekhlafi said: “He (Hadi) asked that the ceasefire be taken advantage of by lifting the unjust siege of Taiz and for food to enter simultane-ously.” The foreign minister said Yemen plans to complain to the U.N. Security Council over what it says are Iran’s weapon transfers to Houthi allies.

17 dead as Yemen loyalists battle rebels for heightsHeavy fighting between Yemeni government forces and Shiite rebels for control of the heights overlooking the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait has killed 17 combatants, the loyalist com-mander said Wednesday 21st. Yemen: ’26 killed’ by coalition air strike in HodeidahAt least 26 civilians have been killed and 60 wounded in an Arab coalition air strike on Sept. 21st that hit the rebel-held port city of Hodeidah in western Yemen, according to med-ics and residents, and the alliance said it was looking into the report.Militant activity• Saudi-led coalition airstrikes targeted al Houthi-Saleh posi-tions in Ibb city, Ibb governorate on Sept. 24th.• Hadi forces encircled al Houthi positions in Sirwah district, western Ma’rib governorate on Sept. 22nd. These attacks are part of shaping operations for an impending offensive on Sana’a.• Suspected Houthi militants detained an American citizen in Sana’a. 12 gunmen abducted Peter Willems, the director of the English-language Exceed Language Center in Sana’a, from the school on Sept. 20th.• Hadi and allied forces repelled an al Houthi-Saleh attack in al Tabba al Hamra, Kirsh district, northern Lahij governorate, on Sept. 22nd.AQAP• Yemeni forces killed a suspected local al Qaeda chief on Sept. 26th in a clash at his house in the southern province of Abyan.

A Yemeni soldier also died and another was wounded after troops stormed the residence of an alleged insurgent identified as Abdullah Hubaibat.• Militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) outside of a hospital in al Sheikh Uthman district, Aden city on September 26.• AQAP militants attacked a security checkpoint in Zinjibar city, southern Abyan governorate on Sept. 23rd.• U.S. airstrike targeted al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants in Jaww al Nasim district, eastern Ma’rib city on Sept. 23rd. The strike killed Abu Khaled al Sanaani, a regional commander, along with three other AQAP militants• A reported U.S. airstrike targeted al Qaeda militants near al Sawr area in al Sawma district, al Bayda governorate on Sep-tember 22nd.

Threat Assessment

MAST’s standing advice remains that all vessels conduct robust risk and passage assessments prior to arrival in Yemen waters. Increased watch routines and security should be maintained due to the ongoing potential for militant and pirate activity in this region. The ongoing presence of AQAP in Yemen remains an issue. While al Mukalla port has been liberated, AQAP el-ements continue to conduct terror operations at a local level. The recent boat-borne attack on the port raises further ques-tions about local security and the protection of merchant ships in the region.

Houthi

Pro Hadi Government Forces

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

5

UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen (UNVIM)

The UN’s Secretary-General has decided to institute a UNVIM for the facilitation of commercial imports to Yemen, at the request of the Government of the Republic of Yemen and in line with Security Council resolution 2216 (2015).

UNVIM is operational with immediate effect. Shipping companies or vessel owners shipping commercial goods or services to any port not under the direct control of the Government of Yemen (Salif, Mokha, Hudaydah and associated oil terminals) need to ap-ply for permits upon departure of the port of origin of their cargo. For further details click here.

UN arms embargo imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015 is in place.

Port Aden:

• The port of Aden is under the protection of the Republic of Yemen security forces.

• Curfew in effect for Aden, 2000-0600 daily.

• Merchant vessels wishing to enter Yemeni ports must first apply for a permit through the Yemeni Ministry of Transportation; contact: yemen.transport@gmail.com for more information.

• Final clearance to enter Yemeni ports (with permits in place) is authenticated by the coalition guard ship.

• Aden is the only port in Yemen currently able to facilitate container vessels. The container terminal has recently increased it’s capacity. WFP note that eight vessels were discharging at berth with 5 waiting at anchorage.

Port Salif: Capacity 2 berths. Operating at capacity. Vessels experiencing severe delays due to minimal port equipment. 10 ves-sels awaiting at anchorage (WFP, June 29th).

Port Hudaydah:

• Capacity 8 berths. As of World Food Programme reports at the end of June, eight vessels were discharging at berth, 25 awaiting at anchor.

• Only 1 of 5 shore based cranes in partial operation, container vessels highly recommended to have their own internal cranes.

• RSNF is utilizing a holding area 60 NM west of the port of Hudaydah for all vessels attempting entry into Salif or Hudaydah. Inbound vessels should plan on holding within this area prior to receiving clearance from port control warships.

Port Mokha: Status - Open and fully operational (North of England P&I, July 18th).

Port Al Mukalla: Capacity 2 berths. Al Mukalla port was liberated on the 23/24 April by the Saudi-led coalition and southern resistance. Port officials have advised that port operations resumed on the 26th April.

Port of Ash Shihr: Status - Open and full operational (North of England P&I, July 22nd).

Port of Balhaf: Status - Closed: LNG terminal remains closed.

Port of Ras Isa: Status - Closed. Safer oil terminal remains closed, Safer Company (SEPOC) does not allow vessels to berth at Safer Marine Terminal if they do not have an agreement signed by them according to the protocol between buyer and Yemeni government.

MCCC Notice: Following open source reporting of increased military activity in and around the Yemeni port city of Mukalla and the maritime security incident on the 24th April, where an MV was fired upon, please be advised that the security situ-ation in the vicinity of the port has changed. Vessels using the port or operating nearby are advised to take additional security measures and proceed with caution. Coalition warships are patrolling in the area and should be hailed on VHF Channel 16 by any vessel witnessing or subject to threatening behaviour.

Yemen PortsNothing significant to report.

“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

6

Mediterranean Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ordered authorities on Saturday to punish those responsible for the capsizing of a ship which resulted in the deaths of more than 160 migrants, as families demand-ed the bodies of their loved ones. Rescue workers and fishermen rescued 169 people after the boat sank off Egypt’s Mediterranean coast early on Wednesday 21st with up to 600 on board, suggesting many more may have perished than the death toll of 162 given by security officials.

Mediterranean Migrant Arrivals Reach 300,450; Deaths at Sea: 3,501IOM reports that 300,450 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2016 through 21 September, arriving mostly in Greece and Italy. Some 166,050 people have arrived in Greece and 130,567 in Italy during 2016.

170 bodies recovered so far in Egypt migrant boat disaster On Sept. 26th an unnamed Egyptian Health Ministry official said a total of 170 bodies had been pulled from the waters, 5 days after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized in the Mediterranean while attempting to head to Europe. The death toll is expected to rise as many bodies are believed to be trapped inside the boat’s refrigerator, the official told AP.

Hungary PM suggests giant migrant city in LibyaThe EU should set up a “giant refugee city” on the Libyan coast to process African asylum seekers before they reach Europe, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Sept. 24th. While radical, this plan is what a number of observers believe will ultimately happen in the long term as migrants continue to flow into the beleaguered country.

Children on migrant boats working as slaves to pay for pas-sageMigrant smugglers in Egypt are forcing children into contracts that mean that the children owe the smugglers a percentage of the money they make once they have arrived in Europe. Ibrahim, one of the 163 survivors of the shipwreck, told re-porters that if he had made it to Europe he would have been in debt. “My ticket was £1,700 in total, I was told to pay £900 up front and the rest from my earnings when I go there.”

The current migrant smuggling situationMAST has been in contact with Robert Pelton of Migrant Report who has recently been in Libya, covering both migrants and the situation in Sirte. He informs us that despite media suggestions, putting an accurate figure on the number of migrants heading to and in Libya is a difficult task since many are using the desert route. Sabratha currently remains the main focal point for mi-grant gangs, but there is increasing pressure on them from fuel smugglers – the main maritime activity in the country. The fuel smugglers do not appreciate the attention they’re receiving due to human trafficking. Rival gangs continue to ‘hijack’ migrants, charge them even more money and then launch overloaded boats. Sirte, meanwhile, is still seeing isolated pockets of resistance from a handful of Daesh fighters, although clearance of IEDs remains a priority. Pelton tells us that the majority of Tunisians who were fighting for the militants have either been killed or have fled to Bani Waled, to the NW of Sirte.

Map depicting major migrant routes in the Mediterranean (27th September 2016). Source: UNHRC

“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

Migrant crossings 2014-2016. Source: UNHRC

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LibyaDiplomats from the U.S. and U.K. met with Libyan militia officials in recent weeks to help restart oil ex-ports from the country, militia and Western officials said. The meetings with a convalescing militia leader in Istanbul and his rivals in Tunis are part of a drive to help Libya’s government fight Islamic State by reviving Libya’s oil industry. This follows a successful export of oil to Italy from Ras Lanuf which is hoped will be the beginning of an increase in exports, although OPEC remains concerned that it will undermine its efforts to control the current crude oil glut, forcing prices down.

“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

al Qaeda suspected of abducting three Westerners in LibyaTwo Italians and a Canadian who were abducted on Sept. 19th may have fallen into the hands of al Qaeda, Libyan and Alge-rian security sources reported.

Libyan oil port takeover gives edge to eastern commanderLess than a fortnight after forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar swept into four of Libya’s oil ports, tankers are loading, production has jumped, and momentum has shifted firmly in the divisive former general’s favour. How Haftar and his allies will use con-trol of the country’s major oil exports remains to be seen.

Islamic State deploys female snipers in desperate bid to hold Libya’s SirteThe Islamic State (IS) in Libya is employing women as snipers in a surprising move by the group, which normally urges female followers to marry its fighters and establish families in self-pro-claimed caliphate territories, rather than engage in active com-bat according to media reports on Sept. 26th.

AnalysisWith General Haftar’s forces now in control of the ‘oil crescent’ of terminals, the GNA and NOC have had to do some swift negotiating in order to ensure supplies still flow. Despite taking control of the terminals, Haftar has left the NOC management in place.With oil now flowing and tankers leaving the terminals, OPEC has raised concerns that Libya’s exports will force global oil prices down. However, rightly, the Libyans are more concerned with boosting their own economy after several years of virtu-

ally no oil production. The successful exports do place Haftar in an even stronger position. Sources suggest many of his fighters are recruited from Sudan and are only loyal to their pay pack-ets. However, with his grip on oil exports, securing their loyalty should not be an issue for Haftar in the short term.

Threat AssessmentThe National Oil Company (NOC) is responsible for securing oil port facilities with their own armed force, the Petroleum Facil-ity Guards (PFG). Ongoing disputes between the PFG and NOC continue to hamper efforts to increase oil production and sup-ply in the country, potentially placing tankers with legal cargoes at risk of seizure should the issue not be resolved. The oil in-dustry is integral to Libya’s economy and is appropriately safe-guarded. Divisions between the east and west NOC branches and the control of ports has not yet impacted on the security of a vessel. Many Libyan ports are operational, but not without risk. MAST is able to provide risk assessments and crew training to improve situational awareness and risk appreciation. The ad-ditional threat to shipping should not be taken lightly. The map below details the most common points of departure in Libya for migrants and the migrant vessels’ planned destinations. A large number of the vessels are rescued before reaching their destination and military sources are confirming that there is evi-dence that setting out to be rescued is a deliberate tactic. Note that this map has yet to be updated to reflect recent shifts in migrant departure points which have not been verified by the military and other agencies.

Control of Northern Libyan territory (27th Sep-tember 2016)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Controlled by the Tobruk led government

Controlled by the Government of National Accord

Controlled by ISIS

Controlled by local forces

Controlled by Tuareg forces

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“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

Gulf of GuineaDespite the recent ceasefire agreement between the Federal Government and certain Niger Delta mili-tant groups, the Niger Delta Avengers said on Saturday it had carried out its first attack in the country’s southern energy hub since it declared in August it was halting hostilities to pursue talks with the govern-ment. The militants, who said they attacked the Bonny crude export line on Friday night, have in previ-ous months launched assaults which have cut crude production, which was 2.1 million barrels per day at the start of the year, by around a third.

Incidents: 1. Late Report: Three robbers in a canoe approached anchored Norway-flagged offshore tug, Olympic Hercules, at 0410 LT, in position Takoradi anchorage, Ghana. One robber managed to board the vessel and was detected by the CCTV, which trig-gered the alarm. The robber entered the vessel’s work shop, pump room and the crew mess and fled with stolen ship’s property. Attempts made to contact the Secondi Naval Base but no response received. Reported Sept. 1st.2. Six robbers armed with guns boarded and fired upon the duty crew onboard an anchored Panama-flagged container ship at 0252 LT in position 09:18.47N - 013:45.51W: Conakry Anchorage, Guinea. Master activated the SSAS alert, raised the alarm and locked the accommodation. The robbers gained access by breaking the bridge wing windows. After taking the crew hostage the robbers ransacked and looted every crew cabin, stole crew personal belongings, ship’s cash and escaped. IMB liaised with the Guinea Navy who responded and boarded the ship. All crew reported safe. Reported (IMB) Sept. 21st3. Duty crew onboard a berthed Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier observed two suspicious persons hiding on the jetty at 0145 LT in position Port of Casablanca, Morocco. The persons at-

tempted to board the vessel at four different times but were unsuccessful because of the alert crew. Incident reported to the PFSO and agent. Reported (IMB) Sept. 23rd.Threat AssessmentAll vessels operating in the GoG should conduct a thorough risk assessment and practice emergency drills. Locally pro-cured patrol boats can, in the right circumstances, enhance a vessel’s security. MAST recommends that vessels transiting the region register with MDAT-GoG to ensure domain awareness. Contact watch-keepers@mdat-gog.org or call +33(0)2 98 22 88 88.MAST advises against the use of embarked armed Nigerian Navy personnel. Under contact from pirates, embarked armed Nigerian guards will draw increased fire towards the bridge of the vessel which can result in the death or injury of crew mem-bers and damage to the vessel. The Secure Anchorage Area (SAA) off Lagos provides effective protection for drifting and waiting vessels and the area has been piracy free for several months. It has also been reported that there is an unofficial, but operational SAA off the Bonny River. MAST can advise on risk assessments, the most effective countermeasures and on the most effective locally procured Nigerian patrol vessels to escort vessels to and from operation in Nigeria to 150nm offshore.

Kidnap

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

Theft

4°30’

5°00’

4°00’

3°30’

7°00’6°30’ 7°30’5°00’ 5°30’ 6°00’ 8°00’4°30’

6°00’

5°30’

3°30’ 4°00’

Hijack

1

2 3

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South East AsiaIndonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to strengthen coordination to address a wide range of problems in the Malacca Strait and Singapore Strait which serve as important global trade routes, Indo-nesia’s Antara news agency reports. On Sept. 23rd, the Singapore Navy warned shipping in the region of an increased risk of pirate attack: “As the conditions are favourable, IFC assess that the risks of attacks in South China Sea and Singapore Strait from 25th Sept. to 05 Oct. 16th are high. All ships are reminded to be vigilant and to conduct anti-piracy measures.”

Hijack

Kidnap

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

Incidents:1. Whilst at anchor, general cargo ship was boarded by rob-bers unnoticed. One of the crew discovered that the padlock to the engine store room was broken and some spare parts were missing at 0800 LT in position 05:30S - 105:17E, Pajang Anchor-age, Indonesia. Six sets of piston rings and three sets of bearing shells were stolen. Reported (ReCAAP) Sept. 16th.

There have been a number of recent reports of robberies and kidnappings occurring against local fishing fleets in the Bay of Bengal and off Bangladesh. While official reports from this region are extremely rare, there have so far been no reported incidents involving merchant traffic transiting the region an it would appear to be a ‘local problem’. MAST will continue to monitor the situation and report back accordingly should the situation change.

Threat AssessmentOpportunistic theft of ships stores and equipment continues to be sporadically spread across the archipelagos of SE Asia. Thieves tend to be nonviolent and will escape when spotted. We encourage vessels to conduct thorough risk assessments when operating within SE Asian archipelagos and to adopt ap-propriate measures to protect vessel and crew. Abu Sayyaf has traditionally targeted small slower vessels such as fishing vessels, passenger vessels, yachts, tugs and vessels under tow with the intent of kidnapping crew for ransom. Ves-sels operating in the Sulu Sea should adopt security measures. MAST anticipates a fall in incident reports once joint patrols and armed guards are implemented. The warning from the Singapore Navy’s International Fusion Centre (IFC) suggests that fair weather may bring criminals onto the water. MAST recommends robust security checks and rounds when transiting these waters.

“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

Theft

1

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“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

Central and South America Since its inauguration, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) completed more than 160 successful transits through the new locks, which translates to an average of about two transits per day. Container vessels have been the most frequent users of the new locks, followed by LPG vessels. It is expected that LNG tankers will become more frequent users of the canal as American LNG export capacity ramps up.

Incidents: 1.On Sept. 29th at 2350 LT, four small fishing vessels were en-gaged in fishing around an anchored tanker in position 10.09.7N - 064:46.8W. Four robbers, pretending to be fishermen, ap-proached and boarded the ship, stole ship’s properties and es-caped unnoticed. Theft was discovered by duty crew on rounds. A search was made and incident reported to port control. Au-thorities boarded to investigate. (IMB). Standing advice:

The repercussions of a vessel being caught acting as a mule with drugs stowed will depend on the type, amount and national laws, but may be disruptive and costly. When and if operating in these areas, especially Columbia and Peru, it is advised that:

• Potential stowage areas such as rudder shafts are denied as far as possible, and/or routinely searched.

• Access points are closely monitored by a vigilant watch for the duration of the vessel’s call at port.

Hijack

Kidnap

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Suspicious Activity

Theft

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“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

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