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Copyright © 2015 L. Joubert 1

PIRACY REPORT JULY 2015

_____________________________________________________

Piracy and Acts of Armed Robbery of Ships: Vol XXVI

For Monthly Reports

Please contact

Lydelle Joubert

[email protected]

Piracy Report Independent Global

Incident Analysis

2

Analysis

No hijackings were reported in Southeast Asia in

July 2015. This is the first month in 2015 with no

recorded hijackings in this region. The arrests of

the hijackers of Orkim Harmony and the

prosecution of the hijackers of Sun Birdie in June

2015 disrupted hijacking networks in this area in

the short term. Reported incidents of petty theft are

also lower than normal in July 2015, but this can be

the result of late reporting.

Tankers, Bulk Carriers and Container Ships are

preferred targets in Southeast Asia.

Robberies on Ships at the port and anchorages of

Vung Tau have been increasing in 2015 with nine

incidents reported for the year so far.

There has been a surge on attacks on naval patrols

and navy facilities in Nigeria in recent months. In

June 2015 militants attacked navy and police patrol

boats. Armed men in two speed boats also stole

two gun boats and weapons from the Nigerian

Marine Police Armoury in Calabar in June 2015.

Another patrol boat was attacked in July 2015, but

this time it was coincidental as the main target was

an Addax supply vessel. According to an

unconfirmed source it is likely that the weapons

used in this attack are weapons stolen from the

Calabar armoury.

Robberies at anchorages off Nigeria were low in

the last three months although kidnappings of crew

from supply vessels and passenger boats still

continue and are likely to continue in coming

months.

On 16 July 2015 the militant group Wilayat al-Sinai

claimed responsibility on social media for a missile

attack on an Egyptian Swiftships Patrol Boat near

Rafah on the border with Gaza. This is the first

maritime attack by this group. This attack highlights

the danger of maritime terrorist attacks in this

region as Egypt is responsible for securing the

Suez Canal. An estimated seven to eight percent of

global marine traffic transits the Suez canal each

year. Oil tankers and foreign naval vessels

including nuclear powered aircraft carriers pass

through the canal.

Three incidents were reported in India and one in

Bangladesh in July 2015 Fishermen were once

again kidnapped from boats in the Bay of Bengal,

Bangladesh.

2014

Incidents

2015

Incidents

July 2015

Incidents

Copyright © 2015 L. Joubert

3 Copyright © 2015 L. Joubert

Incidents of Piracy and Robbery of Vessels: 2000 to 2015

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

SE Asia Far East Indian Sub Continent

Americas West and Central Africa East Africa/High Risk Zone

Rest of World


JUL

2014

AUG

2014

SEP

2014

OCT

2014

NOV

2014

DEC

2014

JAN

2015

FEB

2015

MAR

2015

APR

2015

May

2015

June

2015

July

2015

EAST AFRICA/HRZ 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 2 4

WEST AFRICA 5 8 3 9 8 5 6 4 8 8 7 4 3

INDIAN SUB CONT 4 5 8 6 5 2 0 1 5 6 7 5 5

SE ASIA 14 15 7 29 22 18 17 14 23 21 23 26 9

SOUTH AMERICA 3 0 2 3 1 4 1 3 1 1 1 4 0

MED 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Incidents by Region July 2014 to July 2015

Incidents 2015: Type of Ship Attacked

5

Type Vessel Code

Barge

Bulk Carrier

Cargo ship

Coast Guard/

Patrol Boat

Container

Dhow

Ferry

Fishing Boat

Fishing Trawler

Offshore Supply

Vessel

Passenger Boat

Roll-on-Roll-off

Cargo Ship

Tanker

Tug

Yacht

B

BC

CS

PB

C

D

F

FB

FV

OSV

PMB

Ro-Ro

MT

TB

SY

11

40 8 28

133


B BC CS PB C D F FB FV OSV PMBRo-Ro

MT TB SY

Americas 2 1 8

Indian Sub Continent 3 1 4 10 9 1

SE Asia 2 55 7 15 1 2 1 1 42 5

West Africa 1 3 4 5 2 1 1 6 4 10

East Africa 1 2 2 3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

6

Southeast Asia


Nine incidents were reported in Southeast Asia in July 2015. These were concentrated in the Straits of

Malacca and Singapore. Most incidents in this area can be classified as petty theft. Engine spares are

often the target. No hijackings were reported in Southeast Asia over this period. This is in all probability as

result of the arrest of the hijackers of Orkim Harmony and the sentencing of hijackers of Sun Birdie in June

2015 which disrupted hijacking networks in this area on the short term. Reported incidents of petty theft are

also lower than normal, but this can be the result of late reporting.

26 July 2015 – The Fishing Trawler, Maju Jaya was underway when she was boarded by two robbers

armed with firearms in the Strait of Malacca in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The armed men locked the

crew in the bridge and stole jewelry, mobile phones and other electronics. They left the trawler in a fast

boat.1

26/07/2015. Fishing

Trawler. Maju Jaya.

Robbed by gunmen.


26 July 2015 – A Crude Tanker, was approached by an unlit boat while underway 5.1nm SW of Pulau

Nipah, Indonesia. The boat turned away at 20m as a result of actions of the anti-piracy crew.2

West Africa

9/07/2015. MV Tari,

Passenger Boat. Attacked

by gunmen. One person

killed and two kidnapped.

24/07/2015. Supply Vessel,

Wellmanned 3 & Navy

Patrol boat. Naval officer

killed in failed kidnapping.

07/2015. Fishing boats.

Attacked by gunmen.

Three Incidents were reported in Nigeria in July 2015. There has been a surge of attacks on naval patrols

and navy facilities in recent months. Another patrol boat was attacked in July 2015, but this time it was

coincidental as the main target was an Addax supply vessel.


July 2015 – According to unconfirmed reports a large group of gunmen opened fire on five crayfish

boats in Effiat in the Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria in early July. They also

took the fishermen’s money and allegedly threw a seven month baby overboard3 when they found the

money the mother hid in the baby’s nappy.

9 July 2015 – Seven gunmen in a speedboat fired on a passenger boat traveling from Port Harcourt to

Okpoama Community in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. One person was killed and two people, including the

master, were kidnapped.4

24 July 2015 – A Naval officer, Lt Cmdr Femi Fakiyesi, was killed during a failed kidnapping attempt

on a Supply Vessel , Wellmanned 3 near Parrot Island in the Calabar waterways. The officer was on a

navy patrol boat escorting the supply vessel with expats working for Addax Petroleum.5

Indian Sub-continent

07/2015. FV Nurjahan & FV

Faruque. Fishing boats.

Attacked by gang. Boats

and 16 fishermen taken.

Three incidents were reported in India and one in Bangladesh in July 2015. In India one robbery and one

attempted robbery were reported in Kandla Port Anchorage and one robbery in Vishakhapatnam, The

incident in Bangladesh was more serious.

13 July 2015 – A gang attacked 12 trawlers in the Jahajmara area of the River Meghna, Bay of

Bengal, Bangladesh. They took two trawlers, FV Nurjahan and FV Faruque, and kidnapped 16

fishermen. They also stole fish, nets and cash from the fishermen.6


East Africa

Robbers attempted to rob a product tanker at the Mbaraki Terminal, Mombasa Port, Kenya on 20 July

2015.7 Three yachts were also robbed in the Seychelles, two at the Inner Yacht Basin in Victoria

Harbour and another off Eden. The owners wife of the yacht SY Imagine was assaulted when he

resisted the robbers.8

The Port of Aden reopened after it was shut down in April after the Houthis captured Aden. Infrastructure

at the port is severely damaged. The World Food Program relief ship, MV Han Zhi docked in the Port of

Burega, in Aden on 21 July 2015 carrying 3000 tons of relief food.

21/07/2015. Yachts.

Ceilydh and 2Fast4you.

Robbed

23/07/2015. SY Imagine.

Yacht. Robbed and

owner’s wife assaulted.


The Med

16/07/2015. Egyptian Navy

Patrol Boat. Missile attack

Wilayat Sinai.

On 16 July 2015 the militant group Wilayat al-Sinai claimed responsibility on social media9 for a missile

attack on a Egyptian Navy/Coastguard Swiftships Patrol Boat near Rafah on the border with Gaza.

According to unconfirmed reports a Russian-made 9K129 Kornet anti-tank guided missile system was

used in the attack. This weapon was not previously used in attacks by the organization.10

Wilayat Sinai (Province of Sinai) was formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) (Supporters of

Jerusalem).ABM was formed in 2011.The group swore allegiance to ISIL on 10 November 2014 and

changed their name to Wilayat al-Sinai.

Attacks by Wilayat Sinai are directed against Egypt and Israel and the majority of attacks have taken

place in North Sinai against military targets. It is estimated that they have 1000 members and are well

equipped.11 They are in possession of man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) - Igla (SA-18)12,

rocket-propelled grenades, Grad rockets, and mortars.


Photos posted on social media of the missile attack on Egyptian

Navy Patrol Vessel13


Major attacks by Wilayat al-Sinai and Ansar Bait al-Maqdis

In October 2014 the Egyptian military directed several successful operations against ABM with the result

that ABM turned to attacks via remote targeting and booby traps.14 In December 2014 ABM planted 21

roadside bombs in Northern Sinai. Four Egyptian security members were killed and 24 wounded in

these attacks.

This attack highlights the danger of maritime terrorist attacks in this region as Egypt is responsible for

securing the Suez Canal. An estimated seven to eight percent of global marine traffic transits the Suez

canal each year. Oil tankers and foreign naval vessels including nuclear powered aircraft carriers pass

through the canal.15

13

End Notes

1. http://www.maritimeprofessional.com/news/pirates-attack-fishing-vessel-near-275347 viewed 30/07/2015

2. https://icc-ccs.org/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-report/details/146/1034 viewed 4/08/2015

3. http://www.oni.navy.mil/Intelligence_Community/piracy/pdf/20150708_WTS.pdf viewed 13/07/2015

4. http://www.oni.navy.mil/Intelligence_Community/piracy/pdf/20150722_WTS.pdf viewed 27/07/2015

5. http://www.coastlandenergy.com/about.html

6. unb.com.bd/fishermen-abduction viewed 30/07/2015

7. https://icc-ccs.org/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-report/details/146/1030 viewed 24/07/2015

8. http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Seychelles/seychelles-mahe-port-victoria-night-time-boardings-and-thefts-july-

2015 viewed 28/07/2015

9. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/07/16/islamic-state-affiliate-claims-attack-on-egyptian-

navy-vessel/ viewed 27/07/2015

10. http://www.janes.com/article/53070/sinai-militants-attack-egyptian-patrol-boat

11. https://timep.org/esw/profiles/terror-groups/ansar-bayt-al-maqdis

12. http://www.janes.com/article/53024/sinai-s-resilient-insurgency

13. ttps://twitter.com

14. http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/557#attacks

15. https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33003.pdf viewed 11/08/2015


https://icc-ccs.org/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-report/details/146/1030 viewed 24/07/2015












http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Seychelles/seychelles-mahe-port-victoria-night-time-boardings-and-thefts-july-2015 viewed 28/07/2015






















https://timep.org/esw/profiles/terror-groups/ansar-bayt-al-maqdis










http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/557#attacks




https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33003.pdf

https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33003.pdf

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