The Weekly Maritime report highlighted the various events which occurred over the week.
1. Location: West Africa Ghana
Assailant boards vessel at Takoradi anchorage
On October 9, a suspected robber boarded a merchant vessel via the anchor chain at Takoradi anchorage at 0315 hrs local time. A security patrol sighted the assailant prompting them to flee the vessel. Nothing was reported stolen and the crew and vessel were reported as safe.
2. Location: Guinea-Bissau
Migrant trafficking boat capsizes with 60 people on board
On October 2, around 60 migrants were reported missing after their boat capsized at an unspecified location off the coast of Guinea-Bissau. The coast guard said the wreckage of the boat had been found, but no bodies. The intended destination for the migrants remains unclear.
3. Location: Ecuador
Authorities seize 300 kg of cocaine at Bolivar port
On October 3, Anti-narcotics police seized 300 kg of cocaine hidden in a banana cargo ship docked at Bolivar port in Machala, El Oro province. Authorities found the drugs after being alerted by the ship’s captain about the suspicious activity of two individuals on board the ship at Guayaquil port, where the ship departed from. According to local authorities, the drugs were destined for New Zealand.
4. Location: Tunisia
Seven tonnes of crude oil leak in Zarzouna
On October 4, Seven tonnes of crude oil leaked from a damaged storage tank on a pier in the harbor of the industrial town of Zarzouna in northern Tunisia. Local media reported that the tank had been overdue for inspection and was run by the Tunisian Refinery Industry Company (STIR). The environmental impact of the leak is still being assessed, but the Ministry of Industry has placed unspecified limitations on maritime traffic entering Bizerte and Zarzouna harbors.
5. Location: Morocco
Security forces arrest 59 migrants near Nador
On October 6, Security forces arrested 59 undocumented Sub-Saharan migrants near the coastal city of Nador, local media reported. The migrants were detained as they were embarking on a boat in an attempt to reach the Spanish coast. Migrant departures from Morocco towards Spain have increased in the past year, as other transit countries have shored up anti-human trafficking measures.
6. Location: Morocco
Authorities recover bodies of 11 migrants off Nador
On October 2, authorities recovered the bodies of 11 migrants off the northeastern city of Nador after their vessel “encountered issues”, officials said. Another 32 sub-Saharan migrants were rescued during the operation. A Spanish charity specializing in assisting migrants put the death toll at 34 and said the migrants had waited over 36 hours to be rescued from a sinking boat. Some 54,000 migrants have attempted to cross the Mediterranean from Morocco since the beginning of 2018.
7. Location: Tunisia
Coastguard intercept 16 migrants off Kerkennah
On October 7, the coast guard intercepted 16 would-be migrants in a vessel bound for Europe off the Kerkennah Islands, the ministry of defence said. The migrants were all Tunisian nationals. Increased pressure on migrant sea routes out of Libya in recent months has diverted activity to other parts of North Africa, including Tunisia.
8. Location: Tunisia
Migrant boat capsizes off Zarzis, killing one
On October 7, a boat carrying would-be migrants capsized off the southern city of Zarzis, killing one person. The vessel overturned at 0300 hrs local time, with local fishermen alerting the navy to the incident. The navy rescued seven other migrants who were aboard the vessel, while two other people managed to flee. Officials said that the two individuals who had escaped were suspected of being the vessel’s captain and the trafficker who had organised the voyage. Attempts to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe are common in Tunisia, which suffers from high unemployment.
9. Location: Vietnam
Authorities seize 8 tonnes of ivory, pangolin scales at Tien Sa port
On October 5, authorities seized more than 8 tonnes of pangolin scales and ivory concealed in a plastic waste container at Tien Sa port in Danang, the government said in a statement. The container was reportedly sent from Nigeria, according to the statement. The seizure comes days after authorities at Noi Bai international Airport in the capital Hanoi said they seized approximately 1 tonne of ivory and pangolin scales concealed in cargo boxes, also sent from Nigeria. Trade in ivory and pangolin is illegal in Vietnam, but wildlife trafficking remains widespread.
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Source: Protection Vessels International Ltd
