Southeast Asia
Indonesia: Armed robbers steal properties from tanker at Lubuk Gaung 27 July
Six assailants armed with knives boarded a berthed product tanker at 0520 hrs local time at SDS Terminal at Lubuk Gaung port. The robbers entered the engine room and took the oiler and another crew member hostage while they stole the ship’s spares and personal belongings before fleeing. The incident was reported to the Port Control.
PVI Analysis: The incident is the latest in a spate of violent armed robberies at Indonesian ports and anchorage areas in recent weeks. The trend indicates deteriorating port security at Indonesian ports and vessels should remain vigilant at all times, particularly after dark when many robbers look to take advantage of decreased visibility.
Philippines: ReCAAP issues advisory on maritime kidnappings off Sabah 28 July
The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) has issued an advisory for vessels following a series of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) kidnappings and hijackings off Malaysia’s Sabah in the Celebes and Sulu Seas since mid-March. There have been six reported hijackings and kidnappings since March, and 15 of the 33 crewmembers abducted remain in captivity. ReCAAP reported that the attackers targeted slow-moving boats with low freeboards, occurred during daytime and that the pirates work in groups of five or more.
PVI Analysis: the advisory comes days after the last reported abduction, claimed by ASG, off Sabah on 18 July as kidnappings continue in the Celebes and Sulu seas despite increased maritime security and restrictions on coal shipments in the area.
West Africa
Ghana: Vessel reports robbery at Takoradi Anchorage 28 July
A gang of robbers boarded an unidentified maritime vessel anchored in the Takoradi Anchorage at around 0350 hrs local time. According to the crew, the robbery failed after the crew raised the alarm and the robbers fled the scene. No harm was done to the crew or the vessel and no properties were stolen. Local authorities are investigating the incident.
PVI Analysis: Robberies at Takoradi Anchorage are occasionally reported, although many more incidents are thought to go unreported through recognised channels. Robberies at West African ports and anchorages tend to be non-violent in nature due to the proximity of security forces, with more violent acts taking place further out at sea.
Selected Maritime News
Australia: Port of Newcastle launches appeal against Glencore 27 July
The Port of Newcastle commenced legal action at the court of appeal against mining firm Glencore over control of port access fees.
China: Beijing asks Washington to support maritime talks with Manila 26 July
China has asked the US to support the resumption of talks between Beijing and Manila over the South China Sea dispute.
Egypt: Suez Canal introduces cheaper rates for empty US oil vessels 25 July
The Suez Canal Authority introduced a toll reduction for empty US oil vessels by between 20 and 45 percent depending on the capacity of the vessel. Vessels with a capacity of 200,000 tonnes will be entitled to the cheaper rate.
France: Authorities evacuate ferry in Marseille over bomb scare 31 July
Authorities evacuated 77 passengers and crew from the ferry Jean Nicoli at the port of Joliette in Marseille over a bomb scare after an explosion was heard on board. Police stated the cause of the noise was unknown as the vessel was not leaking.
Greece: Migration organisation reports 3,000 deaths in Mediterranean in 2016 29 July
The International Organisation for Migration reported that 3,034 people have died so far in 2016 while trying to reach Europe across the Mediterranean.
India: Conglomerate begins building transshipment port in Kerala 28 July
The Indian conglomerate Adani Group has started building the country’s first transshipment port in Kerala state’s Vizhinjam using USD 240 mn in government funds, with the aim of attracting business from other maritime hubs in Asia.
India: New Delhi signs USD 1 bn deal with Washington to buy four Poseidon-8I aircraft 27 July
India signed a deal worth over USD 1 bn with the US to buy four additional Poseidon-8I long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
Iran: General threatens to close Strait of Hormuz relations with Washington 29 August
The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army, General Brigadier Ali Shadmani, said Tehran would shut the Strait of Hormuz should the US make “a small mistake”, without elaborating further on what would constitute a mistake.
Iran: Authorities intercept Emirati vessel over documentation 26 July
The Port and Maritime Organisation in southwest Khuzestan province intercepted an Emirati-owned Panama-flagged tanker, saying that the term “Persian Gulf” was missing from the vessel’s documentation..
Israel: Security forces arrest two fishermen off Gaza Strip 27 July
Pro-Palestinian rights organisations said that Israeli forces fired at and then arrested two Palestinian fishermen off the coast near Beit Lahia in the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials said that the suspects’ vessels left the designated fishing zone.
Italy: Terminal operator accuses Port of Piraeus officials of spying 1 August
Terminal operator Contship Italia reported that executives from the Greek Port of Piraeus had visited its terminal at the Port of Gioia Tauro uninvited.
Jamaica: Authorities arrest five transporting cannabis in Black River 29 July
Anti-drug trafficking agents detained three Costa Ricans and two Jamaicans trafficking a shipment of 216 kg of cannabis in two fishing vessels.
Libya: Coast guard detains vessel off Ras Hillal 30 July
According to local media, the coast guard detained an Antigua-flagged cargo vessel off Ras Hillal on suspicion of carrying weapons and supplies.
Libya: Unity government reaches deal with militia to re-open oil ports 29 July
The UN-backed unity government signed a deal with an armed militia controlling the major oil ports of Ras Lanuf and Es Sider to end the blockade of the ports and restart exports from the terminals.
Libya: Eastern government threatens attacks on foreign oil tankers 26 July
A top military official from Libya’s eastern-based political authority threatened warplanes would attack foreign oil tankers approaching the Libyan coast.
Malaysia: Manila, Kuala Lumpur agree to set up base over cross-border crime 29 July
Malaysia and the Philippines agreed to form a forward operations base in the Philippines to counter cross-border crimes, amid a spate of abductions and hijackings of tugboats by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the waters between the countries since March.
Malaysia: Police blame ASG abduction on tug operator 26 July
Police Inspector General Tan Sri Khalid Abu Baka said that tug operators had not been following official guidelines on rerouting to avoid areas where Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) are known to conduct kidnap for ransom attacks.
Morocco: Authorities seize 224 kg cannabis resin in Tangiers port 28 July
Police officers seized a 224 kg of cannabis resin concealed in diesel oil tanks on a truck in the Tangiers-Med port. Morocco is both a major source of cannabis and a transit point for cocaine entering Europe.
Nigeria: Beijing to assist in counter-piracy operations 29 July
Chinese Major General Qian Lihua announced that Chinese troops will be deployed to assist in regional capacity building in the Gulf of Guinea’s anti-piracy operations.
Panama: ACP reports one incident on expanded Panama Canal in first month 26 July
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said it had only recorded one incident since the inauguration of its first set of locks on 26 June, and that this was due to intense rainfall and wind.
Philippines: Tropical storm strands 5,000 people at seaports nationwide 1 August
About 4,931 travellers were stranded at various seaports across the country due to rough seas from tropical storm Carina.
Portugal: Police seize two tonnes of cannabis near Tavira 27 July
Portuguese police say they seized some two tonnes of Moroccan cannabis from a boat during a night-time operation on the country’s southern coast.
Singapore: Maritime authorities revoke bunker licences over documentation 1 August
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) cancelled the bunker fuel supplier and operator licences of AC Oil Pte Ltd over incorrect declarations and discrepancies and the violation of bunker regulations, following an investigation into the firm.
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Source: Protection Vessels International
