Pirates and armed robbers continue to pose a threat to seafarers in high-risk waters and ports. Recent incidents reported to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) 24-hour Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) include the following.
- Around five people armed with guns and hooks were spotted attempting to board a tanker anchored at Lagos, Nigeria on 17 October. The duty crew member shouted at the intruders and informed the bridge. After the alarm was raised and the fire pump activated, the intruders abandoned their attempted boarding and moved away.
- Four pirates in a speedboat armed with AK-47 approached a bulk carrier 341nautical miles off Mogadishu, Somalia on 16 October. The master raised the alarm and activated security systems, and the crew mustered in the citadel. The onboard armed guards returned fire from the pirates, who abandoned the attack and moved away.
- Two robbers were spotted boarding a tanker anchored at Lagos, Nigeria on 14 October. The alarm was raised and the ship’s horn was sounded, and the robbers jumped overboard and escaped.
- Robbers boarded a tanker anchored at Deendayal, Kandla, India on 10 October, stole ship’s stores and escaped.
- A robber was spotted on board a bulk carrier anchored at Takoradi, Ghana on 9 October. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. The robber escaped empty-handed.
- Robbers boarded a bulk carrier anchored at Tianjin, China on 3 October, stole oil from the tank and escaped unnoticed.
- Three robbers armed with a rifle and pistols boarded a fishing boat off Negros Island, Philippines on 3 October, and stole the fishing catch and valuables. Two patrol vessels were dispatched to the area to search for the robber’s boat.
- Three robbers armed with knives boarded a tanker in the Singapore Straits on 18 September. They injured a duty crew member and stole his personal belongings. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered, and the robbers escaped
- Six people in a small boat approached a containership off Punta Tambulinero, Guayaquil Approaches, Ecuador on 14 August. The master raised the alarm, and the crew directed flashlights and searchlights towards the boat. The boat abandoned an attempted boarding five metres from the ship.
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All attacks and suspicious sightings should be reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, tel: +603 2031 0014 (24 hours), email: imbkl@icc-ccs.org
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