Pirates Are in Full Force This Month

Date: February 2, 2013
Location: Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia

Six robbers armed with knives in a wooden motor boat approached an anchored chemical tanker. One of the robbers attempted to board the tanker by hooking a ladder near the mid ship manifold area. Alert duty crew spotted the robbers and informed the D/O who raised the alarm, sounded ship's whistle and crew mustered. Upon hearing the alarm and seeing the crew alertness, the robbers aborted the attempted boarding and moved away.

Date: February 3, 2013
Location: ~70 nautical miles south of Abidjan port, Ivory Coast

Twelve heavily armed pirates with guns boarded and hijacked the tanker underway. They sailed the tanker to Nigeria and stole the oil cargo and crew / vessel’s valuables. On 05.02.2013 the tanker and her 17 crew members were released. Two crew members were injured. The tanker proceeded to a safe port.

Date: February 6, 2013
Location: Adang Bay anchorage, Indonesia

Three robbers armed with knives boarded an anchored bulk carrier via the anchor chain. They attacked the duty crew on the forecastle, who managed to escape and raise the alarm. All crew mustered and proceeded forward. Seeing the alert crew the robbers jumped overboard and escaped in their boat. On investigation it was discovered ship’s stores was stolen from the forecastle store.

Date: February 7, 2013
Location: ~96 nautical miles SSW of Brass, Nigeria

Pirates attacked and boarded a General Cargo ship underway. They stole crew and ship property and escaped. Further details awaited.

Date: February 7, 2013
Location: ~40 Nautical Miles SSE of Brass, Nigeria

Report say 17 pirates armed with AK47 rifles attacked, boarded and hijacked an offshore supply vessel underway and tried to use it as a mother vessel. The vessel was released on the February 11 with no injury to crew. Ship stores and equipment were stolen and some communication equipment damaged.

Date: February 10, 2013
Location: Around 45 Nautical Miles off Bonny River, Nigeria

Twelve heavily armed pirates approached, fired upon and boarded an offshore supply vessel underway. Alarm raised and most of the crew retreated into the citadel. The pirates caught and kidnapped the C/Engr and Master and escaped with ship's and crew cash and personal effects.

Date: February 11, 2013
Location: ~20 nautical miles SW of Bonny, Nigeria

A speed boat approached, fired upon and attempted to board general cargo ship underway. The vessel raised alarn, increased speed, made evasive manoeuvres and all crew mustered on the bridge. Due to the anti piracy measures the pirates aborted the attempted boarding and moved away. All crew safe and vessel sustained minor damage due to the gunfire.

Date: February 12, 2013
Location: Dumai Anchorage, Indonesia

Three robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored bulk carrier using a rope and a hook attached to a long pole. Duty officer noticed the robbers, raised the alarm, sounded ship's whistle and informed the local authorities. Seeing crew alertness the robbers escaped empty handed.

Date: February 14, 2013
Location: Haiphong Anchorage, Vietnam

Robbers boarded an anchored container ship via the anchor chain after breaking the locks on the hawse-pipe cover. They broke into the forepeak store, stole ship's stores and escaped unnoticed.

Date: February 14, 2013
Location: Cochin anchorage, India

Three robbers boarded an anchored chemical tanker. Alert duty officer noticed movement on the forecastle deck and raised the alarm. On hearing the alarm and seeing crew alertness the robbers were seen jumping overboard. Upon investigation it was discovered that ship stores were stolen.

Date: February 15, 2013
Location: Chittagong Anchorage, Bangladesh

Robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored bulk carrier via the anchor chain. Alert duty A/B noticed the robbers and raised the alarm. The robbers threatened the A/B with the knives and then escaped without stealing anything. It is suspected that the six shore watchmen onboard the vessel may have opened the anchor chain cover to let the robbers onboard.

Date: February 17, 2013
Location: Berth No. 2, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria

Robbers in a wooden boat approached a berthed bulk carrier. One robber boarded the ship, broke into the forward store and stole ship's stores. Duty crew noticed the robber and raised the alarm. The robber escaped with the stolen stores.

Date: February 17, 2013
Location: ~55 Nautical Miles WSW of Brass, Nigeria

An offshore tug was attacked and boarded by pirates. Maritime risk analyzer AKE told Reuters that the vessel involved was part of Bumi Armada’s fleet of anchor handling supply vessels. These details have not yet been confirmed.  

Date: February 18, 2013
Location: 52 Nautical Miles ENE of Pulau Penjantan, Indonesia

D/O onboard a container ship underway noticed two masked pirates on the bridge wing attempting to enter the bridge. Alarm raised and crew mustered on bridge. The pirates could not enter the locked bridge and escaped up on seeing the crew alertness.

Date: February 18, 2013
Location: ~150 Nautical Miles ESE of Eyl, Somalia

Two white speed boats approached and fired upon a general cargo ship underway. Onboard armed security returned fire resulting in the skiffs moving away.

Date: February 18, 2013
Location: Dumai Inner Anchorage, Indonesia

Two robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored chemical tanker using a portable ladder. Duty A/B noticed the robbers and informed the D/O who raised the alarm, sounded ship's whistle and informed the port control. The robbers immediately jumped overboard and escaped empty handed upon hearing the alarm and seeing the crew alertness.