Pirate Activity in the Red Sea/Eritrea Area
Further to our previous media releases detailing a potential new trend in pirate tactics in an area of the Red Sea off Eritrea (see Figure 1), Neptune Maritime Security has had the opportunity to examine the available data through our Intelligence Bank, including material supplied by intelligence sources, and presents the following report to interested parties. In July, pirate activity off Eritrea was limited to small numbers of pirates mounting similarly small-scale attacks on shipping. while underway in position 13:27N-042:39E, approximately 27nm NW off Assab, Eritrea.
Piracy: Second Red Sea ‘Mass Attack’ Suggests New Trend
Following a report filed on Sunday August 7, 2011, by the IMB Live Piracy Reporting Center, which saw suspected Somali pirates at 13:02N 043:07E attempt to hijack a vessel off the coast of Eritrea in large numbers, Neptune Maritime Security raised concerns over this apparent change of tactics. Unfortunately, it would indeed appear that pirates in the area are banding together in an attempt to ‘swarm’ vessels. On Thursday August 18th, the IMB Live Piracy Reporting Centre listed an attempted hijacking* on a bulk carrier underway around 22nm NE of Assab, Eritrea in the Red Sea at 13:16N 043:01E. Interestingly, this is approximately 26.19km North of the attack on August 7th, and could suggest that this large group of pirates have a specific area of operations.
