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Maritime Security Centre News

14 Mar 2024

Hijacked Ship May Have Been Used in Attack near Somalia

Source: EUNAVFOR

Somali pirates who seized the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo ship Ruen in December may have used the vessel in the takeover of a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia two days ago, the European Union naval force said on Thursday.Somali pirates caused chaos in important global waterways for a decade leading up to 2018, but had been dormant until a resurgence of attacks starting late last year.If confirmed, Tuesday's attack from a confiscated ship would mark a return…

12 Mar 2024

Armed Pirates Board Cargo Ship Off Somalia

Š Venera / Adobe Stock

Twenty armed people have boarded a cargo ship off the coast of Somalia and have taken control of it, a maritime security firm said on Tuesday.The vessel is the latest to be targeted following a resurgence of attacks by Somali pirates in recent months although the maritime security firm, Ambrey, did not specify that it was Somali pirates who boarded the ship.Ambrey said the ship was a Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier - a type of merchant ship used to transport large amounts of cargo…

11 Aug 2023

Three Bulk Carriers Robbed in Singapore Strait

Credit: Leonid/AdobeStock

Three bulk carriers were robbed in the Singapore Strait earlier this week, a Singapore-based regional maritime security centre on Friday. One of the busiest commercial waterways in the world has seen a spike in piracy in recent years. The incidents of "petty crime" happened between Aug 8-9, when the ships were in the Phillip Channel in the Singapore Strait, said the Information Fusion Centre, which is a regional facility hosted by the Singapore navy. One of the ships was flagged to Cyprus, while the other two carried Liberia flags, the center said in a statement.

28 Jun 2023

Concerns Over Anti-Piracy Efforts Raised at UN Security Council

Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs - Department of Peace Operations, while speaking to the United Nations Security Council meeting on June 22.

While piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has been declining since 2021, concerns have been raised about staffing, equipment and finance needed to continue anti-piracy efforts in the region.There are several challenges holding back the full operationalization of the Yaoundé Architecture, said Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs - Department of Peace Operations at the United Nations, while speaking to the United Nations Security Council meeting on June 22.

22 Aug 2022

Waters Near Somalia Removed from List of High-risk Piracy Areas

Š remipiotrowski / Adobe Stock

An area of the Indian Ocean near Somalia—once known as a piracy hotbed—has been removed from the shipping industry's list of high-risk areas following more than a decade of military, political, civil society and the industry measures to secure the waters. No piracy attacks against merchant ships have occurred off Somalia since 2018.On Monday, shipping industry groups International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO, International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), INTERCARGO…

20 Aug 2021

Pirates Attack Cargo Ship off Somalia

(Photo: EU NAVFOR)

On Friday, August 13, EU NAVFOR ATALANTA Joint Operation Centre received an alert according to which the Turkish-flagged cargo vessel Anatolia (IMO 9005869) was under attack by a skiff with four or five armed persons on board.Reportedly, the skiff attempted to approach the vessel and opened fire with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades (RPG). One of these RPG caused damage in the vicinity of the bridge. After almost two hours of exchange of fire between the assailants and the privately contracted armed security personnel on board…

04 Aug 2021

Oman Confirms Asphalt Princess Hijack in Arabian Sea

Oman provided first official confirmation on Wednesday that the Asphalt Princess tanker was involved in a hijacking in the Arabian Sea after Britain's maritime trade agency earlier reported the incident was over.Three maritime security forces had told Reuters on Tuesday that the Asphalt Princess tanker had been seized by suspected Iranian-backed forces, which Iran denied.Oman's Maritime Security Centre said on Twitter that it had received information about the Panama-flagged Asphalt Princess being subjected "to a hijacking incident in international waters in the Gulf of Oman" and that the sultanate's navy had deployed several ships to help secure international waters. (Reuters reporting by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Alison Williams)

29 May 2019

EU NAVFOR Reviews Somali Piracy Attack

The European Union’s counter-piracy force EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta has revealed the scenerio after having responded to the attack on 21 April. The suspected pirates seized a fishing dhow off the coast of Somalia then, holding 23 people hostage.Two days later, the incident was over; Operation Atalanta had detained five suspects and released 23 hostages, it said. EU NAVFOR explained detailed of the operation.The incident began when five suspected pirates captured a fishing dhow off the coast of Somalia. The suspects proceeded to navigate the dhow along the coast, where they visited a pirate base camp and reinforced their crew with additional members.Next, using the captured dhow as a mother ship, the suspects attacked another fishing vessel, the FV Adria.

31 Jul 2018

EU Okays Operation Atalanta HQ Move to Spain

The headquarters of the EU’s anti-piracy missions off the coast of Somalia will be moved from the UK to Spain next year as EU leaders revealed the latest consequence of Brexit."EU NAVFOR confirms that following the decision from the Council of the European Union the mandate of Operation ATALANTA will continue until 31 December 2020," said a press release. EU NAVFOR Somalia, also known as Operation Atalanta, is a current counter-piracy military operation at sea off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean, that is the first undertaken by the European Union Naval Force.The mandate extension signals the EU’s commitment to continuing counter-piracy operations off the Somali coast.

29 Apr 2018

Japan Funds Maritime Security Courses in Djibouti

The first in a series of regional maritime security courses, funded by the Government of Japan, has been held at the Djibouti Regional Training Centre (DRTC). During a five-day workshop (22-26 April 2018), officials from 10 countries (Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and United Republic of Tanzania)  were able to learn about and share ideas on best practices for maritime domain awareness, including measures to promote coordination and sharing of information at national level as the basis for effective regional cooperation. This is in line with the objectives of the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct…

15 Mar 2017

IMO Secretary-General Urges Vigilance after Tanker Hijack

Official photograph of IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim

In the wake of the recent hijacking of tanker Aris 13 off Puntland, Somalia, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim urged the shipping industry to be vigilant and apply diligently IMO guidance and best management practices to avert possible piracy attacks. “While we have seen a very welcome decline in piracy off Somalia since the last reported hijack by Somali pirates in 2012, the reality is that piracy off the coast of Somalia has not been eradicated and the underlying conditions have not changed,” Lim said.

06 Jan 2017

Maritime Crimes On The Rise, Says BIMCO Experts

Industry security experts have concluded that maritime crime will not be stopped any time soon – and that cyber incidents would continue to expand in frequency and severity. This was the consensus at BIMCO’s first ever Maritime Security Seminar in Copenhagen. There was further consensus that regional instability in the Horn of Africa confirms the need to retain legacy systems such as the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) and the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) initiative to continue to deter piracy. The seminar gathered together a large cross section of leading stakeholders involved with the maritime security domain to address a broad range of topics focusing on piracy, terrorism and other illegal maritime activities, including attacks on cyber systems.

15 Dec 2016

Countering Maritime Terrorism

A seminar looking at maritime security issues ranging from cyber security on board ships to piracy and illegal maritime activities concluded in Copenhagen (12-13 December). Industry security experts have concluded that maritime crime will not be stopped any time soon – and that cyber incidents would continue to expand in frequency and severity. This was the consensus at BIMCO’s first ever Maritime Security Seminar in Copenhagen. There was further consensus that regional instability in the Horn of Africa confirms the need to retain legacy systems such as the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) and the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) initiative to continue to deter piracy.

15 Dec 2015

Reduction in High Risk Area for Piracy Now in Force

As of 1 December 2015, the reduction to the High Risk Area (HRA) as defined in Best Management Practices 4, has taken effect. Further information may be found in our earlier web alert, published on 9 October 2015 and available. In response to the reduction in the HRA, the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office has published a revised version of Maritime Security Chart Q6099 which incorporates the changes. The club considers that the risk of piracy remains and recommends that members continue to exercise vigilance when trading to and through affected regions. On 1st December 2015, the limits of the HRA within the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO) Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA), shown on Maritime Security Chart Q6099, will be amended.

08 Oct 2015

Vigilance Still Crucial in Indian Ocean

Organisations representing the global shipping and oil industry have announced that the size of the ‘High Risk Area’ for piracy in the Indian Ocean has been reduced and issued new advice to merchant ship operators. This reduction to the High Risk Area is in response to the ongoing containment of pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean, but a group of shipping and oil industry organisations (BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Intercargo, INTERTANKO and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) stressed that a serious threat remains and that correct reporting and vigilance remains crucial. The reduction of the High Risk Area takes full account of recent shipping industry experience…

14 Oct 2013

Somali Pirate Attack on VLCC Repelled

EUNAVFOR logo

EU Naval Force confirms that a fully laden Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) was fired upon by eight armed men in two ‘skiffs’ 230 miles off the Somali coast, 11, October 2013. The attack was successfully repelled by the Armed Security Team on board the super tanker and the vessel is now safe. The Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa), based at the EU Naval Force Operations Centre, Northwood, UK, has issued an alert about the whereabouts and nature of the attack, to warn other ships transiting the area to be vigilant.

11 May 2011

Register Before Transiting High Risk Area

The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular advising masters of ships transiting or operating in the High Risk Area for piracy attacks in the West Indian Ocean to register with both the UK Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) and the Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSCHOA).  It also notes that the Vessel Movement Registration process with the MSCHOA has recently been amended to include an entry boundary to the North of the High Risk Area (23°N).  Shipping Circular 10-2011 (5/9/11).   (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

26 Jan 2011

MV Beluga Nomination Pirated in Indian Ocean

Photo courtesy EU NAVFOR

After four days of uncertainty regarding the exact status of the crew, MV Beluga Nomination is now believed to be pirated. On the afternoon of 22 January 2011, the MV Beluga Nomination was attacked by a skiff, with an unknown number of suspected pirates on board. Small arms were used against the vessel during the attack. The attack took place in the Indian Ocean, 390 nautical miles north of the Seychelles. The MV Beluga Nomination is an Antiguan and Barbudan flagged, German owned, general cargo vessel which was on passage to Port Victoria in the Seychelles at the time of the attack.

06 May 2010

Liberian Oil Tanker Hijacked

Photo courtesy EU NAVFOR

On the morning of May 5, the Liberia flagged (Russian operated) Oil Tanker Moscow University, was hijacked approximately 350 nautical miles east of Socatra. At the time of the attack, the Moscow University was heading east with a final destination of China. The ship has a crew of 23, all from Russia, and all are believed to be well. Moscow University, with dead weight of 106,474 tones, was not registered with Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) for their recent transit through the IRTC but they had reported to UKMTO.

01 Mar 2010

Ransom Paid for Chemical Tanker

The EU Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) stated that a ransom drop was successfully made for release of the chemical tanker Pramoni. The tanker, with its crew of 24, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on 1 January and has been held of the pirate stronghold of Eyl, Somalia. (2/26/10). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

15 Dec 2009

First Anniversary of EU NAVFOR

10 December 2009 marks the first anniversary of EU NAVFOR Somalia - Operation Atalanta, the EU Naval Force operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin against piracy. Hosted by Rear Admiral Peter Hudson CBE and co chaired by Didier Lenoir (CPMD Brussels) and Chris Trelawny (Head of Maritime Security Section IMO) it was a good opportunity to reflect on a successful first year of the operation. The mission of Operation Atalanta has been three fold. Firstly, the mission provides close escort protection by EU Naval Force warships to World Food Programme shipments of food from Mombasa into Somalia. To date, EU Naval Force has provided protection to the shipment of over 300,000 tonnes of food, vital to a nation often hovering on the brink of starvation and none have been hijacked.

20 Oct 2009

EU NAVFOR Tracks Hijacked Chinese Bulk Carrier

Photo courtesy EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft

On October 19 2009 the Bulk Carrier De Xin Hai from the Peoples Republic of China was hijacked in the Indian Ocean, 350 nautical miles North East of the Seychelles and 700 nautical miles off the East coast of Somalia. An EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, operating from the Seychelles was launched and located the ship and has reported that there are four pirates visible and two skiffs (small pirate craft) being towed by the ship. The bulk carrier was not registered with the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa.

19 Oct 2009

Chinese Carrier Hijacked in Indian Ocean

Around noon local time, October 19th 2009, the Bulk Carrier De Xin Hai from the Peoples Republic of China was hijacked in the Indian Ocean, 350 nautical miles North East of the Seychelles and 700 nautical miles off the East coast of Somalia. On indication of an attack an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, operating from the Seychelles was launched to investigate the incident. The MPA located the ship and has reported that there are four pirates visible and two skiffs (small pirate craft) being towed by the ship The bulk carrier was not registered with the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa. Adding these 25 hostages from the Bulk Carrier to the total number of personnel held by hostages, this makes 146 hostages in total held by criminals at the Somali Coastline.