Dryad Maritime: Ocean Ambush “Game Changer”
In the early hours of Saturday 9th August 2014, the radar of a product tanker transiting south, 200 nautical miles off the Nigerian shoreline detected a probable pirate mother ship lying in wait close to its track. Shortly after detecting the vessel, the crew was engaged by several bursts of automatic gunfire from up to three pirate boats. The pirates then made an unsuccessful attempt at boarding the vessel from the stern. Dryad Maritime warn that the range at which this attack took place…
Product Tanker Released After Probable Cargo Theft
On Sunday, we heard the good news of the release of Hai Soon 6, following its hijack on 25th July off Ghana. Not long after this news from the IMB, Dryad relocated the vessel in exactly the place we expected – off the Niger Delta and some 200 miles east of where she went missing. The bad news is that this is now looking like the third successful cargo theft this year in West Africa. From Angola in the south, where MT Kerala was hijacked in January, to Ghana in the west, where the latest victim fell prey to organised crime, 2014 has see n Nigerian gangs continue to demonstrate their ability to hijack vessels at considerable range from their homebase of the Niger Delta.
"Shock" incidents blight falling piracy rate
A UK maritime intelligence provider Dryad Maritime released its Q1 maritime crime figures which show an overall downturn in incidents across the Horn of Africa, the Gulf of Guinea and Southeast Asia since the same period last year. However, Dryad Maritime caution that ‘shock’ incidents and evolving criminal trends remain a very real threat to the shipping industry. According to Dryad, the overall statistics show a 13% reduction in crime, but ‘shock’ incidents such as the kidnap and ransom of seafarers off the Niger Delta still present real and credible threats; six seafarers are still believed to be in captivity in Nigeria. Similarly…
IMB Warns of West Africa Piracy Threat
The ICC International Maritime Bureau is asking ships to be extra vigilant when transiting West Africa as piracy in the region becomes a growing concern. Since the beginning of the year, one vessel, MT Kerala, has been hijacked and six were boarded in West Africa. There was also one attempted attack. The hijacking of the Liberian-flag product tanker in January by Nigerian pirates has sparked fears these gangs are venturing further south. In that incident, the pirates hijacked the MT Kerala off the coast of Luanda in Angolan waters.
Hijacked Tanker Returns Minus $8M of Diesel
Reuters - An oil tanker hijacked for a week off Angola in January has been returned to the country's authorities, a board member at state oil firm Sonangol said on Tuesday, adding that the hijackers had stolen diesel worth $8 million from the ship. The Liberian-flagged MT Kerala was under a time charter contract for Sonangol when it vanished off the coast of the capital Luanda on Jan. 18 before being intercepted by the Nigerian navy a week later. The incident raised concerns that piracy is spreading south from the Gulf of Guinea…
Criminal Gangs Active in Gulf of Guinea
There is very little piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, but criminal gangs are operating widely. Most attacks in West African waters are part of a long running criminal program of cargo theft or kidnapping and ransom inside territorial waters, and not piracy said maritime security company GoAGT. Nick Davis, CEO of GoAGT said, “The growing problem in West Africa is criminality and it is very well organized. Criminal gangs board ships, take them over, and then move them to a safe area where the cargo can be stolen. Recently the MT Kerala disappeared, its cargo was stolen and then it reappeared.
Hijackers Release Tanker, Dynacom Says
The oil tanker reported missing on January 18 at Angola, Luanda Anchorage was allegedly released by hijackers, according to a statement from the vessel's owner, Greece-based Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd. The Liberian-flagged MT Kerala was hijacked by pirates who stole a large amount of cargo before leaving yesterday, Dynacom said, adding that it was able to reestablish contact with the ship’s master, and all crew members are alive and accounted for. One injury has been reported. “Representatives of international law enforcement and intelligence agencies that are experienced in dealing with piracy incidents will be attending on board…
UPDATE: Vessel Feared Hijacked Still Missing off Luanda
Suspected pirate vessel off Angola. Dryad Maritime - a UK-based maritime intelligence firm - says situation has not changed since yesterday. Dryad Maritime is warning of the possible hijack of a Liberian flagged tanker MT Kerala. The vessel, owned by Dynacom Tankers, has been reported as missing off the coast of Angola, having last been sighted seven nautical miles NNW of Luanda. The tanker’s disappearance may represent a significant extension of maritime crime emanating from the Gulf of Guinea region, most probably from Nigerian criminal gangs.
