Pirate Attack Group News

On 29 June 2012 a dhow Pirate Attack Group (PAG) was disrupted at position 14 02N 051 25E approximately 145nm North West of Socotra Island. This is the same dhow which attacked a merchant vessel on 27 Jun at position 14 23N 054 38E. Pictures supplied from the merchant vessel during this recent attack led to the rapid release of this pirated dhow. Activity over the past two weeks shows that pirate activity can still take place during the South-West Monsoon and that pirates are operating closer to shore to avoid severe conditions further out to sea.

The French Navy frigate Acconit was heading towards a position in the north of the Horn of Africa to join with Spanish frigate Infanta Elena, to take over the escort of a World Food Programme ship, then FS Aconit spotted a whaler towing a skiff. The long way off-shore location, nearly 600 km, and the absence of fishing activity raised the suspicion of Aconit's command and the order was given to intercept the whaler. After the boarding team had been deployed, due to the short distance between the French frigate and the whaler…

As it is now the monsoon transition period and the sea states become more favourable for small boats, it is expected that pirate activity will continue to increase. A dhow was hijacked approximately 10 nm northeast of Raas Caseyr light, Somalia, in vicinity of position 12 00N 051 22E. It is believed to be white in colour, and its current location remains unknown. There has been an increase of piracy related activity in the Arabian Sea, as the weather has been favourable for small boats. A merchant vessel was attacked by one skiff approximately 300nm southeast of the Omani coast, in position 16 58N 064 48E  and another merchant vessel was attacked by two skiffs approximately 140nm northeast of Socotra Island.

The NATO  piracy update mentions in its overview of the week, four piracy related incidents in the High Risk Area (HRA):  a Pirate Attack Group (PAG) was disrupted (017/12), one merchant vessel was hijacked (Alert 018/12), one merchant vessel was approached by suspected pirates (NSC 010/12) and one merchant vessel was attacked ( 019/12). As the monsoon period is over and the sea state becomes more favourable for small boats, it is expected that Pirate Attack Group activity will increase in the weather transition period.

Reporting period: 19 to 25 January 2012 (Updated: 25 January 2012). The reporting period of 19 to 25 January 2012, has been very quiet. There was one disruption, two approaches, and two reports of suspicious activity. Two individuals kidnapped by Somali pirates on 25 October 2011 were rescued on 25 January 2012. Masters are advised to be vigilant as PAGs are active and waiting for the opportunity to attack merchant ships. Masters are asked to report any suspicious activity to UKMTO and NSC. Masters are reminded that the threat of piracy is always present in the High Risk Area (HRA) and are advised to completely implement self-protection measures as recommended in Best Management Practices (BMP4).

During the afternoon of the 13 May, the EU NAVFOR French warship FS Nivôse disrupted a Dhow that was suspected of being used as a Pirate Action Group (PAG) mothership since it was pirated over a year ago. The Dhow, which is suspected of having carried out several recent attacks in the Arabian Sea and which still has her original crew on board as hostages, was spotted by an EU NAVFOR German Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) earlier the same day. Once identified, the Dhow was tracked by the MPRA which guided the FS Nivôse into position.

Early the morning of March 17, two small skiffs made a fast approach on the EU NAVFOR Dutch HNLMS Tromp with what appeared to be a pirate attack. The Tromp fired warning shots as they approached and it was this action that alerted the “would be” pirates to the fact that they were trying to attack a well armed Naval warship. The warship, HNLMS Tromp of the Royal Netherlands Navy, was patrolling the region as part of the ongoing EU counter-piracy mission, when it was approached at high speed by two small vessels, known as skiffs, shortly after 0630 GMT. Warning shots were fired by the naval vessel, which also deployed its helicopter to intercept the suspects who attempted to flee.

Over the weekend of 5 – 7 March, EU NAVFOR units have been involved in concerted operations to interdict and disrupt pirate action groups before they had the opportunity to pirate vessels in the Indian Ocean. Six pirate action groups have been intercepted, mother ships and skiffs have been destroyed and over 40 pirates have been taken into custody. As reported by EU NAVFOR on 5 March, the Force Commander of Operation ATALANTA, RAdm Giovanni GUMIERO, onboard the ITS Etna, tasked the French EU NAVFOR Warship FS NivosE to intercept and disrupt the pirate attack group…

In the evening of December 6, approximately 250 nautical miles North West of Victoria Seychelles a pirate attack group was neutralized by EU NAVFOR and the Seychellois Coast Guard. On December 5th an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, stationed at the Seychelles, located a suspected pirate attack group with one mother skiff and two attack skiffs. EU NAVFOR French warship FS Floreal was tasked to close the group and the Seychellois Coast Guard also responded to the request by sending their patrol vessel Topaz. At first light, EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft relocated the suspected pirated attack group and directed both vessels to that position. On arrival of the Coast Guard vessel, the helicopter of FS Floreal assisted the Topaz crew with the intercept and securing the area.

On November 25, 2009 EU NAVFOR Greek warship HS Adrias neutralized a suspected Pirate Attack Group approximately 260 nautical miles North-East of Seychelles. MV Eclipse, a France flagged Ro-Ro Cargo Ship was approached the day before by a suspected skiff. An embarked Vessel Protection Detachment fired warning shots to hold off a possible attack. An EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft stationed at the Seychelles was tasked to investigate this approach. The Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected in the position of the earlier approach a suspected motherskiff with an attack skiff in tow. Greek EU NAVFOR warship HS Adrias, tasked to search and neutralise these suspected pirates, intercepted the suspected pirate attack group with help from another Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

On the morning of 12 November, east in the Gulf of Aden, two merchant vessels were attacked by pirates. There are no reports of casualties. The first attack was on MV Full Strong, a Hong Kong flagged 721.8 ft long Bulk Carrier. MV Full Strong was approached by pirates in two skiffs and a mother skiff but managed to evade the attack. Shortly after this attack, in almost the same position, MV Fengli 8, a Panama flagged 738 ft Bulk Carrier was attacked in two fast attack skiffs and one mother skiff. The master and crew were alert and immediately activated anti piracy measures (according to MSCHOA Best Management Practices) and, with speed and evasive action, they were able to avoid being hijacked.

In the afternoon of November 2 some 360 nautical miles east of Mombasa, Kenya, pirates attempted to hijack MV Harriette and MV Jo Cedar. MV Harriette, a U.S. flagged Cargo vessel was attacked by two small skiffs. The pirates opened fire with automatic weapons. Rocket Propelled grenades were also seen by the crew of the Harriette. The pirates tried to get onboard the vessel with a ladder but the master of Harriette made evasive maneuvers and succeeded in keeping the pirates off his ships. Nobody was reported injured on board. Some hours later, MV Jo Cedar, a Dutch flagged Tanker, reported being under attack in roughly the same position. The vessel was under attack by three fast attack skiffs. The pirates fired their automatic weapons damaging the bridge wing.