The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published its Monthly Piracy Report for the month of January 2024.

The following acts of piracy and armed robbery are allegedly committed against ships during the month of January 2024, reported by IMO Member States or international organizations in consultative status.

#1 In international waters 

  -Hana I, Product tanker, Tuvalu

The incident: Six pirates armed with guns boarded the tanker underway and opened fire on the bridge to gain access. They kidnapped nine crew members including the Captain and Chief Engineer. Remaining crew sailed to a safe port after the pirates departed and reported the incident to the Authorities.
The nine kidnapped crew were safely released during the night hours of 29 / 30 Jan 2024. 

  -Lila Norfolk, Bulk carrier, Liberia

The incident: A ship underway was approached, fired upon, and boarded by seven pirates in a skiff launched from a mother vessel. The pirates were armed with machine gun and rocket launcher. Master raised the alarm, contacted local authorities, activated SSAS and all crew mustered in citadel. Indian navy warship responded to the distress and dispatched its helicopter to locate the ship. The warship arrived at the location and the naval boarding team searched the ship. Once the clearance was given, the crew emerged from the citadel and regained control of the ship. 

  -Loranzo Putha 4, Fishing vessel, Sri Lanka 2

The incident: While the fishing vessel was engaged in fishing activity in the Indian Ocean, three pirates boarded, hijacked and took control of the fishing vessel, with six Sri Lankan crew members onboard. The crew of the fishing vessel managed to inform the fishing boats in the area, who then reported the incident to the Sri Lankan authorities via radio. The Sri Lankan authorities observed the fishing vessel was travelling in a south-westerly direction towards Seychelles. As such, the Sri Lankan authorities informed the Seychelles authorities, and also shared the information with other relevant MRCCs.

  -Adria, Fishing vessel, Republic of Korea

The incident: A fishing vessel underway was approached by six armed pirates in a skiff. A suspected mother vessel was seen in the vicinity. Alarm raised and all crew members mustered in the citadel. The master contacted the Korean navy and the onboard armed security team fired warning shots, resulting in the pirates aborting the approach and moving away. All crew members safe.

   -Waimea, Bulk carrier, Liberia

The incident: Four to five armed persons fired upon the ship underway. The onboard armed security team returned fire, resulting in the skiff retreating and moving away. The ship and crew reported safe.

#2 In territorial waters

  -Crimson Queen, Bulk carrier, Singapore

The incident: While underway, the master was alerted by the 3rd Engineer to five perpetrators armed with long knives in the engine room. The 3rd Engineer was tied up by the perpetrators but managed to alert the bridge about the incident. The master sounded the general alarm immediately, and the crew conducted a thorough search onboard the ship. However, the perpetrators had already escaped. 

  -Artin Bulk carrier Iran (Islamic Republic of)

The incident: While underway, the crew saw six perpetrators armed with knives at the stern. The master raised the alarm, mustered the crew and reported the incident to Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS). All crew members were accounted for, and no injuries were reported. Some engine spare parts were stolen. The master indicated that no further assistance was required, and continued its journey to Fang Cheng, China. 

  -CMB Chikako, Bulk carrier, Panama

The incident: Five robbers armed with a knife, boarded a ship underway. They took hostage and tied up one of the crew. Alert crew raised the alarm and crew mustered. Hearing the alarm, the robbers escaped with stolen ship’s engine spare parts. Incident reported to Singapore VTIS. 

  -Clipper I-Star, Bulk carrier, Singapore

The incident: While underway and en-route to Qinzhou, China, six perpetrators armed with machetes boarded the ship via starboard quarter from a small boat. They broke the padlock of the boiler entrance, entered the engine room and tied up three crew members. The perpetrators left the engine room at about 0210 hrs, with stolen engine spare parts and a crew’s mobile phone. The chief engineer subsequently called the bridge to inform master of the incident. The master raised the alarm but there was no further sighting of the perpetrators.

#3 In port area 

  -Bourbon Explorer 519, Special purpose ship, France

The incident: Three robbers in a canoe approached and boarded an anchored vessel. They stole ship’s properties and escaped. The theft was noticed during routine rounds in the morning hours.

  -Name Withheld, General cargo ship, Panama

The incident: Three robbers armed with guns and knives boarded an anchored general cargo ship. They took the duty engine crew as hostage and tied his hands. The robbers stole ship’s engine spare parts and escaped. The duty crew managed to alert the OOW who raised the alarm. Crew mustered and a search carried out. No robbers found onboard.

  -Helga Oldendorff, Bulk carrier, Portugal

The incident: While anchored, the OOW noticed a green light during anchor watch, and informed both forward & aft watchmen on deck during their deck round. The forward watchman proceeded from main deck to the forecastle on port side immediately. He reported that the light was not moving, and resumed his security round on forecastle to starboard side. About 10 min later, the forward watchman noticed a man onboard a skiff close to the anchor cable, and another man climbing up the anchor chain. The bridge was informed immediately via VHF and the forward watchman shouted at the men. The OOW raised the alarm and sounded the forward whistle. Realising the crew was alerted, the two men escaped immediately.

  -Rathbone, Product tanker, Nigeria

The incident: Five persons in a small fishing boat approached and boarded and anchored product tanker. Security watchmen onboard the tanker noticed the unauthorised persons and raised the alarm. Seeing alerted crew, the persons escaped with the stolen ship’s properties. The incident was reported to the port
control.

  -MT Regency, Oil tanker, India

The incident: While anchored, one suspicious boat was observed roaming around near the ship’s forward and aft. The anti-piracy watch keeper during his round, sighted one person jumped into the water from the port side of the ship, and a boat was on standby with five perpetrators onboard. Three loose mooring ropes from the forecastle deck were found missing, and the crew was safe. The incident was reported to Kakinada Port Authority and the ship departed for Paradip Port on 26 Jan 24. Upon arrival at Paradip Port on 1 Feb 24, the ship was boarded by Indian Coast Guard for investigation. 

  -Aurora Diamond, Supply ship, Liberia

The incident: Unauthorised persons boarded an anchored offshore supply ship, stole ship’s stores and escaped. The theft was noticed when the OOW sighted a small boat moving away from the ship and duty watchman instructed to investigate. The incident was reported to the port authorities.

  -White Peach, Chemical tanker, Marshall Islands

The incident: While anchored, four perpetrators boarded the ship from a fast boat, likely from the poop deck. The alarm and ship whistle were sounded, and all crew mustered. Two mooring ropes were stolen from the aft mooring station. The crew was not injured. The incident was reported to Kakinada Pilot Station via VHF. The ship master also shared the information with the agent, and both ship master and agent were advised to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) at Kakinada Marine Police Station.

  -Solar Roma, Product tanker, Liberia

The incident: Duty security patrol onboard an anchored tanker noticed five unauthorised persons attempting to board and immediately notified the OOW. Alarm raised, resulting in the persons aborting and moving away. Nothing reported stolen. The incident was reported to the port control and the pilot station.

  -Omera Legacy, Oil tanker, Bangladesh

The incident: While anchored, an unknown number of perpetrators onboard a country boat propelled by engine approached the ship’s port bow. However, the country boat could not come alongside the ship; hence, the perpetrators were not able to board the ship. They eventually aborted their attempt and escaped.

  -Name Withheld, Supply ship, Bahamas

The incident: Unnoticed, thieves boarded an anchored offshore supply vessel, stole ship’s properties and escaped. The theft was noticed during routine rounds in the morning hours.

  -Al Amerat, Product tanker, Panama

The incident: Watchkeeper onboard an anchored tanker spotted an unauthorised person attempting to board and raised the alarm resulting in the person aborting and moving away. 

Source: Safety4sea

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	Issue 89 of Robban Assafina (Jan./ Feb. 2024)