WEEKLY PIRACY UPDATE

Weekly Incidents by Region – APR 5-11

INDIAN OCEAN-EAST AFRICA

GULF OF OMAN: General Cargo Vessel was attacked and boarded on 6 April 16 nm southwest of Bandar-e-Jask, Iran at position 25:28N – 057:32E. Armed pirates attacked and boarded the underway vessel. The vessels Master alerted the crew by raising the alarm and the crew mustered in citadel. The pirates took crewmembers hostage and hijacked the ship. An Iranian warship responded and proceeded towards the vessel in response to the incident. The vessels Master requested that the warship not approach via VHF because it received death threats from the pirates. The Iranian ship proceeded to move closer and fire was exchanged between the pirates and the warship. The Iranian navy boarded the vessel and managed to detain nine pirates and saved the 28 crewmembers. (IMB)

GULF OF OMAN: Bulk Carrier was attacked on 4 April while underway 50 nm southeast of Ras Al Haad, Oman at position 21:37N – 059:59E was fired upon and chased by 4-6 pirates armed with automatic rifles. Ship’s Master raised the alarm, mustered the crew in the citadel and began evasive maneuvers and activated the ships distress signal as well. The security team onboard returned fire and the pirates aborted the mission and escaped. (IMB)

SOUTHEAST ASIA

MALAYSIA: Tanker was boarded on 25 March in Pedra Branca, Malaysia at position 01:50N – 104:28E. 15 pirates armed with knives and guns boarded an underway tanker. The pirates chased the duty crew and entered the living spaces. They later mustered the crew and tied their hands. They later escaped with stolen effects 45 minutes later. One crewman was injured. (IMB)

INDONESIA: Chemical Tanker was boarded on 2 April in Dumai Inner Anchorage, Indonesia at position 01:42N – 103:27E. Three pirates armed with knives boarded the chemical tanker at anchorage and threatened the duty crew. The pirates later escaped with a stolen handheld radio and the incident was reported to an agent at Port Control. (IMB)

INDONESIA: Bulk Carrier was boarded on 7 April at the Muara Jawa Anchorage, Samarinda, Indonesia at position 01:11S – 117:11E. The anchored vessel was boarded by a group of pirates who entered the forward ships store. The pirates were sighted by the duty AB who alerted the D/O and the vessels alarm was raised and the pirates escaped with several items from the vessels ship store. (IMB)

INDONESIA: Chemical Tanker was boarded on 6 April while at anchorage in Dumai Inner Anchorage, Indonesia, at position 01:42N – 103:27E. Four pirates armed with long knives boarded the ship; alert crewman noticed the pirates and raised the alarm. The pirates escaped empty handed. (IMB)