03 Nov 04 . OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE CIVIL MARITIME ANALYSIS DEPARTMENT WORLDWIDE THREAT TO SHIPPING MARINER WARNING INFORMATION . POC: CHARLES DRAGONETTE: OFFICE: COMM (301) 669-3261 FAX (301) 669-3247 E-mail cdragonette@nmic.navy.mil . 1. This message provides information on threat to and criminal action against merchant shipping worldwide. . A. To aid in our reporting, please add the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) as an information addressee when possible to your normal corporate and organizational reporting requirements. The ONI message address is ONI WASHINGTON DC//11// or, the ONI Violence at Sea (VAS) desk may be contacted at commercial phone (301) 669-3261 or via e-mail at cdragonette@nmic.navy.mil. Report may also be made to the National Response Center (U. S. Coast Guard) hotline: 1-800-424-0201 or the Maritime Administration Office of Ship Operations, MAR-613, (202) 366-5735; FAX (202) 366-3954, e-mail: opcentr1@marad.dot.gov. . B. This Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report is available weekly to members of the Maritime Security Council via the MSCALERT. For information on corporate membership in the Maritime Security Council, contact Mr. Kim Petersen at mscalert@maritimesecurity.org or visit the MSC website at www.maritimesecurity.org. Message is also posted at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency site http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/onit/onit_j_main.html. . C. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) also publishes a weekly piracy summary, based on reporting from the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Each week's report is published on Tuesday and may be accessed through their web page www.iccwbo.org. . D. Anti-piracy and crime current developments: . 1. NIGERIA: Nigerian Navy personnel have taken over shoreside security at Nigerian Post Authority ports, as of 11 Oct. Previously, the navy had only patrolled port waters to check piracy and illegal bunkering. The action coincides with commencement of a four-day general strike which paralyzed the ports of Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt, but not offshore oil production. It is unclear whether naval presence at the ports will be maintained since the strike ended 14 Oct, as scheduled (INFO). . 2. INDONESIA-ILLEGAL SAND DREDGING: The Government of Indonesia is cracking down on illegal sand dredging in Indonesian waters by Singapore based vessels serving that country's construction needs, according to 11 Oct press. In the past, Indonesian enforcement on prohibition on sand dredging and export has led to violent incidents, some of which have been wrongly attributed to pirate attacks, by the victims, and that have rarely acknowledged by Indonesia. At a minimum, stepped up enforcement in this area will decrease resources available for anti-piracy patrols, elsewhere (INFO, ONI) . E. Source codes: Information contained in this report is derived through direct reporting and analysis of reports of other agencies and commercial sources. Source codes will be added to new reports to enable users requiring more detail to make contact. Codes currently in use are: . AP, Associated Press BBC, BBC News BIMCO, Baltic and International Maritime Council, Denmark DHS, U. S. Department of Homeland Security DOJ, U. S. Department of Justice DOT, U. S. Department of Transportation FP, Fairplay, London GP, Greenpeace IMB, International Maritime Bureau, London and Kuala Lumpur IMO, International Maritime Organization, London INFO, Informa Group, formerly LLP, Llp Limited, London INTELL, Intellibridge LL, Lloyd's List, daily, London LM, local media MARAD, Maritime Administration, US MSC, Maritime Security Council, US NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Brussels NGA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Navigation Safety System ONI, Office of Naval Intelligence analysis and comment Operator, owner or operator of affected vessel OSAC, Overseas Security Advisory Council USCG, United States Coast Guard RAN, Royal Australian Navy REUTERS, Reuters RNZN, Royal New Zealand Navy STATE, U. S. Department of State . 2. Designation of a high threat area is based on an assessment of all source information relating to the existence of, or potential for piracy and other crime, terrorism, civil unrest or low intensity conflict. Every effort is made to ensure that incidents are not double-counted. In the event double counting is detected or an event is later learned not to be as initially reported, an explanation of the cancellation of the inaccurate report will be made in at least one message prior to dropping the erroneous report. Specific incidents will be reported for one month. . 3. This week's highlights: . A. Bulk carrier boarded 30 Oct at Maracaibo, Venezuela (Para 5.C.2.). . B. Bulk carrier boarded 31 Oct at Lagos, Nigeria (Para 5.G.1.). . C. Container ship boarded, robbed 28 Oct, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (Para 5.H.1.). . D. Attempt to board bulk carrier 28 Oct, Gulf of Aden (Para 5.H.2.). . E. Cargo lighter boarded, robbed 31 Oct, Chittagong, Bangladesh (Para 5.H.3.). . F. Two trawlers looted 30 Oct, near Bahadurpur, Bangladesh (Para 5.H.4.). . G. LPG tanker boarded, robbed 31 Oct, Santan, Indonesia (Para 5.K.1.). . H. Attempt to board bulk carrier 31 Oct, Banjarmasin, Indonesia (Para 5.K.2.). . I. Bulk carrier boarded, crew member injured 28 Oct, Bontang. Indonesia (Para 5.K.3.). . J Attempt to board refrigerated cargo ship 27 Oct off Indonesia (Para 5.K.4.). . K Chemical tanker boarded 27 Oct, Dumai, Indonesia (Para 5.K.5.). . L Tanker boarded 26 Oct, Dumai, Indonesia (Para 5.K.6.). . M Suspicious approach to container ship 26 Oct off Aceh Province, Indonesia (Para 5.K.7.). . 4. Contents and summary of threat areas detailed in paragraph 5. . A. NORTH AMERICA: 1. No current incidents to report. B. CENTRAL AMERICA-CARIBBEAN: 1. No current incidents to report. C. SOUTH AMERICA: 1. General cargo ship boarded, robbed 16 Oct at Buenaventura, Colombia. 2. Bulk carrier boarded 30 Oct at Maracaibo, Venezuela. D. ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA: 1. No current incidents to report. E. NORTHERN EUROPE-BALTIC: 1. No current incidents to report. F. MEDITERRANEAN-BLACK SEA: 1. No current incidents to report. G. WEST AFRICA: 1. Bulk carrier boarded 31 Oct at Lagos, Nigeria. H. INDIAN OCEAN-EAST AFRICA: 1. Container ship boarded, robbed 28 Oct, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 2. Attempt to board bulk carrier 28 Oct, Gulf of Aden. 3. Cargo lighter boarded, robbed 31 Oct, Chittagong, Bangladesh. 4. Two trawlers looted 30 Oct near Bahadurpur, Bangladesh. 5. Trawler crew murdered by pirates off Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh, per 18 Oct report. I. RED SEA: 1. No current incidents to report. J. PERSIAN GULF: 1. No current incidents to report. K. SOUTH EAST ASIA: 1. LPG tanker boarded, robbed 31 Oct, Santan, Indonesia. 2. Attempt to board bulk carrier 31 Oct, Banjarmasin, Indonesia. 3. Bulk carrier boarded, crew member injured 28 Oct, Bontang, Indonesia. 4. Attempt to board refrigerated cargo ship 27 Oct off Indonesia. 5. Chemical tanker boarded 27 Oct, Dumai, Indonesia. 6. Tanker boarded 26 Oct, Dumai, Indonesia. 7. Suspicious approach to container ship 26 Oct off Aceh Province, Indonesia. 8. Suspicious approach to container ship 23 Oct off N. tip of Sumatra. 9. Attempt to stop bulk carrier 23 Oct in Gelasa Strait, Indonesia. 10. Two ships seized 10 Oct in Indonesia's new crackdown on illegal sand dredging. 11. Attempt to board tug 8 Oct Riau Strait, Indonesia. 12. Suspicious approach to container ship 6 Oct off N. E. Indonesia. 13. Crew held hostage from tug (ERNA) from 30 Sep released on payment of ransom 25 Oct. 14. Fishermen robbed 20 Oct off Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia. L. NORTH ASIA: 1. No current incidents to report. M. PACIFIC OCEAN AREA: 1. No current incidents to report. N. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC NON-STATE ACTIVIST GROUPS: 1. Greenpeace announced a North Atlantic campaign against deep trawling on the sea bed 5 Oct. Greenpeace tagged its first high seas trawler in the current campaign 25 Oct. . 5. DETAILS: There is reported active violence against shipping, a credible threat to shipping, or the potential to develop into a direct threat to the safety of shipping in the following areas: . A. NORTH AMERICA: No current incidents to report. . B. CENTRAL AMERICA-CARIBBEAN: No current incidents to report. . C. SOUTH AMERICA: . 1. COLOMBIA: An unidentified general cargo ship was boarded 16 Oct at 1000 UTC while anchored in position 03 52.4N, 077 05.4W at Buenaventura. Ten thieves boarded using long poles with hooks, broke into forecastle locker, and stole ship's stores. Alarm raised and crew used flares to repel boarders who jumped into the water and fled. Master states this was third attack on his ship at this port in two months (IMB). . 2. VENEZUELA: An unidentified bull carrier was boarded 30 Oct at 0140 local time while anchored at Maracaibo. A single man gained access via the anchor chain but fled in a waiting boat when duty seaman raised alarm (IMB). . D. ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA: No current incidents to report. . E. NORTHERN EUROPE-BALTIC: No current incidents to report . F. MEDITERRANEAN-BLACK SEA: No current incidents to report. . G. WEST AFRICA: . 1. NIGERIA: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 31 Oct at 0145 UTC while at berth 13, Lagos. A group tried to steal from the ship's cargo of rice, but fled when duty officer raised alarm and crew mustered, firing flares. Port police responded to the ship's call at 0400 (IMB) . H. INDIAN OCEAN-EAST AFRICA: . 1. TANZANIA: An unidentified container ship was boarded 28 Oct at 0320 local time in position 06 41.7S, 039 27.3E in the outer roads at Dar es Salaam awaiting berthing. Three of about 15 persons in a long boat, armed with knives, boarded at the forecastle and stole cargo form two containers on deck. When alarm sounded, robbers jumped overboard and escaped with ship's stores and the unidentified cargo (IMB). . 2. GULF OF ADEN: An unidentified bulk carrier reports approach 28 Oct at 0950 UTC while underway in position 12 33.0N, 045 14.7E. Three boats crossed ship's bow and attempted to come alongside whereupon master began evasive maneuvers, crew mustered and activated fire hoses, and boats moved away (IMB). . 3. BANGLADESH: The cargo lighter (AL-SAMIT-3) was boarded 31 Oct at 1900 local time in Chittagong outer anchorage as it proceeded to a lightering job. About 20 persons attacked the lighter in the outer anchorage and stole rope, tents, gas cylinders, mobile phones and cash, at gunpoint and injured the 13 crew when they resisted (INFO). . 4. BANGLADESH: Two trawlers were looted and 6 fishermen injured 30 Oct when a gang operating from two speedboats attacked the unidentified trawlers near Bahadurpur, Barisal District at 0300 local time (INFO). . 5. BANGLADESH: Twenty-four Bangladeshi fishermen were found dead in a hold of refrigerated trawler (KAWSAR) when police boarded the vessel after a surviving crewman set off the trawler's alarm according to a 28 Oct press article. Pirates raided the trawler off Cox's Bazaar and pushed the men into the hold according to the survivor who said he managed to hide. The deputy commissioner of the coastal district stated the attack was in retaliation for the crew having reported an earlier robbery (BBC). . I. RED SEA: No current incidents to report. . J. PERSIAN GULF: No current incidents to report. . K. SOUTH EAST ASIA: . 1. INDONESIA: An unidentified LPG tanker was boarded 31 Oct at 2150 UTC while anchored at Santan. One man boarded from a 10- meter wooden boat with green hull and white upperworks. Man lowered a liferaft into water but jumped overboard and fled when crew raised alarm. Crew lowered lifeboat and recovered raft (IMB) . 2. INDONESIA: An unidentified bulk carrier reports attempt to board 31 Oct at 0230 local time while anchored at Banjarmasin. Six persons tried to gain access via the anchor chain but fled when alarm was raised (IMB). . 3. INDONESIA: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 28 Oct at 1945 local time while anchored in position 00 00.02N, 117 36.09E. Six persons armed with knives attacked and injured a crew member but fled empty handed when crew mustered (IMB). . 4. INDONESIA: An unidentified refrigerated cargo ship reports attempt to board 27 Oct at 0145 UTC while underway in position 01 45N, 102 40E. Five persons, dressed in black clothes and in two speedboats approached form starboard quarter. Master raised alarm and began evasive maneuvering while crew mustered, switched on deck lights and activated fire hoses averting a boarding (IMB). . 5. INDONESIA: An unidentified chemical tanker was boarded 27 Oct at 0145 local time at Dumai anchorage. Two persons boarded via the poop deck but jumped overboard and fled empty handed when duty seaman raised alarm (IMB). . 6. INDONESIA: An unidentified tanker was boarded 26 Oct at 1925 UTC while at Dumai anchorage. Three persons gained access but fled when crew sounded alarm and mustered ((MB). . 7. INDONESIA: An unidentified container ship reports suspicious approach 26 Oct at 0905 local time while underway in position 01 50.0N, 097 31.2E off Aceh Province. Four grey-green colored boats approached form port bow while another four approached from starboard quarter. The boats held several persons dressed in black. Master raised alarm, began evasive maneuvers and increased speed, while crew activated fire hoses. Boats withdrew. ONI NOTE: It is not possible to characterize this as attempted piracy or as Indonesian enforcement of navigation restrictions around Aceh Province (IMB, ONI). . 8. INDONESIA: An unidentified container ship reports suspicious approach 23 Oct at 0240 UTC while underway in position 05 54N, 096 19E off the northern tip of Sumatra. Four boats with armed persons inside were repelled when crew mustered with activated fire hoses and ship increased speed. Incident is near shore in Aceh Province and could be equally attributable to Free Aceh Movement rebels or to Indonesian troops enforcing Indonesia's ban on ship's trading in Aceh waters without permits (IMB, ONI). . 9. INDONESIA: An unidentified bulk carrier reports suspicious approach 23 Oct at 1130 local time while underway in position 02 57S, 107 18E, 3 miles west of Mendanau Island, Gelasa Strait. Six armed persons wearing masks and black clothing approached in a grey boat, fired shots at the superstructure and ordered the ship to stop. Master sounded alarm, blew ship's whistle, and began evasive maneuvers and the boat withdrew (IMB). . 10. INDONESIA: With announcement that Indonesia was cracking down on enforcement of its ban on sand dredging and associated surveys (see Para 1.D.5.) two ships were interdicted 10 Oct off the Riau islands while allegedly involved in illegal Surveys. The Belize flag (BINTANG TIGA) and 26-meter Thai flag dive boat (WHITE MANTA) were both seized and both boats and crews are believed still held in Indonesia as of 14 Oct. The passengers in the (WHITE MANTA), a mix of Thais, Singaporeans, Swedes, Japanese, U.S., and Malaysians were released 13 Oct. Although neither seizure was piratical, past incidents indicate that Indonesian enforcement efforts will be interpreted by some targeted ships as attempted piracy and the resulting resistance, especially from vessels not engaged in illegal sand dredging or survey, could lead to injury, and the events warrant citation in this report. Indonesian forces have been found to have been responsible for what were initially reported as shooting incidents accompanying pirate attacks on sand dredges operating in this region in the past, although Indonesia has not necessarily admitted to this. In the present case, the passengers in (WHITE MANTA) are more suggestive of tourist diving than illegal surveying for construction sand resources (INFO, ONI). . 11. INDONESIA: An unidentified tug and barge report attempt to board 8 Oct at 1002 local time while underway in position 00 18.67N, 104 29.36E in the Riau Strait. Six masked men in a speedboat came alongside, attempting to board, but in the maneuver r the speedboat collided with the tug and capsized. The tug continued its voyage Nothing immediately connects this incident with the Indonesian crackdown on sand dredging in the same area (see Para 5.K.1., above) and tugs are favorite pirate targets, but is also reminiscent of other Indonesian enforcement efforts that were misinterpreted as piratical attacks and ONI continues to monitor (IMB, ONI). . 12. INDONESIA: An unidentified container ship reports suspicious approach 6 Sep at 0945 local time while underway in position 02 39N, 101 17E off the Indonesian coast. A dark hulled boat approached and then stopped nearby before paralleling the ship's course at 20 knots and subsequently breaking off contact. Note that nothing in this report suggests attempt to board or affiliation of the boat (IMB, ONI). . 13. INDONESIA: The tug (ERNA) was attacked 2 Oct at 1820 local time while underway towing a crane barge in position 04 46N, 098 41E. Eight persons in a fast fishing boat fired at the bridge destroying windows and radio and navigating equipment. Four persons then boarded the tug, stole crew belongs and the tug's documents, and escaped with master and chief engineer as hostages. The same vessel was attacked 3 Oct, off Medan, Sumatra. The IMB notes that this attack, and one 30 Sep, both occurred in late daylight while the tugs were close inshore of the vegetation-laced coastline from which the attackers operated and to which they easily escaped. 25 Oct it was reported that the 2 hostages had been freed after payment of ransom (IMB, INFO, LL). . 14. MALAYSIA: A Malaysian fishing boat was robbed of its 20-kilogram catch, fuel, and engine 20 Oct at 1830 local time off Pulau Sebatik, Tuwau, Sabah. Three persons armed with guns forced the crew to jump overboard while they looted the boat. The crew regained the fishing boat and rowed ashore after the robbers left (INFO). . L. NORTH ASIA: No current incidents to report. . M. PACIFIC-ANTARCTIC OCEAN: No current incidents to report . N. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC NON-STATE ACTIVIST GROUPS: . 1. GREENPEACE-N. ATLANTIC-DEEP TRAWLING: Greenpeace announced 5 Oct that its vessel (ESPERANZA) would "soon" sail for N. Atlantic fishing grounds to protest deep trawling operations that scrape the ocean bottom. The operation will identify and publicize vessels engaged in deep trawling as part of a campaign to achieve an international moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. On 25 Oct the (ESPERANZA) identified and "tagged" the Spanish trawler (PLAYA DE MENDUINA) with a magnetic banner approximately 400 miles north-west of Ireland (GP, INFO). . 6. Originator of this WWTTS report requests consumer feedback. Originator will incorporate all anti-shipping events and violence against the maritime industry into this weekly message where appropriate. The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) can be contacted via message traffic at ONI WASHINGTON DC//11// or, the ONI violence at sea (VAS) desk may be contacted at comm. phone (301) 669-3261 or via e-mail at cdragonette@nmic.navy.mil. //