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OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE

(U) WORLDWIDE: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report
31 August - 30 September 2015
30 September 2015

(U) Table of Contents

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

(U) Scope Note

(U) Summary
(U) Counter-Piracy and Maritime Crime Announcements and Advisories
(U) Details: Monthly Incidents by Region
(U) Appendix A: Further Contact Information and Resources
(U) Appendix B: Terminology and References

1. (U) Scope Note

(U) The Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) message provides info on piracy threats to, and criminal action
against, merchant vessels worldwide in the last 30 days. This report is produced primarily to inform merchant
mariners and naval forces.

2. (U) Summary
A. (U) VIETNAM: On 29 September, the Vietnam Coast Guard detained a tanker and a Vietnamese fishing
vessel for illegal bunkering in the Gulf of Thailand in the vicinity of Phu Quoc Island.
B. (U) INDONESIA: On 29 September, four robbers armed with machetes boarded a product tanker at anchor in
Dumai Anchorage.
C. (U) INDONESIA: On 25 September, an unknown number of robbers boarded an anchored product tanker in
Belawan Anchorage.

3. (U) Counter-Piracy and Maritime Crime Announcements and Advisories

A. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Government of Japan convoy schedule for September and October 2015. To apply for
JMSDF escort, visit http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/maritime/maritime_fr2_000000.html, please contact directly the AntiPiracy Contact and Coordination Office, Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
(MILT), Japan: Tel: +81-3-5253-8932; Fax: +81-3-5253-1643. Email: INFO-PIRACY@mlit.go.jp. (MSCHOA)
B. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Korean Navy convoy schedule for September and October 2015. All merchant vessels
wishing to join the convoy group must submit their application forms directly to the ROK naval warship carrying out
the mission. The ROK MTG can be reached directly at INMARSAT: 00-870-773-110-439; Email:
cheonghaeetg@navy.mil.kr. (MSCHOA)
C. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Chinese Navy convoy schedule for September and October 2015. For further information,
please e-mail planavy@navy.mil.cn, or call Tel: 86 10 652 92218/96; Fax: 86 10 652 92245. (MSCHOA)

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D. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Indian Navy convoy escort schedule for September and October 2015. To register, email
dgcommcentre-dgs@nic.in; or visit www.dgshipping.com. Telephone numbers for contact are: 91-22-22614646 or
fax at 91-22- 22613636. (MSCHOA)
E. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Russian Navy convoy escort schedule for September and October 2015. For further
information e-mail smb@msecurity.ru; isps@msecurity.ru; or fax +7 (499) 642-83-29. (MSCHOA).

4. (U) Details: Monthly Incidents by Region

(U) This section lists reports of active violence against shipping, credible threats to shipping, or the potential for a
situation to develop into a direct threat to shipping over the last 30 days. Every effort is made to ensure that
incidents are not double-counted. In the event double-counting is detected, or an incident is later learned to be
different than 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.
A. (U) NORTH AMERICA:
1. (U) UNITED STATES: On 21 August, three stowaways were found in the Port of Jacksonville, Florida. One had
jumped from the MV PETRA after being spotted during an inspection of the ship. That stowaway was picked up and
turned over to authorities, who learned that two more stowaways were still aboard the ship. Originally, five persons
stowed away in the rudder trunk on 7 August when the ship left Lagos, Nigeria, but two of them fell overboard
during the trip. (www.news4jax.com)
B. (U) CENTRAL AMERICA - CARIBBEAN - SOUTH AMERICA:
1. (U) COLOMBIA: On 19 September, six robbers boarded a sailing yacht anchored in the Rosario Islands area
near Cartagena. During the robbery, the wife of the yacht owner was killed. Local authorities are investigating the
case. (www.noonsite.com)
2. (U) VENEZUELA: On 8 September, Venezuelan authorities arrested seven people for allegedly attempting to
smuggle a large amount of diesel fuel as the government seeks to clamp down on theft of subsidized fuel. A tanker
owned by state oil company PDVSA loaded 60,000 barrels of diesel fuel at the Cardon refinery despite having
authorization to load only 10,000, according to law enforcement officials. Authorities believe the suspects intended
to resell the fuel abroad. (Reuters)
3. (U) PERU: On 8 September, Peruvian Coast Guard forces inspected the gas carrier HISPANIA SPIRIT after
reports of suspicious activity were received. During the inspection, authorities found 211 kilograms of cocaine and a
person of Venezuelan nationality near the rudder area of the ship. The cocaine was seized and the Venezuelan
was arrested by the police. (www.worldmaritimenews.com)
C. (U) ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA: No current incidents to report.
D. (U) NORTHERN EUROPE - BALTIC: No current incidents to report.
E. (U) MEDITERRANEAN - BLACK SEA: No current incidents to report.
1. (U) LIBYA: On 16 September, Russian tanker MEKHANIK CHEBOTARYOV was stopped by a Libyan
warship in international waters. The empty vessel had been on its way to the Libyan port of Zawiya. Having
boarded the vessel, the Libyan military did not explain their reason for stopping it. They had two crew members
board the ship and ordered the tanker's captain to follow them and switch off the Automatic Identification System.
The vessel was then escorted to the port of Tripoli. The entire crew had their documents and cell phones
confiscated. Vessel documentation was also seized. (Interfax)

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F.

(U) WEST AFRICA:

1. (U) GULF OF GUINEA: On 17 September, a suspicious vessel was reportedly operating near position 01:13 N 001:50 E, approximately 288 nm south of Benin. The vessel was described as having a blue hull and white
superstructure and is not displaying AIS. It reportedly followed another vessel for an hour and a half. (MTISCGOG)
2. (U) NIGERIA: On 4 September, NORMAND CUTTER, a subsea construction vessel was boarded by
gunmen posing as the Nigerian Navy off the coast of Nigeria. A Norwegian news site said that the vessel which
stopped the Solstad vessel was likely a former Norwegian Navy vessel, one of six controversially sold to former
Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, the a former commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of
the Niger Delta, who was granted amnesty by the Nigerian Government in 2009. He now runs Global West Vessel
Specialist Agency handling maritime security for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency
(NIMASA). The gunmen checked the vessels paperwork, although quickly turned to negotiations over money.
While not revealing whether money was paid, the vessel was released. (www.splash247.com)
3. (U) NIGERIA: On 2 September, units from the Nigerian Army uncovered a massive illegal bunkering site located
at Makoba Beach, about one kilometer from the Rivers Port Complex located in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State
capital. An army spokesman said that 13 suspects were arrested at the scene of the illegal facility, further stating
that they found over 5,000 drums loaded with illegally refined diesel; four tanker trucks containing 132,000 liters of
diesel combined, and a barge with 165,000 liters of stolen diesel. The spokesman also stated that that an additional
150 drums loaded with about 3,150 liters of diesel were also discovered in 21 Cotonou boats. (www.allafrica.com;
www.punchng.com)
G. (U) ARABIAN GULF: No current incidents to report.
H. (U) INDIAN OCEAN - EAST AFRICA: No current incidents to report.
I.

(U) EAST ASIA - SOUTHEAST ASIA - INDIAN SUBCONTINENT:

Figure 1. East Asia - Southeast Asia - Indian

Subcontinent Piracy and Maritime Crime

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1. (U) VIETNAM: On 29 September, the Vietnam Coast Guard detained MT STAR ASIA and a Vietnamese fishing
vessel for illegal bunkering in the Gulf of Thailand in the vicinity of Phu Quoc Island. The vessels were taken to Phu
Quoc Island for further investigation. According to the police, the tanker was illegally selling bunker fuel to
Vietnamese fishing vessels for $0.22 per liter. (www.vesseltracker.com)
2. (U) INDONESIA: On 29 September, four robbers armed with machetes boarded a product tanker at anchor near
position 01:42 N - 101:30 E, Dumai Anchorage. Hearing the intrusion alarm the duty officer contacted the duty crew
to check. When the aft crew did not reply back, another duty crewman keeping watch on the forecastle was
instructed to investigate. The aft duty crewman was found gagged and tied up. Alarm was raised and crew alerted.
Seeing the alerted crew the robbers escaped without stealing anything. (IMB)
3. (U) INDONESIA: On 25 September, an unknown number of robbers boarded an anchored product tanker near
position 03:56 N - 098:45 E, Belawan Anchorage. The robbers were able to steal engine spares and escape
unnoticed. Crew mustered and a search of the ship was carried out. Incident reported to local agents. (IMB)
4. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 21 September, unidentified gunmen abducted a Norwegian resort manager, two
Canadians and a Filipino woman from a resort on Samal Island, near Davao City in the southern Philippines. At
least 11 armed men arrived at the resort in two speedboats. The gunmen appeared to have specifically targeted the
victims when they entered the Holiday Ocean View Samal Resort before midnight. (abcnews.go.com)
5. (U) INDONESIA: On 20 September, alert crewmen onboard an underway bulk carrier near position 01:04 N 103:41 E, 3.1 nm southwest of Pulau Takong Kecil saw a speed boat with eight persons approaching their ship.
The alarm was raised, crew mustered, notified the Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) was notified, and antipiracy measures employed. As the boat came alongside the master commenced evasive maneuvering, resulting in
the robbers aborting the approach and moving away. Naval vessels in the vicinity were dispatched to assist the
vessel. (IMB)
6. (U) INDONESIA: On 20 September, three robbers armed with a bolo knife boarded an underway bulk carrier
near position 01:11.1 N - 103:25.0 E, 1.9 nm northeast of Pulau Karimun Kecil. The robbers entered the engine
room, stole ship properties, and escaped. When duty crew saw the robbers, they raised the alarm and mustered
the crew. VTIS Singapore was also informed. (IMB)
7. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 18 September, an unknown number of robbers boarded a berthed product tanker near
position 13:40 N - 121:03 E, JG Summit Petrochemical Group Jetty No. 1, Batangas. The robbers boarded
unnoticed, stole ships properties and escaped. The theft was reported by a duty crewman on rounds who found the
forward mooring rope cut and ship's properties missing. (IMB)
8. (U) INDONESIA: On 16 September, a duty lookout onboard an underway bulk carrier near position 01:06 N 103:31 E, 6.6 nm east-southeast of Pulau Karimun Kecil, noticed a speed boat alongside the ship. Alarm was
raised, crew was mustered, and SSAS activated. However, the robbers had already tied up the duty oiler in the
engine room and escaped with engine spares. (IMB)
9. (U) VIETNAM: On 16 September, an unknown number of robbers boarded an anchored bulk carrier near position
10:14 N - 107:02 E at the Vungtau anchorage. The robbers were able to steal ships property and escape
unnoticed. The incident was discovered later in the day. (IMB)
10. (U) VIETNAM: On 11 September, two Vietnamese fishing boats were attacked by gunmen in two speedboats in
an area south of Ca Mau province. One fisherman was killed and one injured during the shooting incident.
(www.tuoitrenews.vn)
11. (U) SINGAPORE: On 6 September, four robbers boarded an anchored tanker near position 01:16 N - 103:59 E,
3 nm south of Singapore. The thieves broke into the engine room, stole engine spares and escaped unnoticed.
Ships master informed local authorities of the boarding. (IMB)
12. (U) INDONESIA: On 9 September, robbers boarded an underway container ship near position 01:07 N - 103:31
E, 6.4 nm southeast of Pulau Karimun Kecil. The chief officer found the duty engineer lying on the floor bound and
gagged with his mouth bleeding. Alarm was raised and ship searched. The robbers were able to steal ships
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spare parts and escape. (IMB)
13. (U) INDONESIA: On 8 September, robbers boarded an underway bulk carrier near position 01:11 N - 103:25 E,
1.8 nm northeast of Pulau Karimun Kecil. The robbers were spotted by the ships master who raised the alarm and
switched on all deck lights. Crew was mustered. A search of the ship was carried out, with nothing reported stolen.
VTIS Singapore informed. When the ship entered Singapore anchorage, the Coast Guard boarded for investigation.
(IMB)
14. (U) INDONESIA: On 2 September, robbers boarded a sailing yacht anchored in Potopaddu Bay, Sumbawa
Island. The robbers were able to steal deck equipment and other valuables and escape. (www.noonsite.com)
15. (U) SINGAPORE: On 1 September, robbers boarded the tug PERMATA1 in the Singapore Strait. Bridge
crew sent a distress call, which was answered by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) ship RSS RESILIENCE.
The robbers fled towards Indonesian waters at the sight of the Singapore warship. The RSN's Information Fusion
Centre (IFC) shared information on the incident and the perpetrators with the Indonesian Navy's Western Fleet Sea
Security Group, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, which then deployed their naval assets to assist
in the search for the robbers. Three robbers were apprehended and the stolen cargo was recovered.
(www.straitstimes.com)
J. (U) NORTH - EAST ASIA:
1. (U) CHINA: On 16 September, Chinese officials announced that at least eight people have been arrested in a
case involving smuggling of more than 34,000 tons of oil. More than 10 other suspects were detained and two
tankers were seized after customs police in China's Jiangsu province busted the ring, which has been operating
since 2013, according to press reports. The smuggling ring bought oil from a Taiwanese tanker in open waters.
One suspect reportedly set up a company in Shandong province to subsequently sell the oil. (www.businessstandard.com)
K. (U) PACIFIC OCEAN - SOUTHERN OCEAN: No current incidents to report.

5. (U) Appendix A: Further Contact Information and Resources

(U) This appendix provides contact information for the author of the WTS as well as other entities that can be
contacted with maritime crime reports. It also lists other resources where the WTS is posted and where piracy and
maritime crime incident information can be found.
(U) Contact
(U) Originator of this WTS report requests consumer feedback. Originator will incorporate all anti-shipping events
and violence against the maritime industry into this weekly message where appropriate. To aid in our reporting,
please add the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) to your normal corporate and organizational reporting
requirements. The 24-hour watch can be reached at +1 (301) 669-4053.
(U) Other Resources
(U) This Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report is posted at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agencys Maritime
Safety site: http://msi.nga.mil/NGAPortal/MSI.portal. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) also publishes a live
piracy report based on reporting from the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, listing all piracy
and armed robbery incidents in the last ten days: http://www.icc-ccs.org/. The PAWW and WTS Reports are posted
weekly on the ONI Intel Portal: http://www.oni.navy.mil/Intelligence_Community/piracy.htm.

6. (U) Appendix B: Terminology and References

(U) This appendix is provided to promote consistent use of accurate terms of reference in reporting and also
identifies those references that were used to gather the information contained in this report. ONI welcomes
comment and suggestions for addition or amendment.
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(U) Terminology
(U) In order to promote consistent use of accurate terms of reference, the following have been adopted to describe
the range of criminal anti-shipping activity and impediments to safe navigation in our worldwide reporting and
analysis. Please note that these terms relate to observable activity and are independent of target vessel status and
exclude actions by governmental powers in lawful pursuit of their authorities:

(U) Attempted Boarding Close approach or hull-to-hull contact with report that boarding paraphernalia were
employed or visible in the approaching boat.

(U) Blocking Hampering safe navigation, docking, or undocking of a vessel as a means of protest.

(U) Boarding Unauthorized boarding of a vessel by persons not part of its complement without successfully
taking control of the vessel.

(U) Firing Upon Weapons discharged at or toward a vessel.

(U) Hijacking Unauthorized seizure and retention of a vessel by persons not part of its complement.

(U) Kidnapping Unauthorized forcible removal of persons belonging to the vessel from it.

(U) Robbery Theft from a vessel or from persons aboard the vessel.

(U) Suspicious Approach All other unexplained close proximity of an unknown vessel.

(U) Sourcing
(U) ONI derives information in this report from direct reporting and analysis of reports from the following agencies
and commercial sources.

Agence France Presse (AFP)

Associated Press (AP)
Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), Denmark
BBC News
EU Naval Forces (EU)
Fairplay (FP), London
Informa Group (INFO), formerly LLP, Llp Limited, London
International Maritime Bureau (IMB), London and Kuala Lumpur
International Maritime Organization (IMO), London
gCaptain
Latitude38.com (LAT) website
Lloyd's List (LL), daily, London
Local Media (LM)
LSS-SAPU.com (LSS)
Maritime Administration (MARAD), U.S.
The Maritime Executive (website)
Maritime Security Centre - Horn of Africa (MSCHOA)
Maritime Security Council (MSC), U.S.
Maritime Trade Information Sharing Centre - Gulf of Guinea (MTISC-GoG)
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Navigation Safety System
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Brussels
Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) (analysis and comment)
Operator (owner or operator of affected vessel)
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)
Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia,
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Information Sharing Center (ReCAAP ISC)

Reuters
Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN)
Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP), Kenya
Tradewinds (TW)
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO)
United Press International (UPI)
U.S. Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) Bahrain
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

(U) ICOD: 30 September 2015

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