Weekly Piracy Report 16 October - 22 October 2001 The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast to all shipping by the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre on the safetyNET service of Inmarsat-C 16 October - 22 October 2001. For statistical purposes the IMB defines Piracy as: "An act of boarding or attempting to board any ship with the intent to commit theft or any other crime and with the intent or capability to use force in the furtherance of that act". This definition thus covers actual or attempted attacks whether the ship is berthed, at anchor or at sea. Petty thefts are excluded, unless the thieves are armed.

Latest reported incidents 22.10.2001 at 0205 UTC in position 06:15N - 003:22.4E, Lagos anchorage, Nigeria. Three pirates armed with knives in a speedboat boarded a bulk carrier. They stole ship's stores, crew's property, and one vhf portable radio and fled. No injuries to crew.

21.10.2001 at 0330 LT at PTSC oil terminal, Vung Tau, Vietnam. An unlit boat with four persons approached the stern of a tanker alongside. One person armed with a knife boarded via fire wire at the poop deck. Anti piracy watch raised alarm and the intruder jumped overboard and escaped in the boat.

21.10.2001 at 0005 LT at Belawan anchorage, Indonesia. Seven pirates armed with knives boarded a chemical tanker. Three of the pirates stabbed the duty A/B with knives severely injuring him. A few minutes later several other pirates boarded via anchor chain. They threatened a second A/B and held him hostage. The duty officer raised alarm and crew mustered on deck. As a result pirates jumped overboard and escaped taking two portable radios. At 0100 LT the ship tried to contact the port control but received no response. At 0110 LT the ship contacted the pilot station that alerted other ships in the vicinity.

19.10.2001 at 0045 LT at anchorage 1, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. A boat with 20 pirates approached a tanker. Three pirates armed with long knives boarded and attacked the duty A/B. Crew raised alarm and the three pirates jumped in the water. However, another group of pirates from the boat boarded at the forecastle, stole a mooring rope and escaped by their boat.

18.10.2001 at 1135 LT at Mongla anchorage, Bangladesh. Five pirates armed with long knives boarded a bulk carrier via anchor chain and attacked the watch keeper. When crewmembers went forward, pirates jumped overboard and escaped in a boat. Ship's stores were stolen. Port control and coast guard informed.

17.10.2001 at 0130 UTC, Posn:00 18N 009 25E, Owendo, Gabon. Six pirates armed with guns boarded a bulk carrier from the forecastle and stole ship's equipment and stores. Crew tried to thwart the robbery but could not succeed.

13.10.2001 at 0230 LT at Cartagena, Colombia. While underway, eight pirates in a motorboat attempted to board a bulk carrier using their own ladder from the starboard quarter. Alert crew raised alarm and the boarding was averted.

Suspicious craft 21.10.2001 at 1930 LT in position 01:26N - 103:06E, Malacca straits. While underway, three unlit boats in the vicinity followed a container ship. No attempt to board took place.

Warnings Increasing number of attacks have been reported in the Malacca straits between the coordinates 01 to 02N - 101 to 103E. The most risk prone area is within 25 nm radius surrounding 02N - 102E, where the same armed gang of pirates seems to have repeatedly attacked ships. Ships are advised to avoid anchoring along the Indonesian coast of the Malacca straits unless required for urgent operational reasons. The coast near Acheh is particularly risky. Pirates recently boarded two vessels and kidnapped the crew for ransom. Ships are advised to be extra cautious when transiting the waters off Acheh. Ships calling at Indonesian ports of Belawan, Dumai, Merak, Samarinda and Tanjong Priok have reported numerous attacks whilst at berth and at anchor. Recently a number of ships have been hijacked in Indonesian waters. In view of the recent spate in hijackings, ship owners are advised to install a satellite tracking system on board. IMB recommends installation of Shiploc, which has proved to be invaluable in the location and recovery of hijacked vessels. Details can be found at www.shiploc.com. Attacks have been reported at Chittagong, Mongla and Chennai while at anchor. Ships at ports in Bangladesh have been subjected to theft of zinc anodes welded to ship's sides and the stern. Somalian waters continue to be a risk prone area for hijackings. Ships should keep at least 50 miles and if possible 100 miles from the Somali coast. Use of radio communications including the VHF in these waters should be kept to a minimum

Advice to all ships Extra caution is advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel, Vung Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian ports and Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic.

Ships are advised to maintain anti-piracy watches and report all piratical attacks and suspicious movements of craft to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel ++ 60 3 2031 0014 Fax ++ 60 3 2078 5769 Telex MA 31880 IMBPCI 24 Hours Anti Piracy HELPLINE Tel : ++ 60 3 2031 0014 E-mail imbkl@icc-ccs.org.uk

-- Rich Marsh (marshr@airmail.net), October 25, 2001