Office of Naval Intelligence ONI - Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report #marsec #piracy #shipp

Office of Naval Intelligence - Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report

29 January - 28 February 2018

Table of Contents

1.Scope Note

2.Summary

3.Counter-Piracy and Maritime Crime Announcements and Advisories

4.Details: Monthly Incidents by Region

5.Appendix A: Further Contact Information and Resources

6.Appendix B: Terminology and References

1. (U) Scope Note

1. (U) The Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) message provides information on piracy threats to, and criminal action against or that involves merchant vessels, the shipping industry, and other maritime stakeholders worldwide in the last 30 days. This report is produced primarily to inform merchant mariners and naval forces.

2. (U) Warnings and Advisories:

A. (U) U.S. MARITIME ADVISORY 2018-005: Threat Type: North Korea Sanctions Evasion. Geographic Area: Global. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Coast Guard, issued an advisory on 23 February 2018, to alert persons globally to deceptive shipping practices used by North Korea to evade sanctions. These practices may create significant sanctions risk for parties involved in the shipping industry, including insurers, flag registries, shipping companies, and financial institutions.

Guidance: The North Korea Sanctions Advisory is available at: https://www.treasury.gov/resourcecenter/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Documents/dprk_vessel_advisory_02232018.pdf. Contact Information: Contacts are provided within the North Korea Sanctions Advisory. Cancellation: This advisory will automatically expire on August 23, 2018.

B. (U) MDAT-GOG Warning 004/FEB/2018: Category: Attack. Description: On 22 February 2018 at 13:20Z, an M/V was attacked in position 03:30N - 006:31E, 67 nm SW of Bonny. Vessels in the area are advised to exercise extreme caution. Source: Email. Any queries regarding this Warning Notice ring 0033 298 22 88 88 for further information. MDATGOG Watchkeeper email: watchkeepers@mdat-gog.org, emergency Tel: +33(0) 298 22 88 88 3.

(U) Summary

A. (U) BENIN: On 27 February, five armed persons boarded M/T ST MARSEILLE anchored in Cotonou Harbor.

B. (U) GIBRALTAR: On 27 February, HM Customs Marine Section assisted by Gibraltar Defense police officers seized approximately 150 cartons of smuggled cigarettes and arrested a Spanish national at Western Beach.

C. (U) ECUADOR: On 25 February, one robber boarded a container ship anchored in Guayaquil Inner Anchorage.

D. (U) UNITED STATES: On 24 February, U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement crews interdicted a Mexican lancha boat crew engaged in illegal fishing in federal waters off south Texas.

E. (U) NIGERIA: On 24 February, two skiffs with 2 - 3 armed pirates in each skiff chased and fired upon a bulk carrier underway 45 nm southeast of Brass.

F. (U) NIGERIA: On 24 February, 10 pirates in a speed boat, armed with automatic weapons, chased and fired upon a reefer vessel underway 40 nm south-southwest off Bonny Fairway buoy.

G. (U) NIGERIA: On 24 February, eight armed pirates in a speed boat chased a container vessel underway nm southsouthwest of Bonny Island.

H. (U) SINGAPORE: On 24 February, tug MITRA SAMUDERA 28 with 11 crew, towing an empty barge, was boarded by four armed pirates in Karimun Regency waters, south of Singapore.

I. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: On 23 Feb, Singapore-flagged product tanker LEOPARD SUN was attacked by pirates 159 nm off the central coast of Somalia.

J. (U) UNITED STATES: On 22 February, U.S. Coast Guard officials seized 800 pounds of illegally caught black sea bass from a ship illegally fishing near South Carolina.

K. (U) HAITI: On 22 February, armed robbers boarded a tanker anchored in Port Au Prince Anchorage.

L. (U) ARGENTINA: On 22 February, the Argentine Coast Guard opened fire on a Chinese boat caught illegally fishing within Argentina’s exclusive economic zone.

M. (U) NIGERIA: On 22 February, a merchant vessel reported being attacked 67 nm southwest of Bonny.

N. (U) MALAYSIA: On 22 February, a band of armed men attacked a fishing boat in Segama, Kinabatangan.

O. (U) MEXICO: On 21 February, as many as 25 people were injured in an explosion aboard a ferry docked in Playa Del Carmen.

P. (U) INDONESIA: On 20 February, authorities seized 1.6 tons of crystal methamphetamine hidden aboard a Singaporeflagged ship.

Q. (U) NIGERIA: On 18 February, a speed boat with six to seven armed pirates chased and fired upon a tanker underway 42 nm southeast off Brass.

R. (U) INDONESIA: On 18 February, robbers boarded a tug anchored 3 nm west of Batu Ampar Port.

S. (U) AUSTRALIA: On 17 February, an Indonesian fishing vessel was apprehended approximately 390 nautical miles off the western Australian coast. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 3

T. (U) ENGLAND: On 17 February, 5.8 million smuggled cigarettes were seized at Dover's Eastern Docks.

U. (U) DUBAI: On 12 February, police arrested five individuals who attempted to smuggle a large consignment of drugs hidden in a large drilling machine aboard a ship that arrived at Hamriyah Port.

V. (U) GHANA: On 8 February, port security arrested of four people who attempted to stowaway in Tema Harbor.

W. (U) IRELAND: On 3 February, authorities in the Port of Belfast seized 8 million smuggled cigarettes.

4. (U) Counter-Piracy and Maritime Crime Announcements

A. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Government of Japan convoy schedule for February and March 2018. To apply for JMSDF escort, visit http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/maritime/maritime_fr2_000000.html, please contact directly the Anti-Piracy 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 February and March 2018. 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 001-646-466-9522. Email: chunghae26@navy.mil. (MSCHOA)

C. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Chinese Navy convoy schedule for February and March 2018. For further information, please e-mail planavy@navy.mil.cn or etg546cn@163.com, or call Tel 00870 773 120 772. (MSCHOA)

D. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Indian Navy convoy escort schedule for February and March 2018. To register, email gcommcentredgs@nic.in; or visit ww.dgshipping.com. Telephone numbers for contact are: 91-22-22614646 or fax at 91- 22-22613636. (MSCHOA)

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