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

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

5 February - 7 March 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) UKMTO ADVISORY NOTICE 002/MAR/2018: Category: Suspicious Approach. Description: On 8 March 2018 at 0920, an MV in position 12:32N - 043:27E (Bab el Mandeb Strait) was approached by 3 skiffs, 3-4 POBs each. Vsl and crew are safe. Vessels transiting the area are advised to exercise extreme caution. Source: Reported to UKMTO via email and telephone. Any queries regarding this Advisory Notice ring 0044 2392 222060 only for further information. This advisory is not classified as a Maritime Security Event and has not been verified by UKMTO. This information is provided to inform maritime situational awareness for mariners operating in the region. UKMTO is not responsible for the accuracy of this reporting. UKMTO Watchkeeper email: watchkeepers@ukmto.org, emergency Tel: +971 5055 23215 Tel: +442392222060, Fax: +971(0)43094254

B. (U) MDAT-GOG ADVISORY 002/MAR/2018: Category: Attack. Description: On 6 March 2018 at 0920 UTC, a merchant vessel was attacked by two speedboats with weapons in position 04:04N - 006:56E, 210°/25NM from Bonny, Nigeria. Vessels transiting the area are advised to exercise extreme caution. This advisory is not classified as a Maritime Security Event and has not been verified by MDAT-GoG. This information is provided to inform maritime situational awareness for mariners operating in the region. MDAT-GoG is not responsible for the accuracy of this reporting. Any queries regarding this Advisory Notice ring 0033 298 22 88 88 for further information. MDAT-GOG Watchkeeper email: watchkeepers@mdat-gog.org., emergency tel: +33(0) 298 22 88 88 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 2

C. (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 23 August 2018.

3. (U) Summary

A. (U) RED SEA: On 8 March, a merchant vessel was approached by 3 skiffs, with 3-4 persons in each in the Bab el Mandeb Strait.

B. (U) NIGERIA: On 6 March, a merchant vessel was attacked by armed men in two speedboats 25 nm southwest of Bonny.

C. (U) NIGERIA: On 6 March, a chemical tanker was boarded by heavily armed pirates 21 nm southwest of Bonny Island.

D. (U) NIGERIA: On 6 March, gunmen in speedboats invaded Ogbia town in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State during the early afternoon hours, kidnapping one woman and stealing four boats.

E. (U) NIGERIA: On 5 March, gunmen in speedboats invaded Anyama community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, killing two persons, injuring three others and stealing 10 speedboats.

F. (U) SOMALIA: On 5 March, seventy-five Somalis touched down at Mogadishu’s international airport after serving up to seven years in Indian jail for piracy offenses.

G. (U) GREECE: On 4 March, Greece's Coast Guard seized 1.3 tons of cannabis, hidden aboard a fishing vessel intercepted off the southern island of Crete.

H. (U) BRAZIL: On 3 March, police seized 907 kilograms of cocaine at the port of Rio de Janeiro.

I. (U) BANGLADESH: On 3 March, members of Forest Guard rescued 14 abducted fishermen and seven fishing boats following a gunfight with forest robbers in Gatar Khal area of Katka sanctuary in the Sundarbans.

J. (U) INDONESIA: On 3 March, two robbers boarded a bulk carrier anchored in Tanjung Priok Anchorage.

K. (U) NIGERIA: On 1 March, it was reported that the four crew members taken hostage from the refrigerates cargo ship SIERRA LEYER off the coast of Nigeria in early February have been released.

L. (U) MEXICO: On 1 March, the U.S. embassy in Mexico issued a travel alert for a popular tourist destination the same day as another explosive device was found on another ferry owned by the same company in Cozumel.

M. (U) INDONESIA: On 28 February, an Indonesian Navy patrol boat found the abandoned tanker PISCES anchored in waters off Batam Island.

N. (U) COLOMBIA: On 27 February, a dingy outboard engine and fuel tank were stolen from a sailing yacht anchored in Cartagena.

O. (U) BELGIUM: On 26 February, police arrested six people after the Belgian authorities discovered 4,500 kilograms of cocaine in a container at the port of Antwerp.

P. (U) ST LUCIA: On 26 February, a cable locked dinghy was stolen from a sailing yacht anchored at Rodney Bay Gros Islet.

Q. (U) ST LUCIA: On 26 February, a second incident occurred involving a cable locked dinghy stolen from a sailing yacht anchored at Rodney Bay Gros Islet.

R. (U) SOUTH AFRICA: On 21 February, the Hawks Eastern Cape Serious Organized Crime unit seized 1.6 tons of smuggled abalone in Durban harbor.

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

A. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Government of Japan convoy schedule for 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 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 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 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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