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

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

26 February - 28 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 threats to 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) MDT-GoG Warning 003/MAR/2018: Category: Possible attack in progress. Description: On 27 March 2018 at 1600 UTC two fishing vessels are reported to be under attack in position 04:10N - 002:19E (100 nm south of Cotonou, Benin). Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution in this area. Source: Mail. Any queries regarding this Warning 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.

B. (U) MDAT-GoG Warning 002/MAR/2018: Category: Attack. Description: On 22 March 2018 at 22:48 UTC, vessel currently under attack in position 03:35N - 006:44E (52 nm southwest of Bonny, Nigeria). Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution in this area. Any queries regarding this Warning 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.

C. (U) MDAT-GoG Advisory 006/MAR/2018: Category: Attack. Description: On 22 March, MDAT GoG received a report of an attack at 0900 UTC in position 06:01N - 003:12E (20 nm south of Bagrady, Nigeria, west of Lagos Port, Nigeria). Vessels transiting the area are advised to exercise extreme caution. Source: Reported to MDAT-GoG via phone call. 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.

D. (U) U.S. Maritime Alert 2018-004A: Threat type: Potential GPS interference. Geographic area: eastern Mediterranean Sea. Multiple maritime incidents have been reported in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in the vicinity of position 32:24N – 029:29E between 18-22 March 2018. These incidents have not been confirmed. The nature of the incident is reported to be GPS interference. Five vessels and one aircraft operating between Cyprus and Port Said, Egypt, have reported GPS disruptions/interference occurring over extended periods and resulting in either inaccurate positions or no position. Exercise caution when transiting this area. Further updates may follow. This alert will automatically expire on 30 March 2018. Reports of GPS degradations, disruptions, and other incidents or anomalies can be made via the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center website at: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=gpsUserInput.

3. (U) Summary

A. (U) INDONESIA: On 27 March, four robbers boarded an anchored bulk carrier in the proximity of Muara Berau anchorage, Samarinda.

B. (U) BENIN: On 27 March. two fishing vessels reported that they were under attack 100 nm south of Cotonou.

C. (U) GHANA: On 26 March, pirates boarded the Ghana-flagged fishing vessel MARINE 711 in a position 27 nm southwest of Anloga, and kidnapped 5 crewmen.

D. (U) CHINA: On 24 March, two robbers in a wooden boat attempted to board a bulk carrier anchored in Caofeidian Anchorage.

E. (U) MEXICO: On 24 March, the Navy reported the seizure of six suitcases containing more than 400 kg of cocaine at Veracruz port.

F. (U) VENEZUELA: On 24 March, robbers armed with guns boarded a tanker anchored near position 10:17N - 064:42W, Puerto La Cruz Anchorage.

G. (U) SINGAPORE: On 22 March, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority personnel seized 10,800 cartons of contraband cigarettes in a shipping container.

H. (U) SPAIN: On 22 March, Spanish Civil Guard troops seized two tons of hashish from two boats in the Guadalmesi coastal zone near Algeciras.

I. (U) NIGERIA: On 22 March, an unidentified group of pirates chased and fired upon a tanker 53 nm southwest of Bonny.

J. (U) NIGERIA: ON 22 March, pirates in a speed boat attacked and seized two fishing boats 13 nm south of the Nigerian coast, and kidnapped 2 crewmen.

K. (U) BENIN: On 22 March, eight pirates armed with guns and knives in a small boat boarded an anchored vessel 7.5 nm southeast of Cotonou.

L (U) EQUATORIAL GUINEA: On 22 March, a merchant vessel was hijacked by 10-armed persons, 60 nm south of Equatorial Guinea.

M. (U) MEXICO: On 21 March, the Navy released a statement saying that an operation involving two boats led to the seizure of almost one ton of cocaine off the coast of Acapulco.

N. (U) PUERTO RICO: On 19 March, customs officials detained a citizen of the Dominican Republic onboard a boat transporting 1,441 kilograms of cocaine along the northern coast of Puerto Rico. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 3

O. (U) NIGERIA: On 16 March, robbers boarded a product tanker anchored 13.5 nm south-southeast of Lagos.

P. (U) LIBYA: On 13 March, Libya's naval forces seized a Togo-flagged fuel tanker LAMAR, and arrested its Greek crew on suspicion they planned to smuggle oil out of that country.

Q. (U) LIBERIA: On 13 March, the Liberian Coast Guard with assistance from a marine conservation group arrested a notorious Antarctic and Patagonian tooth-fish poaching vessel F/V HAI LUNG.

R. (U) ST. LUCIA: Between 11 and 13 March, three dinghies and outboard motors were stolen from separate sailing yachts anchored in Rodney Bay.

S. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 12 March, customs officials in the Port of Davao discovered a smuggled SUV in a shipping container arriving from South Korea.

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

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