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OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE (U) WORLDWIDE: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 28 September - 28 October 2015

29 October 2015

(U) Table of Contents

1. (U) Scope Note 2. (U) Summary 3. (U) Counter-Piracy and Maritime Crime Announcements and Advisories 4. (U) Details: Monthly Incidents by Region 5. (U) Appendix A: Further Contact Information and Resources 6. (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) BANGLADESH: On 27 October, pirates looted at least 12 fishing trawlers in the Feyar Boya area, kidnapping 40 fishermen during the attack. B. (U) BANGLADESH: On 26 October, pirates abducted at least 50 fishermen in the Bay of Bengal, attacking a fleet of more than a hundred fishing boats. C. (U) INDONESIA: During the week of 26 October, a German-flagged sailing yacht, FARAWAY, was reportedly hijacked in the Lombok Strait near Bali Island. D. (U) CAMEROON: On 25 October, a large canoe made a suspicious approach against an oil platform approximately 11 nm offshore from the Bakassi area. E. (U) MALAYSIA: On 24 October the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency detained two vessels over the alleged illegal transfer of fuel off Pengerang, Malaysia. F. (U) NIGERIA: On 23 October, a community leader in Ogbia Town, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. G. (U) INDONESIA: On 22 October, three robbers armed with long knives boarded an underway bulk carrier 7.5 nm east-northeast of Pulau Karimun Besar. H. (U) VIETNAM: On 22 October, six robbers boarded an anchored bulk carrier in Cai Lan Anchorage.

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3. (U) Counter-Piracy and Maritime Crime Announcements and Advisories A. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Government of Japan convoy schedule for October and November 2015. 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 October and November 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 October and November 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) D. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Indian Navy convoy escort schedule for October and November 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 October and November 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: No current incidents to report. B. (U) CENTRAL AMERICA - CARIBBEAN - SOUTH AMERICA: 1. (U) COLOMBIA: On 20 October, a duty watchman on board an anchored product tanker noticed two robbers on the forecastle near position 10:19 N - 075:31 W, Mamonal Anchorage. Bridge crew raised alarm and directed the search light toward the forecastle area and sounded forward fog horn. Upon hearing alarm, the robbers escaped. Nothing reported stolen. (IMB) 2. (U) TRINADAD AND TOBAGO: On 28 September, robbers boarded the fishing vessel LULU near the Hibiscus oil platform approximately 30 nm from the country’s northern coast. During the incident, the robbers shot and killed one of the fishermen, wounding another. Trinidad authorities believe that the robbers came from Venezuela. (www.trinadadexpress.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.

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F. (U) WEST AFRICA:

1. (U) CAMEROON: On 25 October, a large canoe made a suspicious approach against an oil platform near position 04:19 N - 008:28 E, approximately 11 nm offshore from the Bakassi area. A security vessel responded and the canoe turned around and headed into Nigerian territorial waters, only to return a short while later with an additional speedboat. Persons in both boats reportedly fired at the security vessel, which returned fire, and both boats retreated back into Nigerian territorial waters. (MITSC-GOG) 2. (U) NIGERIA: On 23 October, a community leader in Ogbia Town, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Chief Geoffrey Agorodo, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. The gunmen were reportedly dressed in army uniforms when they struck at Ogbia waterfront and seized the man. They were said to have taken Agorodo to a waiting speedboat and escaped after shooting sporadically to scare people away. (www.news7.ng) 3. (U) NIGERIA: On 20 October, Nigerian Navy units impounded 5 ships and arrested 19 persons involved in illegally transferring 108,000 liters of stolen fuel into five barges in a private jetty near a busy market area of Port Harcourt. (www.leadership.ng) 4. (U) NIGERIA: On 19 October, gunmen boarded Comoros Islands-flagged refrigerated cargo ship SOLARTE near position 03:58 N - 005:25 E, 36 nm southwest of Bayelsa Coast and kidnapped four crewmen, two Lithuanians and two Ukrainians. During the boarding, the pirates damaged some of the ship’s equipment. (IMB; AFP; www.news.odin.tc) 5. (U) CAMEROON: On 18 October, two suspicious high speed skiffs approached an underway LPG tanker underway near position 02:42 N - 009:11 E, 45 nm west-southwest of Kribi. Second officer immediately informed master who in turn raised the alarm and made announcements. As the skiffs approached the vessel, the master increased speed and took evasive maneuvers resulting in the skiffs moving away. (IMB)

Figure 1. West Africa Piracy and Maritime Crime

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6. (U) NIGERIA: On 12 October, gunmen abducted five teachers from a secondary school in the Agba-Ndele in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. They were taken away from the area in a speed boat, according to witnesses. (www.vanguardngr.com) 7. (U) NIGERIA: On 9 October, gunmen attacked the Kolo Creek Flow Station in the eastern section of the Niger Delta, in Bayelsa State. A security guard working at the site was killed during the attack. (www.worldstagegroup.com) 8. (U) ANGOLA: On 8 October, Angolan authorities arrested MT TOPIA PEARL and MT ARMADA TUAH for conducting an illegal fuel transfer approximately 11 nm from the Angolan coastline. Authorities also found evidence of a fuel spill in the sea near the ships. (www.allafrica.com) 9. (U) NIGERIA: On 6 October, the Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy confirmed the arrest of eleven sailors aboard a tanker DERA and the tug CHARLEY RUNNER along the waterways in Bayelsa State. They were in possession of an estimated 6,000 tons of stolen crude oil. The Nigerian Navy detained the vessel and tugboat along the Eremor 1 Marginal Oil Field located off Peretorugbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. (www.saharareporters.com) G. (U) ARABIAN GULF: No current incidents to report. H. (U) INDIAN OCEAN - EAST AFRICA: 1. (U) SOMALIA: On 29 September, Puntland Marine Police reportedly arrested four Iranian fishing boats and 12 crewmen near Los Qoray. During the operation, one of the Iranians in the group was reportedly killed. (www.marsecreview.com) I. (U) EAST ASIA - SOUTHEAST ASIA - INDIAN SUBCONTINENT:

Figure 2. East Asia - Southeast Asia - Indian Subcontinent Piracy and Maritime Crime

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1. (U) BANGLADESH: On 27 October, pirates looted at least 12 fishing trawlers in the Feyar Boya area. At least four fishermen received bullet injures as the pirates opened fire on them and later the injured jumped into the bay. The pirates also abducted 40 fishermen, in addition to stealing a large amount of fish, two fishing boats and several boat engines. (www.daily-sun.com) 2. (U) BANGLADESH: On 26 October, pirates abducted at least 50 fishermen from the Bay of Bengal, attacking a fleet of more than a hundred fishing boats. They captured 25 of the fishing boats. Eleven fishermen from Patharghata of Barguna district were injured as approximately 30 armed pirates attacked them at Fairway Point, 43 nm southwest of Patharghata. The pirates also took fish and navigation equipment. (www.dhakatribune.com) 3. (U) INDONESIA: During the week of 26 October, a German-flagged sailing yacht, FARAWAY, was reportedly hijacked in the Lombok Strait near Bali Island. Two German citizens were onboard; no ransom demand has been made. (www.newsmaritime.com) 4. (U) MALAYSIA: On 24 October, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained two vessels over the alleged illegal transfer of fuel off Pengerang, Malaysia. According to an MMEA official, the agency arrested Singapore-registered CHELSEA II and China-registered LU RONG YUAN YU 978, about 2.2 nm southeast of Tanjung Ayam. At the time of the arrest, CHELSEA II was transferring about 45,500 tons of marine gas oil to LU RONG YUAN YU 978. (www.ihsmaritime360.com) 5. (U) INDONESIA: On 22 October, three robbers armed with long knives boarded an underway bulk carrier near position 01:06 N - 103:32 E, 7.5 nm east-northeast of Pulau Karimun Besar. Duty oiler sighted the robbers in the engine room’s storeroom and immediately informed the bridge. The ship’s master raised the alarm followed by a ship’s loudspeaker announcement. Upon hearing the alarm and seeing the alerted crew, the robbers escaped with stolen ship’s stores. An Indonesian naval vessel approached the bulk carrier for assistance. Upon arrival in Singapore, a Coast Guard crew boarded for investigation. (IMB)

Figure 3. East Asia - Southeast Asia - Indian Subcontinent Piracy and Maritime Crime

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6. (U) VIETNAM: On 22 October, a duty crewman on anti-piracy and robbery watch onboard an anchored bulk carrier noticed six robbers climbing onto the forecastle using a rope attached to a hook, near position 20:41 N - 107:13 E, Cai Lan Anchorage. He notified the duty officer who raised the alarm and mustered the crew. Seeing the alerted crew, the robbers escaped. A search was carried out and nothing found stolen. Port authority and local agent informed. (IMB) 7. (U) VIETNAM: On 18 October, duty crewman on routine rounds onboard an anchored tanker noticed two robbers on the poop deck near position 10:06 N - 107:06 E, Mui Vung Tau Anchorage. He shouted at the robbers and retreated to a safe location and raised the alarm. Crew was mustered and approached the robbers. Seeing the alert crew, the robbers escaped. A search was carried out and nothing found stolen. Vung Tau port control informed. (IMB) 8. (U) INDONESIA: On 15 October, four robbers boarded an underway cargo ship near position 01:07 N - 103:31 E, 6.3 nm east of Pulau Karimun Kecil. The third engineer saw the robbers armed with long knives opening the aft door to the engine room workshop. The third engineer and junior engineer were taken hostage and their hands tied up. The robbers stole their personal belongings and spare parts and escaped. The junior engineer managed to free himself and raised the alarm. (IMB) 9. (U) INDONESIA: On 15 October, six robbers in a small boat boarded an underway tanker near position 01:10 N - 103:26 E, 2.85 nm northeast of Pulau Karimun Kecil. Two of the robbers entered the engine room and were spotted by the second engineer. One of the robbers threatened the second engineer with a long knife and signaled him to be quiet or he would cut his throat. The second engineer escaped and raised the alarm. Hearing the alarm and seeing the crew’s alertness, the robbers escaped. Nothing was reported stolen. VTIS Singapore informed. Authorities boarded the tanker for investigation. (IMB) 10. (U) INDONESIA: On 15 October, a duty crewman onboard an underway bulk carrier noticed a speed boat approaching the ship near position 01:07 N - 103:30 E: 6 nm east of Pulau Karimun Kecil. Alarm was raised, crew was mustered and a search light directed towards the speedboat. Seeing the crew’s alertness, the robbers aborted and moved away. (IMB) 11. (U) VIETNAM: On 29 September, Vietnam-flagged fishing boat QNg 90352 TS was reportedly rammed and then boarded, near Luoi Liem Island, in the disputed Paracel Island group, by a boat carrying uniformed Chinese personnel armed with knives and electric shock batons. They proceeded to steal most of the boat’s catch, damage navigation equipment and then departed. During the ramming, the fishing boat developed a crack in the hull, which resulted in the boat sinking several hours later. All crewmen were later rescued by another fishing boat. (thanhnien news) 12. (U) MALAYSIA: On 15 October, six robbers boarded the Panama-flagged tanker ALMI SPIRIT in the Kukup Anchorage area of Johor Province. Forces from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency responded to the boarding and are investigating. (www.news.odin.tc) 13. (U) BANGLADESH: On 12 October, a group of fishermen came under attack from pirates in the Kuakata Bay region of Patuakhali. According to the Alipur Trawler Owners’ Association, three fishing boats came under attack from the pirates. They shot and injured six of the fishermen and kidnapped two of them. (www.uttaranews24.com) 14. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 10 October, seven robbers boarded MV CECILIA near 05:20 N - 125:31 E, 4.5 nm southeast of Olanivan Island. Two speed boats with seven persons armed with guns approached the vessel. Suspecting a boarding attempt, the master instructed the crew to close and lock all access to the vessel’s accommodation area. The armed robbers boarded the vessel, but departed when they could not enter the ship. The master raised the alarm, informed the local authorities and notified the owners. A coast guard vessel was dispatched to investigate. (IMB, www.sunstar.com.ph) 15. (U) MALAYSIA: On 6 October, an unknown number of robbers boarded an anchored product tanker during hours of darkness near position 05:49 N - 118:09 E, Sandakan Anchorage, Sabah. The robbers forced their way into the bosun store room, stole spare parts, and escaped. The theft was noticed by the duty crew during routine rounds. The incident was reported to Port Authorities. (IMB)

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16. (U) INDONESIA: On 5 October, an unknown number of robbers boarded an anchored general cargo ship near position 06:01 S - 106:53 E, Tanjung Priok Anchorage. They entered into the engine room workshop, stole ship’s properties and escaped. The theft was noticed by the duty crew during routine rounds. (IMB) 17. (U) INDONESIA: On 5 October, a fishing boat saw five intruders boarding an anchored product tanker near position 03:56 N - 098:49 E, Belawan Anchorage, and notified the tanker. Alarm was raised, fog horn sounded and crew was mustered. The robbers threatened the approaching crewmen with long knives and escaped empty- handed. (IMB) 18. (U) MALAYSIA: On 1 October, two robbers boarded a tanker via the anchor chain near position 05:49 N - 118:05 E: 1.5 nm north-northeast of Sandakan, Borneo. An alert crewman spotted the robbers and raised the alarm, resulting in the robbers abandoning the collected stolen items and escaping. (IMB) 19. (U) VIETNAM: On 30 September, a stevedore onboard a container ship berthed near position 10:46 N - 106:44 E, Vietnam International Container Terminal, Ho Chi Minh City Port, noticed two robbers near the forecastle and alerted the duty crewman who in turn notified the bridge. The duty crewman stopped his approach towards the robbers when he noticed that they were armed with a long bladed knife. When the robber saw the crewman, he jumped overboard and escaped. The crew later discovered that the padlock on the bosun store room was forced opened and ship’s properties stolen. (IMB) 20. (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 investigations. According to the police, the tanker was illegally selling bunker fuel to Vietnamese fishing vessels for $0.22 per liter. (www.vesseltracker.com) 21. (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) J. (U) NORTH - EAST ASIA: No current incidents to report. 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 Agency’s 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.

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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. (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)

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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,

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: 28 October 2015