The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published its Monthly Piracy Report for the month of November.
The following acts of piracy and armed robbery are allegedly committed against ships during the month of November 2023, reported by IMO Member States or international organizations in consultative status.
#1 In port area
- Matsushiro, General cargo ship, Panama
The incident: While at anchor, the crew on duty sighted five perpetrators wearing masks and carrying knives. When the crew attempted to drive the perpetrators away, they were threatened with a knife, so they returned to the accommodation area and closed the door. The crew called the bridge and reported the incident to the ship master. The crew members searched the accommodation area, engine room and on deck, with no further sightings of the perpetrators. The crew members were safe, and spare parts for the generator were reported stolen.
- Elisabeth Oldendorff, General cargo ship, Portugal
The incident: While at anchor, a watchman sighted a bucket of paint outside of the paint store and informed the master, Ship Security Officer (SSO) and duty officer on the bridge. The alarm was raised, crew mustered and a search on board the ship was conducted. Footprints of about two to three perpetrators were spotted and padlock of paint store was found broken. Six paint drums were stolen. The crew was not injured. The master reported the incident to Vung Tau Port Control via VHF. He also informed relevant agents about the incident via telephone call and email.
- Ginga Kite, Product tanker, Singapore
The incident: Alert duty crew onboard an anchored product tanker noticed around ten robbers armed with knives. Ship’s horn sounded, PA announcement made, and crew mustered. Seeing the crew alertness, the robbers escaped with stolen ship’s properties. Authorities boarded the tanker for investigation
and later managed to recover all the stolen ship’s properties.
- Argent Daisy, Chemical tanker, Singapore
The incident: While anchored, the crew on anti-piracy watch spotted three perpetrators onboard the ship near port side midship locker. The duty officer immediately activated the General Alarm. Upon hearing the alarm, the three perpetrators escaped from the ship. A search was subsequently conducted but nothing was stolen. All stores (accommodation, deck and engine room) were locked and in order. The crew was not injured. The master reported the incident to the port authority via agents at Belawan.
- Nordmosel, Bulk carrier, Portugal
The incident: Two robbers armed with a gun boarded an anchored bulk carrier and stole ship’s store from the forward station. Incident reported to Callao VTS port control. All crew safe.
- Argent Daisy, Product tanker, Singapore
The incident: While berthed, a ship crew noticed a slacked headline while preparing for cargo operations. Upon investigation, they discovered that one of the mooring lines was cut from shore end and there was sighting of a boat hovering around the ship suspiciously as reported by the Duty Officer. The crew immediately conducted a search onboard but no penetrator was found. However, some miscellaneous items were found missing (including fire hose nozzle, foam hose nozzle, fire hydrant cap, tank cleaning repair kit and ship bell). Apart from the missing items, there was no reported damage to the ship nor injuries to the crew.
- Argent Daisy, Chemical tanker, Singapore
The incident: While anchored, an AB crew and OS were preparing the mooring rope at the aft station when they were confronted by four perpetrators armed with knives/machetes who boarded the ship from the stern. The AB was taken into custody by the perpetrators while the OS managed to escape and alerted the duty officer. When the general alarm was sounded, the perpetrator released the AB, and fled via a small wooden boat. A search was conducted by the ship crew and no perpetrator was found onboard. No items were missing. There was also no damage to the ship nor injuries to the crew.
- Hansa Colombo, Container ship, Marshall Islands
The incident: While anchored, the duty security watchman found some foot prints on the deck floor coming from the anchor hawse pipe. It was assessed that the perpetrators used the starboard anchor chain to gain access to the ship and managed to open the cover of anchor hawse pipe undetected. The bosun
mate and the rest of the crew conducted security search on deck, and discovered that several items were reported stolen from the ship store. The padlock of the electrical switchgear/safety store in forecastle was damaged.
The crew members were not injured. The master reported the incident to the Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) Manila. A joint team of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) proceeded to location of the ship and immediately conducted inquiry.
Further, after they got the statement of facts from the master, the ship was also advised to file Marine Protest with the Office of Maritime Industry Authority.
- G.Crown, Container ship, Liberia
The incident: While anchored, the duty security watch on deck noticed five perpetrators disembarking from the ship through the hawse pipe and boarded a motorized banca. The master instructed his crew to conduct inventory check of the bosun store, and found one set of scuba equipment (with orange box), one set scuba (for fireman’s outfit), eight pcs fire nozzles, and eight pcs spanner for fire nozzles missing. Apart from the missing items, there was no reported damage to the ship nor injuries to the crew. The master reported the incident to VTMS Manila. On the same day, a joint team from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) boarded a patrol craft, DF-334 and proceeded to the location of the incident to conduct inquiry.
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