Reports in 2002: July - September

By Mark Bruyneel

Date: 2002, Oct 14
1. Number of Attacks so far in 2002:
  • Most of the number of attacks that have been reported have been published in the Weekly Piracy Reports at the Web site of the International Chamber of Commerce. The first quarterly piracy report of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB)7 puts the number for the first 3 months at 87. The second quarterly report of the IMB24 puts the number for the first 6 months at 171. During the first three months the number of incidents in Indonesian waters remains the highest. The number of incidents in African waters has increased markedly, however: over a third of the 87 reports occurred there. The African countries that account for most incidents in this period are: Guinea, Nigeria, Somalia, Tanzania, the Ivory Coast and the Red Sea. After the first half year a number of weekly reports1 have been published by the IMB which puts the total number of reported incidents at 260. The first weekly report of 2002 contained incidents about 2001 only.

    The IMO has so far reported on 197 incidents in the first six months, according to the first25, and second26 quarterly report of this year. The six monthly reports contain 145 incidents2-6, 14. Two monthly reports for July27 and August47 have been published and this puts the total number of reported incidents by the IMO at 282. The July report is the first in this series that indicates, in addition to whether the incident was an (alleged) attempt or an (alleged) attack, whether the incident took place in port or international waters. So far a total of 287 separate incidents (including warnings) have been reported this year by either the IMO or the IMB.

    One of the reasons mentioned for the increase in incidents is the global economic slowdown13. Other reasons include the sharp rise in hijackings for ransom, particularly in the areas of Somalia, Indonesia and the Philippines. In most cases the hijackings are either the result of local gangs or guerrillas trying to raise money. The Americas also shows an increase compared to last year. The increase is particularly high in Guyana, Ecuador and Venezuela.
    If I make an estimate of incidents NOT reported in the IMB Weekly reports based on the "Comparison of 2001 Figures of the International Maritime Bureau" the total number could be as high as: 171 + (89 / 3 * 4) = 289,66.
    There have also been a few incidents which have been reported in newspapers and at the websites of the Int'l Vessel Cas. D'base and the ASAM database which have so far not been included in official reports by either the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) or the International Maritime Organization. The total number for the first 7 months is therefore, according to my conservative estimate, somewhere around: 300.
    The graph contains only the incidents from the weekly reports set out against the reports for 2001! The graph shows a general increase of reported incidents in the weekly reports for 2002 as compared to 2001. This indicates that the number of incidents is increasing again and that the total number over the whole of 2002 is likely to be higher again than last years' total.

    • Some of the more notable piracy incidents in the third quarter of 2002 so far are:

  • 08.07.02 at 2200 LT at berth no.3, Chittagong port, Bangladesh.
    Seven pirates armed with long knives approached a general cargo ship. The third officer had gone down on the jetty to read the draft. Pirates assaulted him and attempted to snatch his gold chain and watch. The 3rd officer's left arm was dislocated and he was hospitalised. Master reported this was the third piracy attempt since arriving in Chittagong1.
  • According to a newspaper article by Hassan Barise Somali gunmen have hijacked the cargo ship Aamir off the Puntland Coast. The vessel had to break off its journey due to severe weather conditions when she was attacked by freelance gangs in fishing boats. At the moment the gunmen are trying to ransom the ship and her crew for $100,000 USD. The militiamen on board the vessel reportedly have been doubled. The captain has been forced to move the vessel to the remote area Deynkudha8. According to a newspaper article by Nissar Hoath on 11 July the ship and its crew have been released and were on their way to Bosaso port15. According to a Xinhua article the 11 gunmen who held the ship each received 1,100 US dollars from the Puntland administration16.
  • Another vessel was hijacked on 18 June when she tried to fix engine trouble while at anchor off the North coast of Somalia. The entire crew of 23 Filipino's was taken hostage and the bulk carrier Panagia Tinou was moved to an unknown destination along the Somali coast. The United Nations entered into negotiations with the pirates on behalf of the Philippines since this country has no bilateral relations with Somalia. After 16 days of captivity the crewmen were released after being paid a ransom by an international ship insurance agency through the Protection and Indemnity Club. The Cyprus-flagged vessel and its crew are now on their way again to India9-11.According to an article in the Guardian the Greek Insurance firm paid the $400,000 ransom after the Hellenic Union of Insurance for War Acts agreed to the deal17. According to the commander of the German Naval Air Wing Detachment in Mombasa, the presence of three German vessels near where the hijacked vessel was anchored helped free it. Afterwards, the German vessels escorted the Panagia Tinou out of the area18.
  • There has been a report in the Bangkok Post that the Malacca Straits was a major target area for piracy and that the terrorist group Al-Qaeda was involved in attacks. This group is supposed to have targeted particularly ships carrying radioactive materials for the purpose of creating dirty bombs19. According to an article in the Shipping Times the International Maritime Bureau corrected this erroneous report. According to the IMB no Al-Qaeda piracy attacks have been reported, especially not attacks on ships carrying radioactive materials. Attacks on vessels in the Malacca Straits have also declined considerably since the attacks peaked at 75 in 2000 and despite an increase this year the number of attacks is nowhere near this level20.
  • Another curious incident was reported in the Pacific Ocean off Guam when the Chinese crew of the Taiwanese fishing trawler Ta Lung Hsin No. 7 hijacked her in an attempt to escape (from China?). After the reported missing by her owner, Chen Chien-Chung, the US Coast Guard launched a search and recovered her on 27 July. The owner said this was the third hijacking of one of his fishing boats this year28.
  • There have been confused reports on the hijacking of a British-registered tanker with a Russian crew off Somalia since 11 August29. A BBC newspaper article reports on a British-registered Korean-owned vessel flying a Cyprus flag and with an Georgian crew being hijacked near Somalia. According to the deputy director of the IMB the incident may have been confused with another incident30. A helicopter from the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Cumberland was sent to investigate but failed to find any sign of the vessel31. According to a second BBC newspaper article the vessel is the Greek-owned and North Korea-registered Jenlil32. This vessel was reported hijacked for ransom on 30 July. The crew is Georgian and the general cargo vessel flies a Danish flag27. The hijackers are keeping the vessel near the coast of Puntland and are negotiating for a ransom. The pirates may belong to the Sibaq Roon subclan or the larger Majerteen clan33 who have established the Puntland Republic in part of Somalia34.
  • Organised gangs appear to become more actively again in the area of Indonesia and the Malacca Straits. Recently the tug Sandia II was on it's way from Dumai to Tanjung Priok with the barge Indo Ocean Marine VII when they were attacked in the vicinity of the Bengkalis straits1. The crew was forced overboard and the gang of 10 men took of with both vessels. The pirates were masked men who carried two pistols, parang and sickles. The crew was rescued by local fishermen. On 12 September both vessels were recovered by the Malaysian marine police in Malaysian waters. The barge was discovered in port Klang and the tug was found anchored off Pulau Angsa40. The crew on board are considered to be only middlemen who had nothing to do with the initial hijacking of both vessels. The same pirate gang appeared to be active again a week later when another Tug and barge were attacked in a similar fashion. Again the target appeared to be the cargo of palm oil which the barge Bes 04 was carrying41. The barge and the Tug Usda Jaya were underway from Riau Island to Dumai port when the pirates attacked. The crew were released unharmed at Pulua Lingka42. Following these attacks the IMB has issued a warning to all cargo owners in these areas through their website43.
  • Pirates armed with guns and machetes attacked a Malaysian-flagged ship in Indonesian waters on 28 September at 03:00 LT. The crew was held captive for a day while they stole nearly 3,000 metric tons of diesel oil. The bandits boarded the MT Nautica Kluang before dawn on Saturday in the Straits of Malacca, wrecked the vessel's communication systems and locked the entire crew in a cabin. By the time the crew broke free Sunday the pirates had vanished along with the oil the ship was transporting. No injuries were reported. The attack occurred in Indonesian waters near the southernmost tip of the Straits, which seperates peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra48. The tanker had a satellite tracking device on board but the attack took place with such speed that it was not noticed that something was wrong until it was too late49. This attack strengthens the belief of some experts that a organized syndicate may be at work attacking tankers in the past few months50.

    • 2. Measures taken/proposed:
  • The number of attacks on vessels in the Philippine and Somali areas (and the following demands of ransom for the crews and the vessels) has increased the last 1½ year. Intervention by armed force is a problem in these cases. David Hughes suggests a solution to the problem of intervention in the territorial waters of one nation by another nation: a general rule must be made that interventions can be made when all local authority has broken down in the area in question where the attack took place12. Even if this rule should ever be taken up and discussed by international organisations it will take a long time to become law. Even if this should be the case, I think an international force under an organisation like the United Nations would be required to take action.
  • According to a newspaper report in the Korea Herald the Indonesian Navy and airforce are currently not up to the task of providing an adequate defence of its country's waters. Problems include insufficient ships to technical difficulties to keep the ageing naval fleet and aircraft up and running in such a manner as to be ready for combat activities21. Despite recent agreements with neighbouring countries to jointly defend its waters from pirates this does not give much confidence in its capability to do so unless more funds can be used to upgrade and extend it's navy and aircraft. A country that is already dealing with many political and economical difficulties this may not happen soon. Donald Urquhart reports on another recent measure taken by Indonesia. Marines of the Indonesian navy are currently being assigned to fishing boats that sail in waters off North Sumatra. Their presence is intended to better monitor criminal activity like smuggling and to deter attacks by pirates44.
  • The Straits of Malacca also fall under the jurisdiction of Indonesia as well as Malaysia and Singapore. Despite recent efforts by all three countries to increase security in the area part of the Japanese Shipping Community believes that an international framework should be created for helping them to keep the Straits safe22. Over the years traffic through the Straits has increased and it remains one of the most economically important transport lanes for countries in the East and West.
  • The authorities in Bangladesh have reportedly decided to increase security at the countries most important harbour Chittagong. Four new investigations will be set up besides the current Police station. All of these will be put under a single security command. The investigation centres will each provided with 5 speedboats to carry out patrols and to be able to react swiftly to criminal activity. This will be a marked increase compared to the current 2 boats available for patrols up the Karnaphuli river as well as the outer anchorage area35.
  • The International Maritime Organisation is expected to announce new security requirements, which will include mandatory onboard security officers, in December of this year, according to the Shipping Times of 22 Augustus. The requirement will be mandatory for all vessels of 500 Gross Tonnage and over36. The officer is expected to be responsible for all security issues as well as the formal security plan of the vessel. At the 40th annual conference of the "International Transport workers Federation" (ITF) in Vancouver it was agreed that Ship owners need to do more to increase security onboard. Specially trained private security guards were one of the measures that have been suggested as part of the solution37. The security officer is part of a proposal for the amendment of the Solas (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention to include a new International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code)38. The United States is also formulating new port security measures and a customs inspector scheme. One of the issues that will result from all of this is the question of who will pay for all these measures. David Hughes thinks that ports will want shipping operators to pay for these increases. Since the ports have the ability to set their own dues the operators may be forced to accept them. Given the high level of competitiveness in the shipping industry it may be wise for ports to gradually increase their dues because otherwise they may scare port operators (temporarily) away which will cause a loss in revenue for ports. Eventually these costs will of course be passed down to shippers and consumers39.

    • The United States has recently submitted another proposal to increase port security which involves "allowing inspections [by coast guard officials] to take place outside a port". The IMO maritime security working group will probably take this into consideration during their preparations to draft a new regulation on control measures. The regulation will, if approved, become a new mandatory section of the SOLAS convention45. At the moment there is some resistance to the US proposals. The reasons vary from unacceptable time delays, costs, unfairness against seafarers, and the fact that the measures are unilateral and not part of multilateral agreements about common standards for maritime security. The European Union has called for a transitional period which will allow for adequate time to review the US proposals and for the necessary time to allow the shipping industry to adapt to the rigorous changes46.

    4. Success against pirates:
  • The Malaysian marine police has successfully recovered a barge and tug which had been hijacked en route from Dumai to Tanjung Priok with a cargo of Palm Oil40. Both vessels have been found in Port Klang. The crew that was discovered on board are probably only middlemen who transported the oil to this port, according to police chief Muhammad Muda. They are probably not part of the gang that initially hijacked both vesels.

    • Sources:
    1. Weekly piracy report. - International Maritime Bureau. Piracy Reporting Centre:
      Weekly piracy report: 2 July 2002 to 8 July 2002. - 2002 July 9. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 135])
      Weekly piracy report. - International Maritime Bureau. Piracy Reporting Centre:
      Weekly piracy report: 9 July 2002 to 15 July 2002. - 2002 July 16. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 136])
      Weekly piracy report. - International Maritime Bureau. Piracy Reporting Centre:
      Weekly piracy report: 16 July 2002 to 22 July 2002. - 2002 July 23. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 137])
      Weekly piracy report. - International Maritime Bureau. Piracy Reporting Centre:
      Weekly piracy report: 23 July 2002 to 29 July 2002. - 2002 July 30. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 138])
      Weekly piracy report: 30 July 2002 to 5 August 2002. - 2002 Aug 6. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 139])
      Weekly piracy report: 6 August 2002 to 12 August 2002. - 2002 Aug 13. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 140])
      Weekly piracy report: 13 August 2002 to 19 August 2002. - 2002 Aug 20. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 141])
      Weekly piracy report: 20 August 2002 to 26 August 2002. - 2002 Aug 27. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 142])
      Weekly piracy report: 27 August 2002 to 2 September 2002. - 2002 Sept 3. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 143])
      Weekly piracy report: 3 September 2002 to 9 September 2002. - 2002 Sept 10. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 144])
      Weekly piracy report: 10 September 2002 to 16 September 2002. - 2002 Sept 17. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 145])
      Weekly piracy report: 17 September 2002 to 23 September 2002. - 2002 Sept 24. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 146])
      Weekly piracy report: 24 September 2002 to 30 September 2002. - 2002 Oct 1. - (Weekly piracy report ; [nr. 147])
    2. Acts reported during January 2002. - London : International Maritime Organization. Maritime Safety
      Committee, 2002 January 31. - (Reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships ; MSC.4/Circ.13) 9 p.
    3. Acts reported during February 2002. - London : International Maritime Organization. Maritime Safety
      Committee, 2002 February 28. - (Reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships ; MSC.4/Circ.14) 9 p.
    4. Acts reported during March 2002. - London : International Maritime Organization. Maritime Safety
      Committee, 2002 March 31. - (Reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships ; MSC.4/Circ.15) 9 p.
    5. Acts reported during April 2002. - London : International Maritime Organization. Maritime Safety
      Committee, 2002 May 9. - (Reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships ; MSC.4/Circ.17) 6 p.
    6. Acts reported during May 2002. - London : International Maritime Organization. Maritime Safety
      Committee, 2002 June 10. - (Reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships ; MSC.4/Circ.18) 7 p.
    7. Piracy and armed robbery against ships: report for the period 1 January - 31 March 2002 / Piracy Reporting Centre. - London : ICC International Maritime Bureau. Piracy Reporting Centre, 2002 April [?]
    8. Somali gunmen hijack cargo ship / H. Barise
      In: BBC News online (2002 July 3) [Newspaper article]
    9. 23 Filipinos kidnapped in Somalia
      In: Gulf News (2002 July 4) [Newspaper article]
    10. International efforts free hijacked ship from armed siege. - London : International
      Maritime Bureau, 2002 July 5
      Source: http://www.iccwbo.org/ccs/news_archives/2002/stories/pirate.asp
    11. 23 Filipino seamen held by Somali gunmen freed / G. Felongco
      In: Gulf News (2002 July 5) [Newspaper article]
    12. A worrying trend in hijackings / David Hughes
      In: Shipping Times (2002 Jul 10) [Newspaper article]
    13. Pirate attacks jumped 28% in first quarter
      In: Shipping Times (2002 May 10) [Newspaper article]
    14. Acts reported during June 2002. - London : International Maritime Organization. Maritime Safety
      Committee, 2002 July 8. - (Reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships ; MSC.4/Circ.20)
    15. Somali pirates release UAE cargo ship / Nissar Hoath
      In: Gulf News (2002 July 11) [Newspaper article]
    16. Somali pirates release UAE cargo ship / Nissar Hoath
      In: Gulf News (2002 July 11) [Newspaper article]
    17. The cargo vessel, abducted by gunmen off Northeastern Somalia two weeks ago, . . .
      In: Xinhua news agency (2002 July 12) [Newspaper article]
    18. Insurers pay to free pirates' hostages / H. Smith
      In: The Guardian (2002 Jul 18) [Newspaper article]
    19. Anti-terrorism troops rescue Filipino crew / P. Mayoyo
      In: The Nation (2002 Jul 18) [Newspaper article]
    20. Radioactive cargo stolen by al-Qaeda / A. Charoenpo
      In: Bangkok Post (2002 Jul 22) [Newspaper article]
    21. No Al-Qaeda-linked piracy attacks in Malacca Straits: IMB / B. Jinks
      In: Shipping Times (2002 Jul 23) [Newspaper article]
    22. Jakarta's military unable to cope with threats / D. Pereira
      In: The Korea Herald (2002 Jul 13) [Newspaper article]
    23. Japan committed to keeping Straits safe / T. Shimura
      In: Shipping Times (2002 Jul 16) [Newspaper article]
    24. Piracy and armed robbery against ships: report for the period 1 January - 30 June 2002 / Piracy Reporting Centre. - London : ICC International Maritime Bureau. Piracy Reporting Centre, 2002 July
    25. First quarterly report (January to, and including, March 2002). - London : International Maritime Organization. Maritime Safety
      Committee, 2002 April [?]. - (Reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships ; MSC.4/Circ.19)
    26. Second quarterly report (April to, and including, June 2002). - London : International Maritime Organization. Maritime Safety
      Committee, 2002 July. - (Reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships ; MSC.4/Circ.22)
    27. Acts reported during July 2002. - London : International Maritime Organization. Maritime Safety
      Committee, 2002 Aug 8. - (Reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships ; MSC.4/Circ.21)
    28. Hijacked fishing boat detained
      In: Shipping Times (2002 Jul 29) [Newspaper article]
    29. Somali pirates hijack tanker
      In: 7am.com News (2002 Aug 11) [Newspaper article]
    30. Somali pirates 'demand $1m for ship'
      In: BBC News online (2002 Aug 12) [Newspaper article]
    31. Mystery claim of British tanker seized by pirates / Steven Morris
      In: The Guardian (2002 Aug 12) [Newspaper article]
    32. Somali pirates hold Greek tanker
      In: BBC News online (2002 Aug 12) [Newspaper article]
    33. Somali gunmen seize oil tanker
      In: Business Report (2002 Aug 13) [Newspaper article]
    34. Olietanker gekaapt bij Somalië
      In: Algemeen Dagblad (2002 Aug 13) [Newspaper article]
    35. Security to be beefed up at vital port
      In: Gulf News (2002 Aug 7) [Newspaper article]
    36. Shipboard security officers may soon be mandatory / B. Jinks
      In: Shipping Times (2002 Aug 22) [Newspaper article]
    37. Rule for ships to have security officers
      In: The Star (2002 Aug 26) [Newspaper article]
    38. IMO faces tough task putting security measures in place / Donald Urquhart
      In: Shipping Times (2002 Aug 27) [Newspaper article]
    39. Who should pay for security costs? / David Hughes
      In: Shipping Times (2002 Aug 28) [Newspaper article]
    40. Tug boat, barge hijacked in Malacca Straits / Donald Urquhart
      In: Shipping Times (2002 Sept 26) [Newspaper article]
    41. Malacca Strait pirates hit second tug in a month / Marcus Hand
      In: Lloyd's List (2002 Sept 20) [Newspaper article]
    42. Marine police beef up patrols after recent hijacks
      In: The Star (2002 Sept 23) [Newspaper article]
    43. Armed pirate gangs are targeting tugs, warns IMB. - London : International
      Maritime Bureau, 2002 Sept 24
      Source: http://www.iccwbo.org/home/news_archives/2002/stories/tug.asp
    44. Indon navy guarding fishermen against piracy threats / Donald Urquhart
      In: Shipping Times (2002 Sept 12) [Newspaper article]
    45. US argues for radical port state powers
      In: Lloyd's List (2002 Sept 9) [Newspaper article]
    46. Brussels puts a brake on US drive for ports clamp / Roger Hailey
      In: Lloyd's List (2002 Sept 12) [Newspaper article]
    47. Acts reported during August 2002. - London : International Maritime Organization. Maritime Safety
      Committee, 2002 Sept 16. - (Reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships ; MSC.4/Circ.23)
    48. Pirates steal oil cargo from Malaysian tanker in Straits
      In: Petroleumworld (2002 Sep 30); Petroleumworld.com
    49. Piracy surge hits Malaysian tanker / Marcus Hand
      In: Lloyd's List (2002 Oct 1) P.3 [Newspaper article]
    50. Pirates attack oil tanker near S'pore Straits / B. Jinks
      In: Shipping Times (2002 Oct 1) [Newspaper article]