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Latest Piracy Analysis from OPINTEL
![Piracy Horn of Africa incident map courtesy of OPINTEL](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/piracy-horn-of-africa-incident-24153.jpg)
The latest US Maritime OPINTEL analysis and weekly report that follows covers the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. OMAN: On 6 March, three suspicious white skiffs approached a merchant vessel near position 22:27.1 N – 060:29.2 E, approximately 122 nm southeast of Muscat, Oman. The skiffs with two persons onboard each skiff approached the ship to within a half mile. After self protection measures were initiated by the crew, the skiffs moved away.
Kidnapping on the Rise in the Gulf of Guinea
![Image: Dryad Maritime](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/image-dryad-maritime-24107.jpg)
According to a special advisory warning recently issued by U.K. maritime intelligence provider Dryad Maritime, there has been an increased threat of crew kidnap in the Gulf of Guinea. And since the issue of Dryad’s warning, two further attacks on vessels have taken place within a single week, as two Nigerian-flagged vessels were targeted by maritime criminals on consecutive days, resulting in the kidnap of six crew members.
EU Shares Counter-piracy Knowledge with Tanzania
![Atalanta and EUCAP Nestor hosted two training sessions for Tanzanian Maritime Police and Navy in Dar es Salaam to share knowledge and experiences in fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region. (EU NAVFOR Photo)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/atalanta-and-eucap-nestor-hosted-23777.jpg)
On Monday, February 24, European Union counter-piracy operation Atalanta and EUCAP Nestor, the civilian-led Maritime Security Capacity building EU Mission, hosted two training sessions for Tanzanian Maritime Police and Navy in Dar es Salaam to share knowledge and experiences in fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region. The practical trainings held on board the EU Naval Force flagship…
Hijacked Tanker Returns Minus $8M of Diesel
![MT Kerala (Photo: Greek World Reporter)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/mt-kerala-photo-greek-world-23692.jpg)
Reuters - An oil tanker hijacked for a week off Angola in January has been returned to the country's authorities, a board member at state oil firm Sonangol said on Tuesday, adding that the hijackers had stolen diesel worth $8 million from the ship. The Liberian-flagged MT Kerala was under a time charter contract for Sonangol when it vanished off the coast of the capital Luanda on Jan. 18 before being intercepted by the Nigerian navy a week later.
India Drops Anti-piracy Charges against Italian Marines
India has dropped a plan to prosecute two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen under a tough anti-piracy law, a government lawyer said on Monday…
Two Found Dead on "Captain Philips" Ship
![File Photo: Maersk Alabama](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/file-photo-maersk-alabama-23526.jpg)
According to multiple published reports including Reuters, two U.S. security workers were found dead on the Maersk Alabama, a ship made famous by the Hollywood movie "Captain Phillips" in 2013. The two men apparently were found dead in a cabin on board the vessel in the afternoon of February 18 in Port of Victoria in the Seychelles. Both reportedly had beeen on board since 29 January. The Trident Group…
Piracy Shifts to Western Africa
![Photo: EnGarde](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-engarde-23259.jpg)
As international cooperation brings increasing pressure on more the traditional pirate trade in east Africa, there is mounting evidence that Western Africa, from Guinea-Bissau south to the Congo has become a new hotspot for the pirate trade. While the movie “Captain Phillips”, a story about Somali pirates hijacking the Captain of the container ship Maersk Alabama, played in theaters around the world…
ICS Board Prepares for IMO Meeting
![ICS Chairman Masamichi Morooka](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/ics-chairman-masamichi-morooka-23151.jpg)
The Board of Directors of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), representing national shipowners’ associations from 35 nations and over 80% of the world merchant fleet, met in London recently. The ICS Board agreed that ICS will continue to refrain from actively encouraging administrations that have not yet ratified the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention from making the additional ratifications required to bring about immediate entry into force.
Liberian Investigation Affirms Tanker Hijacking
![Kerala (Photo: Greek World Reporter)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/kerala-photo-greek-world-reporter-23033.jpg)
Liberia continues its active investigation of the hijacking of the Liberian-flagged product tanker, Kerala, (IMO No.: 9390927), at Luanda, Angola on January 18, 2014, and although the investigation is still ongoing, the evidence gathered thus far by the INTERPOL Incident Response Team has allowed the Liberian Registry to conclude that the vessel was hijacked by pirates. Liberia, in cooperation with the vessel owners…
Setting the Course Awards Banquet
Seafarers & International House will hold its 14th annual Setting the Course awards banquet the at the New York Athletic Club on Tuesday evening, April 22, 2014 to honor Donald J. Marcus, Edward R.
Drum Cussac Security Business up in 2013
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/-22965.jpg)
In the second half of 2013, the number of secured transits conducted by Drum Cussac, using both armed and un-armed security consultants, was 16% up on the same period in 2012. Drum Cussac's Director of Maritime, Charlotte Tinworth said: "I am delighted with our team achievements in such a competitive industry. Our high standards, including our unrelenting focus on HSSE; the professionalism and dedication of our people…
GUARDIAN Rebranded under Guardian Maritime
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/-22906.jpg)
The GUARDIAN brand of antipiracy barriers is restructured under a new company name. With immediate effect, GUARDIAN will now be provided by Guardian Maritime Limited. In taking their whole operation back in-house the original inventors and owners, David and Teresa Stevens, plan to further expand the company, adding to the team and increasing worldwide representation as well as further developing a range of additional antipiracy products.
EU NAVFOR Transports Pirate Suspects for Prosecution
![Five men apprehended by FS Siroco are transferred to the Seychelles police with the aim to prosecute them for acts of piracy.](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/five-men-apprehended-by-fs-22785.jpg)
Suspect Pirates Apprehended by EU Naval Force Flagship Transferred To The Seychelles. On 29 January 2014, international collaboration in the fight against piracy resulted in the transfer of five men by the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta flagship, FS Siroco, to the Republic of Seychelles, with the aim of prosecuting them for acts of piracy. On Saturday 18 January, FS Siroco, in cooperation with Japanese assets in support of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF/CTF 151)…
Hijackers Release Tanker, Dynacom Says
The oil tanker reported missing on January 18 at Angola, Luanda Anchorage was allegedly released by hijackers, according to a statement from the vessel's owner,…
Missing Tanker Found; Account of Pirate Attack Disputed
M/T Kerala vanished on January 18 off Angola; Angolan Navy says hijacking faked. The Angolan Navy is claiming that the crew of an oil tanker reported missing off its coast on Jan.
UPDATE: Vessel Feared Hijacked Still Missing off Luanda
![Dryad Photo: suspected pirate vessel underway.](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/dryad-photo-suspected-pirate-vessel-22339.jpg)
Suspected pirate vessel off Angola. Dryad Maritime - a UK-based maritime intelligence firm - says situation has not changed since yesterday. Dryad Maritime is warning of the possible hijack of a Liberian flagged tanker MT Kerala. The vessel, owned by Dynacom Tankers, has been reported as missing off the coast of Angola, having last been sighted seven nautical miles NNW of Luanda. The tanker’s disappearance…
Suspects Apprehended in 2014's First Pirate Attack
![Photo: EU NAVFOR](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-eu-navfor-22275.jpg)
On January 18, 2014, the French EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta flagship FS Siroco in cooperation with Japanese assets released the crew of a Dhow that was suspected to have been used as pirate mother-ship. The flagship apprehended five suspected pirates believed to be responsible for an attack on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden a day earlier. The oil tanker issued a distress call to the UK Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO) on the evening of Friday…
Vessel Guards Thwart Somali Pirate Attack
Dryad Maritime Intelligence have today confirmed the first piracy attack of 2014 which saw an attack launched by Somali pirates south of Salalah in the late hours of January 17.
Cargo Ship Mistakenly Thought Pirates Boarding
![Arrested ship: Photo courtesy of the owners](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/arrested-ship-photo-courtesy-of-22232.jpg)
Eritrean forces in the Red Sea have boarded a merchant vessel that was in their territorial waters in an incident the crew initially reported as a pirate attack, reports Reuters. It was not immediately clear why the forces boarded the ship, the MV Marzooqah, and it was not possible to contact authorities in Eritrea, one of Africa's most isolated nations. Reuters quotes Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline Sherriff…
Bauzá Takes Command at EU NAVFOR
![Outgoing DCOM Rear Admiral Martens shakes hands with incoming DCOM Rear Admiral Bauzá as the Operational HQ staff applaud (Photo courtesy EU NAVFOR)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/outgoing-dcom-rear-admiral-martens-22215.jpg)
On 17 January 2014, Rear Admiral Jean Martens (German Navy) handed over the role of Deputy Operation Commander (DCOM) of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta to Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauzá (Spanish Navy). The handover took place at the Operation Headquarters (OHQ) in Northwood, London. Rear Admiral Martens joined the Operation in July 2013. On leaving the OHQ he was applauded by the staff of EU NAVFOR for his hard work and efforts.