19 February 2003
Source:
http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/onit/onit_j_display.html?path=%2FMISC%2Fwwtts%2Fwwtts_20030212000000.txt&time=12-Feb-2003
12 Feb 03
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OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
CIVIL MARITIME ANALYSIS DEPARTMENT
WORLDWIDE THREAT TO SHIPPING
MARINER WARNING INFORMATION
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POC: CHARLES DRAGONETTE:
OFFICE:
COMM (301) 669-3261
FAX (301) 669-3247
E-mail cdragonette@nmic.navy.mil
.
1. This message provides information on threat to and criminal
action against merchant shipping worldwide.
.
A. To aid in our reporting, please add the Office of Naval
Intelligence (ONI) as an information addressee when possible to
your normal corporate and organizational reporting requirements.
The ONI message address is ONI WASHINGTON DC//21// or, the ONI
Violence at Sea (VAS) desk may be contacted at commercial phone
(301) 669-3261 or via e-mail at cdragonette@nmic.navy.mil. Report
may also be made to the National Response Center (U. S. Coast
Guard) hotline: 1-800-424-0201 or the Maritime Administration
Office of Ship Operations, MAR-613, (202) 366-5735; FAX
(202) 366-3954, e-mail: opcentr1@marad.dot.gov.
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B. This Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report is available weekly
to members of the Maritime Security Council via the MSCALERT.
For information on corporate membership in the Maritime Security
Council, contact Mr. Kim Petersen at mscalert@maritimesecurity.org
or visit the MSC website at www.maritimesecurity.org. Message is
also posted at the National Imagery and Mapping Agency site
http://164.214.12.145/onit/onit_j_main.html.
.
C. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) also publishes a
weekly piracy summary, based on reporting from the IMB Piracy
Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Each week's report is
published on Tuesday and may be accessed through
their web page www.iccwbo.org.
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D. Anti-piracy and crime current developments:
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1. PHILIPPINES: Philippine authorities have tightened
security at air and seaports to protect local and foreign
delegates to the 4th World Meeting of Families in Manila,
beginning 22 Jan (LM, MSC).
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E. Source codes: Information contained in this report is
derived through direct reporting and analysis of reports of other
agencies and commercial sources. Source codes will be added to
new reports to enable users requiring more detail to make contact.
Codes currently in use are:
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BIMCO, Baltic and International Maritime Council, Denmark
DOT, U. S. Department of Transportation
FP, Fairplay, London
GP, Greenpeace
IMB, International Maritime Bureau, London and Kuala Lumpur
IMO, International Maritime Organization, London
INFO, Informa Group, formerly LLP, Llp Limited, London
LL, Lloyd's List, daily, London
LM, local media
MARAD, Maritime Administration, US
MSC, Maritime Security Council, US
NIMA, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, Navigation Safety
System
ONI, Office of Naval Intelligence analysis
Operator, owner or operator of affected vessel
USCG, United States Coast Guard
RAN, Royal Australian Navy
STATE, U. S. Department of State
.
2. Designation of a high threat area is based on an assessment of
all source information relating to the existence of, or potential
for piracy and other crime, terrorism, civil unrest or low
intensity conflict. Every effort is made to ensure that incidents
are not double-counted. In the event double counting is detected
or an event is later learned not to be as 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. Specific incidents will be reported for one month.
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3. This week's highlights:
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A. British cruise ships to resume calls at Trinidad per 6 Feb
announcement (Para 5.B.1.).
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B. Chemical tanker boarded, intruder apprehended 8 Feb,
Portuario de Paita, Peru (Para 5.C.2.)
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C. Reefer ship boarded 9 Feb, Ile De Goree, Senegal
(Para 5.G.1.).
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D. Attempt to board tanker 7 Feb, Lome, Togo (Para 5.G.2.).
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E. Crew of (JENLIL) overpowered guards and escaped from
hostage situation off N. Somalia per 9 Feb report
(Para 5.H.2.).
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F. Bulk carrier boarded 6 Feb, Chittagong, Bangladesh
(Para 5.H.4.).
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G. LTTE boat destroyed in explosion following inspection by
peace monitors 7 Feb (Para 5.H.9.).
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H. Container ship boarded 8 Feb, Banten Roads, Indonesia
(Para 5.K.1.).
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4. Contents and summary of threat areas detailed in paragraph 5.
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A. NORTH AMERICA:
1. No current incidents to report.
B. CENTRAL AMERICA-CARIBBEAN:
1. British cruise ships divert from Trinidad as of 17 Jan
apparently based on Dec 2002 UK Government warning.
Calls to resume per 6 Feb announcement.
2. Bulk carrier boarded, robbed 17 Jan at anchor west of
Pigeon Island, Jamaica.
3. Yacht boarded, robbed 26 Jan Nueva Gerona Channel, Isla
De La Juventud, Cuba.
4. Bulk carrier boarded, robbed 22 Jan, Havana, Cuba.
C. SOUTH AMERICA:
1. Total of 5,333 oil company workers fired as of 31 Jan;
rest of Venezuela strike appears over.
2. Chemical tanker boarded, intruder apprehended 8 Feb,
Portuario de Paita, Peru.
3. Tanker boarded 26 Jan at mooring buoys, Callao, Peru.
D. ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA:
1. No current incidents to report.
E. NORTHERN EUROPE-BALTIC:
1. No current incidents to report.
F. MEDITERRANEAN-BLACK SEA:
1. Israeli forces detonated an explosives-laden raft 17 Jan
off Gaza.
G. WEST AFRICA:
1. Reefer ship boarded 9 Feb, Ile De Goree, Senegal.
2. Attempt to board tanker 7 Feb, Lome, Togo.
3. Multiple attempts to board cargo ships 24 Jan at Tema,
Ghana.
4. LPG tanker boarded 23 Jan at Bonny Town, Nigeria.
5. Local women blocked Nigerian navy access to a new base
22 Jan in continued protest over income sharing.
6. Survey/supply vessel boarded, crew held hostage 20-21
Jan in Nigeria's Delta State.
H. INDIAN OCEAN-EAST AFRICA:
1. Container ship boarded, robbed 1 Feb Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania
2. Crew of (JENLIL) overpowered guards and escaped from
hostage situation off N. Somalia per 9 Feb report.
3. Survey ship boarded, robbed 25 Jan at Goa, India.
4. Bulk carrier boarded 6 Feb, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
5. Bulk carrier boarded, robbed 29 Jan Chittagong,
Bangladesh.
6. Twenty passenger injured in robbery of ferry 26 Jan on
Meghna River, Bangladesh.
7. Thirty Bangladeshi fishermen kidnapped 23 Jan and held
for ransom.
8. 12 Bangladeshi trawlers raided, robbed 19 Jan Agunmukha
River, Bangladesh.
9. LTTE boat destroyed in explosion following inspection by
peace monitors 7 Feb.
I. RED SEA:
1. No current incidents to report.
J. PERSIAN GULF:
1. No current incidents to report.
K. SOUTH EAST ASIA:
1. Container ship boarded 8 Feb, Banten Roads, Indonesia.
2. Bulk carrier boarded, robbed 1 Feb Adang Bay, Indonesia.
3. Bulk carrier boarded, thief injured 29 Jan, Panjang,
Indonesia.
4. Tug hijacked, three crew believed held hostage, 28 Jan,
Balu Amper, Batam, Indonesia.
5. Tanker boarded, robbed 27 Jan Lawi-Lawi, Indonesia.
6. Cargo ship boarded 25 Jan while getting underway from
Samarinda, Indonesia.
7. Bulk carrier boarded 19 Jan Taboneo anchorage,
Banjarmasin, Indonesia.
8. Tug and barge hijacked 22 Dec off Batam, Indonesia found
according to 21 Jan report.
9. Two bullet ridden bodies found in drifting boat 22 Jan
off Zamboanga, Philippines.
10. Tanker boarded 31 Jan Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
L. NORTH ASIA:
1. No current incidents to report.
M. PACIFIC OCEAN AREA:
1. No current incidents to report.
N. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC NON-STATE ACTIVIST GROUPS:
1. Greenpeace ship blocked entrance to military port of
Marchwood 29 Jan to 1 Feb.
2. Greenpeace activists blocked entrance to port of
Marchwood, U. K. 27 Jan to protest possible Iraq War.
3. Greenpeace activists boarded a tanker 24 Jan in the Gulf
Gulf of St. Vincent, near Adelaide, Australia.
4. Greenpeace activists boarded a single-hull tanker 20 Jan
to protest Gibraltar authorities permitting ship to
anchor.
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5. DETAILS: There is reported active violence against shipping,
a credible threat to shipping, or the potential to develop into a
direct threat to the safety of shipping in the following areas:
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A. NORTH AMERICA: No current incidents to report.
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B. CENTRAL AMERICA-CARIBBEAN:
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1. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Calls by British cruise ships to
Port of Spain are ready to resume according to a 6 Feb
announcement. Operators are said to have received "assurances"
from the Island government (INFO).
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2. JAMAICA: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 17
Jan at 0120 local time while anchored 1.3 nm west of Pigeon
Island. Four persons from an unlit boat boarded via the anchor
chain. They broke open the forecastle locker and escaped with
ship's property when crew raised alarm (IMB).
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3. CUBA: An unidentified yacht was boarded 26 Jan at night
while anchored in the channel at Nueva Gerona, Isla de Juventud.
Crew and yacht property stolen. Crew reports local authorities
unresponsive to report of the theft. Yacht crime everywhere is
undoubtedly more rampant than reporting would indicate. This and
the following incident in Cuba are among very rare reports
received of crime in waters around the island-probably reflecting
the scarcity of commercial and recreational voyages and difficulty
of filing crime reports, rather than reflecting an actual scarcity
of crime (IMB, ONI).
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4. CUBA: An unidentified bulk carrier was robbed 22 Jan at
0600 local time during cargo operations in the port of Havana.
Intruders broke open the forecastle store and stole ship's
supplies. Authorities were informed but no action taken (IMB).
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C. SOUTH AMERICA:
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1. VENEZUELA: On 7 Jan criminal courts ordered more than
40 arrested masters and other officers of Venezuelan oil tankers
freed. 31 Jan it was reported that 222 merchant marine workers of
PDVSA had been fired, the first discharged by the newly-appointed
head of PDVSA. A total of 5,333 of PDVSA's 37,942 workers have
been fired. As the rest of the general strike against President
Chavez is reported to have crumbled, only the oil sector remains
out. PDVSA says there will be no pardon for discharged and
striking employees and that the company and its ships' crews will
be rebuilt by those who did not strike and by new hires (INFO).
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2. PERU: An unidentified chemical tanker was boarded 8 Feb
at 0430 local time while in position 05 03.5S, 081 07W at
Portuario de Paita Terminal. A person armed with a knife boarded
via the poop from a small boat. Watch raised alarm and Coast
Guard apprehended the intruder (IMB).
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3. PERU: An unidentified tanker was boarded 26 Jan at 0340
local time by an individual operating from a small boat. Intruder
gained access via the anchor chain and hawse pipe, but escaped
with his accomplices in the boat when alarm sounded (IMB).
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D. ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA: No current incidents to report.
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E. NORTHERN EUROPE-BALTIC: No current incidents to report.
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F. MEDITERRANEAN-BLACK SEA:
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1. ISRAEL: The navy destroyed an explosives-laden raft
found floating off the northern Gaza Strip 17 Jan. The Hamas
organization claims one of its members was killed in the explosion
of the raft which was probably being used to smuggle explosives
into the territory (INFO).
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G. WEST AFRICA:
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1. SENEGAL: An unidentified refrigerated cargo ship was
boarded 9 Feb at 0400 local time in Dakar Roads, 2 nm southeast of
Ile de Goree. To persons armed with knives boarded via the stern
but were chased off by alert crew (IMB).
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2. TOGO: An unidentified tanker reports attempted boarding
7 Feb at 2315 UTC while anchored in position 06 04N, 001 21E at
Lome. Eight persons armed with knives attempted to board using a
grappling hook. When crew thwarted attempt persons in boat threw
a small net in the water and pretended to fish. Through the night
other small boats with from eight to ten armed persons and little
fishing gear circled the ship in apparent attempts to board (IMB).
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3. GHANA: An unidentified cargo ship was subject to
attempted boarding 24 Jan between 0454 and 0600 local time while
anchored at Tema. Alert crew repelled the attempt but the twelve
persons in a wooden boat then attempted to gain access to another
anchored ship., but also failed where upon they returned for a
second attempt against the first vessel. Port control was
notified and sent a boat to investigate at 0710 (IMB).
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4. NIGERIA: An unidentified LPG tanker was boarded 23 Jan
at 0405 local time while a Bonny Town anchorage, Port Harcourt.
One of three persons operating form a small boat gained access at
the forecastle, unreported by the contract watchman. Crew spotted
the intruder and raised alarm, whereupon he jumped into the river
and was recovered by his accomplices (IMB).
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5. NIGERIA: Local tribeswomen, demanding more government
aid and sharing of oil revenues, blocked the river leading to a
proposed naval base in the Niger Delta 22 Jan. After appeals to
lift the blockade were ignored, Nigerian gunboats turned back to
their base at Warri (INFO).
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6. NIGERIA: The offshore supply and survey vessel (GULF
SUPPLIER) was boarded 20 Jan by a group of 60 local tribespeople
and was reboarded and looted of food and communications gear 21
Jan. The crew, which had initially been held hostage, were freed
and Nigerian Navy personnel removed the locals, arresting some of
the boarders and one of their negotiators. Local reports indicate
that the vessel was mistaken for one working for Shell Oil, whose
boat had been boarded and run aground 1 Jan. The protesters in
the current incident claimed Shell had reneged on agreements
reached at the time of the 1 Jan boarding. Oil industry personnel
and equipment have been caught between the Nigerian Government and
local tribes frequently during the past three years. Normally,
injuries are few and disruptions to production only temporary
(Operator, ONI).
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H. INDIAN OCEAN-EAST AFRICA:
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1. TANZANIA: An unidentified container ship was boarded
1 Feb at 0230 local time at container berth 11, Dar es Salaam.
Ship was preparing to depart and 5 shore watchmen did not report
the intruders. When spotted by crew the thieves jumped overboard
and escaped with a mooring line (IMB).
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2. SOMALIA: The N. Korean-flag (JENLIL), hijacked off N.
Somalia 30 Jul, is reported still held with ransom demanded for 6
crew being held ashore. According to 19 Jan press the
International Red Cross brought food to the hostage crew. The
Greek owner is reported to have paid $100,000 ransom, but the
forces holding the ship demanded an additional $100,000. On 9 Feb
it was reported the ship had escaped after six crew members
overpowered two guards and sailed the ship out of Bareda, 100
miles east of Bossaso (LL, IMB, INFO).
.
3. INDIA: An unidentified survey ship was boarded 25 Jan
at 1800 UTC at Goa. Two persons operating form a canoe stole
ship's stores (IMB).
.
4. BANGLADESH: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded
6 Feb at midnight local time while at berth 9, Chittagong. Two
persons armed with knives broke into the forecastle store and
attempted to steal stores. One man was caught by crew and turned
over to local authorities while the second man escaped (IMB).
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5. BANGLADESH: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded
29 Jan at 2345 local time while at outer anchorage, Chittagong.
Crew shouted at the intruders and reported to the bridge and
thieves jumped overboard with ship's stores (IMB).
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6. BANGLADESH: An unidentified river passenger vessel was
raided 26 Jan on the Meghna River. A gang of 10 to 11 thieves
boarded the boat, bound for Chandpur Boro Station from Alam Shah
Bazaar and looted passenger valuables after beating them and
injuring twenty (INFO)
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7. BANGLADESH: Thirty Bangladeshi fishermen were reported
kidnapped early 23 Jan by alleged Indian pirates from along the
Malancha River in the Sunderbans. The thirty are reportedly being
held for ransom and local police were said to have refused to
launch a rescue operation (INFO).
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8. BANGLADESH: River pirates raided 12 fishing boats 19
Jan at about 0800 local time, one after the other as the boats
returned home from market along the Agunmukha River. Seven or
eight persons stole money and goods before escaping in a
speedboat (INFO).
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1. SRI LANKA: A trawler, stopped by peace monitors for
inspection which revealed an anti-aircraft gun and hundreds of
rounds of ammunition, was destroyed by its crew in an apparent
suicide blast, after the three-persons aboard asked the two
monitors to jump overboard before the detonation. The monitors
declared the vessel represented a clear violation of truce terms
in the long-running Sri Lankan insurgency (Press).
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I. RED SEA: No current incidents to report.
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J. PERSIAN GULF: No current incidents to report.
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K. SOUTH EAST ASIA:
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1. INDONESIA: An unidentified container ship was boarded
8 Feb at 2340 local time in position 06 00S, 105 56E, Banten
Roads. Six persons boarded but were driven off when watch
sounded alarm (IMB).
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2. INDONESIA: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 1
Feb at 0245 local time while anchored at Adang Bay. As ship was
Preparing to depart thieves, suspected by master of receiving aid
from local stevedores, stole two 20-person life rafts which had
been secured with wires and clips (IMB).
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3. INDONESIA: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 29
Jan between 2200 and 2300 at Panjang Port. About eight persons
mixed with local stevedores, broke padlocks on stores' lockers and
tried to steal ship's stores. They jumped overboard when crew
raised alarm and one was seriously injured and is hospitalized
(IMB).
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4. INDONESIA: The 142-ton tug (BW WISDOM) was hijacked 28
Jan between 1900 and 2000 local time while anchored at Batu Ampar,
Batam. Ten person armed with parangs and steel pipes boarded the
tug, and sailed it away, abandoning the barge (BAYSWATER 228)
which had been tied along side. Three of the tug's six crew
escaped by jumping over the side; the remaining three crew are
believed being held hostage (IMB, INFO).
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5. INDONESIA: An unidentified tanker was boarded 27 Jan at
2100 UTC in heavy rain while at Lawi-Lawi anchorage. Thieves
armed with long knives escaped with a life raft and ship's stores
after crew raised alarm (IMB).
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6. INDONESIA: A cargo ship heaving anchor was boarded 25
Jan at 2305 UTC while in position 01 00S, 117 17E, Samarinda
anchorage. Six persons stole a liferaft before escaping. Pilot
tried to contact shore police without response (IMB).
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7. INDONESIA: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded
19 Jan at 0100 local time at Taboneo anchorage, Banjarmasin, by
one of five person who approached in a small boat. The intruder,
armed with along knife, boarded via the hawse pipe but was driven
off when duty seaman threw sand in his eyes (IMB).
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8. INDONESIA: The tug (MODAL WAN) and barge (COASTWAY
1905C), hijacked 22 Dec at 0400 local time from Tanjung Uban,
Batam, with a cargo of 1,800 tons of palm oil, were reported
recovered 21 Jan. The tug was found 1 Jan at Tanjung Berakit,
Indonesia and the barge was found the week of 13 Jan "near
Thailand. The hijackers took the master and mate toward shore in
a speedboat and later released the mate who made a report at
Tanjung Pinang, Bintan. The crew of six believed still missing.
Fate of the master unknown. 2002 has seen a marked shift in
hijackings away from coastal freighters toward tugs and their
barges, which are clearly more vulnerable because of low speed,
the fact that they hug the shoreline and that they are manned by
smaller crews (IMB, INFO, ONI
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9. PHILIPPINES: Two bullet riddled bodies were found 21
Jan slumped in a boat drifting off Zamboanga. It is most likely
the two were victims of local pirates (INFO).
.
10. VIETNAM: An unidentified tanker was subject to
attempted boarding 31 Jan at 0300 local time while at Nha Be
Terminal, Ho Chi Minh City. Three persons with grappling hooks
were scared off by crew who recovered the hooks and lines (IMB).
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L. NORTH ASIA: No current incidents to report.
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M. PACIFIC-ANTARCTIC OCEAN: No current incidents to report.
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N. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC NON-STATE ACTIVIST GROUPS:
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1. GREENPEACE-U. K.-ANTI-WAR: Anti-war protesters from
Greenpeace ship (RAINBOW WARRIOR) boarded civilian ship (LYRA J)
at anchor off Southampton 30 Jan at 0800 local time and set up a
peace camp onboard, while another protester in an inflatable boat
chained himself to the ship's anchor chain as it prepared to take
on a pilot to get underway into Marchwood Military Port. On 1 Feb
port authorities cut the anchor chain on (RAINBOW WARRIOR) and
towed clear of its position in which it was blocking access to
Marchwood Port (INFO).
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2. GREENPEACE-U. K.-ANTI WAR: Greenpeace ship (RAINBOW
WARRIOR) anchored 27 Jan 0900 UTC at the entrance to the military
supply port of Marchwood, Southampton to protest military buildup
in advance of possible war against Iraq. On 28 January high winds
caused (RAINBOW WARRIOR) to drag anchor and the vessel had to slip
its cable. U. K military authorities said the protest, which
included three persons chaining themselves to the chartered
merchant ship (MAGDALENA GREEN) had delayed loading by eight hours
Greenpeace declared its intention to continue its protest but did
not specify means (GP, INFO)
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3. GREENPEACE-AUSTRALIA-POLLUTION: Protesters claimed 24
Jan to have boarded the tanker (STOLT AUSTRALIA) shortly before
0700 local time in St. Vincent Gulf to protest delivery of a cargo
of shale oil to the Port Stanvac refinery in Adelaide. The
protesters were removed by 1300 local time (GP, LP).
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4. GREENPEACE-GIBRALTAR-SINGLE HULL TANKERS: Greenpeace
activists boarded the Maltese flag tanker (VERMAMAGNA), anchored
in Algeciras Bay and strung banners protesting the presence of a
single-hull tanker in Gibraltar waters. Gibraltar authorities
detained the Greenpeace inflatable used in the action (GP, INFO).
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6. Originator of this WWTTS report requests consumer feedback.
Originator will incorporate all anti-shipping events and violence
against the maritime industry into this weekly message where
appropriate. The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) can be
contacted via message traffic at ONI WASHINGTON DC//21// or, the
ONI violence at sea (VAS) desk may be contacted at comm. phone
(301) 669-3261 or via e-mail at cdragonette@nmic.navy.mil.
//