Somali pirates are still taking vessels despite the onset of the monsoon season, and starting to adopt swarming tactics that see between six and ten skiffs converge on a single ship, counterpiracy specialists have told Lloyd’s List.
Confirmed incidents include an unsuccessful attack on a Hong Kong-flag chemtanker at 0750 on Sunday, and the hijack of a Singapore-flag vessel of the same type today, marking the first seizure in nearly four weeks.
Usually reliable sources also report a co-ordinated multi-skiff attempt to take an eastern European vessel with a particularly sensitive cargo on Sunday, which was repelled following a one-hour gun battle with Russian military personnel on board. Official channels could not immediately be contacted for confirmation.
The captured chemical tanker has been named as 2010-built, 14,445 dwt Golden Blessing, which the Lloyd’s List Intelligence database associates with Jakarta-based Berlian Laju Tanker. The ship, laden with glycoethylene, was en route from India to Saudi Arabia.
According to a statement on the EU Navfor website, the seizure took place in the early hours of this morning some 60 miles off the northern Somali coast.
EU Navfor added: “On notification from the master of Golden Blessing that pirates were on board, the EU Navfor German warship Schleswig-Holstein immediately launched its helicopter and reported sighting suspected pirates on board Golden Blessing.
“Golden Blessing has a crew of 19 Chinese; there are no reports of injuries. The vessel is under pirate control but remains unmoving at present. EU Navfor is monitoring.”
Golden Blessing is the first ship to be held since the 15,220 dwt, 1978-built QSM Dubaiwas hijacked on June 2 inside the internationally recommended transit corridor while en route from Brazil, according to the London-based antipiracy watchdog the International Maritime Bureau.
Meanwhile, three separate security experts highlighted the increasing trend towards multi-skiff attacks, which have previously been rare. Such a move would mark an escalation of the situation, they fear.
“When you’ve got between six and ten skiffs having a pop at someone, you haven’t got much chance of fending them off without some bullets,” said one.
Another argued that the Somalis have been remarkably adept at changing their approach whenever there was a need to do so. Improved defensive measures on the part of shipping have probably prompted another rethink.
A third pointed out that legitimate fishing activity in areas such as Bab al Mandeb, so the craft can group without attracting suspicion. It also provides shelter from the poor weather.
“There have been a number of multiple attacks involving more than two or three skiffs. We have also heard rumours that gangs are taking advantage of the traffic separation scheme to catch ships as they go through.
“They will also seek to decoy escorting warships and confuse the intelligence picture. It is something they are going to try a lot more.”
The IMB’s Cyrus Mody said that weather conditions usually entail a decline in pirate activity in the northern hemisphere summer.
“June, July, August and probably the beginning of September sees the southwest monsoons in the Indian Ocean, which effects the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea as well,” he said.
But he went on to warn operators not to be complacent, as pirates will continue to grab ships where they can. Swells will be limited to about 1.5m for the next month or so.
SHIP TALK:
A GLOSSARY OF SHIPPING AND MARITIME TERMS
ASTERN – Behind or a backward direction in the line of a vessel’s fore and aft line. When a vessel moves backwards it is said to move astern; opposite to ahead.
CLERKS: When cargo is unloaded from a ship, a clerk checks the actual count of the goods (number of boxes, drums, bundles, pipes, etc.) versus the amount listed on the ship’s manifest. He will note shortages, overages or damage. This is used to make claims if needed.
LIFT ON-LIFT OFF: Cargo handling technique involving transfer of commodities to and from the ship using shoreside cranes or ship’s gear.
HOME PORT: Port from which a cruise ship loads passengers and begins its itinerary, and to which it returns to disembark passengers upon conclusion of voyage. It is sometimes referred to as "embarkation port" and "turn around port."
CONTAINER: A box made of aluminium, steel or fibreglass used to transport cargo by ship, rail, truck or barge. Common dimensions are 20′ x 8’ x 8′ (called a TEU or twenty-foot equivalent unit) or 40′ x 8′ x 8′, called an FEU. Variations are collapsible containers, tank containers (for liquids) and "rag tops" (open-topped containers covered by a tarpaulin for cargo that sticks above the top of a closed box). In the container industry, containers are usually simply called boxes.
MARSHALING YARD: This is a container parking lot, or any open area where containers are stored in a precise order according to the ship loading plan. Containers terminals may use a grounded or wheeled layout. If the cargo box is placed directly on the ground, it is called a grounded operation. If the box is on a chassis/trailer, it is a wheeled operation.
MEAN LOW WATER (MLW): Lowest average level water reaches on an outgoing tide.
MEAN HIGH WATER (MHW): Highest average level water reaches on an outgoing tide.
STEVEDORES: Labour management companies that provide equipment and hire workers to transfer cargo between ships and docks. Stevedore companies may also serve as terminal operators. The labourers hired by the stevedoring firms are called stevedores or longshoremen.
ABLE BODIED SEAMAN – A member of the deck crew who is able to perform all the duties of an experienced seaman; certificated by examination and has three years sea service.
TUGBOAT: Strong v-hull shaped boat used for manoeuvring ships into and out of port and to carry supplies. It cuts power and lets the tug nudge it in. Generally barges are pushed by towboats, not tugs.
BALLAST – Heavy substances loaded by a vessel to improve stability, trim, sea-keeping and to increase the immersion at the propeller. In the days of sail rocks and sand were used. Modern ships use seawater loaded in ballast tanks placed at the bottom of the ship, or in some cases on the sides called wing tanks. Tankers admit ballast water into the cargo tanks to submerge the vessel to a proper trim. When ballast tanks are not connected with the cargo system they are referred to as segregated ballast tanks.
SAFETY 2
CAPTION:
NIMASA’s Pollution control boat Ofure Being Deployed
WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT
(Between June 27 and July 2, 2010)
27.06.2010:
1950 UTC: Posn: 13:27.2N – 042:38.6E, Bab el Mandeb, Red Sea.
Persons in an unlit boat approached a chemical tanker underway at high speed. Master raised alarm, increased speed, took evasive manoeuvres. Deck lights switched on and searchlights directed towards the boat. The boat chased the tanker for 10 minutes and aborted the attempt
27.06.2010:
0030 UTC: Posn: 04:09.19N – 007:01.93E, 3 nm south of Bonny River fairway buoy no.1, Nigeria.
Twelve robbers in two speed boats attacked a bulk carrier at anchor. They fired with hand made guns and attempted to board the ship using hooks attached to ropes. Ship‘s crew raised alarm, directed search light and attacked the robbers with sling shot. Robbers fired several shots and finally aborted the attempt and moved away. One crew wounded but not serious. Bonny signal station and pilot station were informed.
27.06.2010:
1340 UTC: Posn: 12:36.6N – 043:24.1E: Bab el Mandeb: Red Sea.
Pirates armed with guns in skiffs chased a container ship underway and opened fire. The security team onboard the vessel returned fire. As a result the attack was aborted.
28.06.2010:
2320 LT: Posn: 01:03.55N – 103:33.88E: Off Karimun Besar, Indonesia.
Two speed boats approached a chemical tanker underway from the starboard and port side. Crew raised alarm and directed the search lights towards the boats. Ship’s whistle sounded and evasive manoeuvres undertaken. Later the boats aborted the attack.
28.06.2010:
1150 LT: Posn: 01:06N – 103:44E, off Pulau Takong Kecil light house, Phillip channel, Singapore straits.
Five persons in a rubber boat armed with long guns approached a tug towing a barge underway. They signalled the vessel to stop but the master ignored them. Three persons boarded the vessel from the stbd side and came to the bridge while the other two remained in their boat. They demanded two containers of fuel oil from the master and escaped.
28.06.2010:
0327 UTC: Posn: 13:24N – 049:58E, Gulf of Aden.
Armed pirates attacked and hijacked a chemical tanker.
29.06.2010:
0403 LT: Posn: 10:15.80N – 107: 02.35E, Vung Tau anchorage: Vietnam.
Crew on antipiracy watches onboard an anchored bulk carrier noticed the bosun store broken into. Alarm raised and crew rushed out onto deck. Upon seeing alert crew two robbers armed with steel rods jumped overboard and escaped with ship stores.
At Last, NPA Salvages Floating Dock 1V
About three weeks after it took in water, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) last week said that it has successfully refloated its floating dock grounded on June 10, 2010.
The rescued NPA floating dock 1V, which was built in 1985, is a marine platform on which ships are repaired.
Addressing newsmen on the successful emergence of the faulty floating dock,
General manager, Marine of NPA, Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu who broke the news to newsmen said that the agency “did a lot of good jobs and just yesterday, we went into another trial, which is what has taken it up. It is there not because we have not sorted it out, but because the anchoring devices were affected. We need to put it in place before we bring her back and then plan how to take her for dry dock”.
Ebubeogu, who could not give an estimate of the cost of salvaging the floating dock
because all the invoices have not been put together, however noted that the authority has gotten in touch with a dry dock where the floating dock would be taken for repairs subject to the approval of the minister of transport.
The 6000 tons floating dock went under after what NPA management attributed to pump and valve malfunctioning, which made it failed a ‘routine test of submerging and emerging’ during an exercise June 10.
The routine test, according to NPA, is usually carried out in two major occasions on the dock, namely after routine maintenance and or repairs or before lifting of ships for repairs, inspection or maintenance.
The floating dock 1V is a watertight structure designed to submerge sufficiently by admission of water into its pontoon tanks to admit a vessel. The tanks are then pumped out, the dock and vessel will then rise until the vessel is clear entirely of the water. By so doing, the dock creates a platform for the underwater inspection and repairs of vessels, which would not have been possible if the vessel were water borne.
At Last, NPA Salvages Floating Dock 1V
About three weeks after it took in water, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) last week said that it has successfully refloated its floating dock grounded on June 10, 2010.
The rescued NPA floating dock 1V, which was built in 1985, is a marine platform on which ships are repaired.
Addressing newsmen on the successful emergence of the faulty floating dock,
General manager, Marine of NPA, Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu who broke the news to newsmen said that the agency “did a lot of good jobs and just yesterday, we went into another trial, which is what has taken it up. It is there not because we have not sorted it out, but because the anchoring devices were affected. We need to put it in place before we bring her back and then plan how to take her for dry dock”.
Ebubeogu, who could not give an estimate of the cost of salvaging the floating dock
because all the invoices have not been put together, however noted that the authority has gotten in touch with a dry dock where the floating dock would be taken for repairs subject to the approval of the minister of transport.
The 6000 tons floating dock went under after what NPA management attributed to pump and valve malfunctioning, which made it failed a ‘routine test of submerging and emerging’ during an exercise June 10.
The routine test, according to NPA, is usually carried out in two major occasions on the dock, namely after routine maintenance and or repairs or before lifting of ships for repairs, inspection or maintenance.
The floating dock 1V is a watertight structure designed to submerge sufficiently by admission of water into its pontoon tanks to admit a vessel. The tanks are then pumped out, the dock and vessel will then rise until the vessel is clear entirely of the water. By so doing, the dock creates a platform for the underwater inspection and repairs of vessels, which would not have been possible if the vessel were water borne.
Pirates Hijack Chemical-laden Ship
Pirates hijacked a ship carrying a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze off the northern tip of Somalia and took the 19 Chinese sailors onboard hostage, officials said.
The Singaporean-flagged Golden Blessing was seized inside the internationally recommended transit corridor in the Gulf of Aden that is patrolled by the anti-piracy naval coalition, said Lt. Col. Per Klingvall, a spokesman for the European Union’s anti-piracy force.
All 19 crew are reported to be safe, he said. The ship was reported to be on its way from Saudi Arabia to India.
Klingvall said the 14,445-ton chemical tanker was carrying a cargo of glycol ethylene — which is used in antifreeze — when it was captured approximately 60 miles (95 kilometers) off the northern Somali coast. The vessel was moving toward the Somali coast after the hijacking.
Pirates rarely steal or damage the cargo of the ships they take, instead holding crews for multimillion-dollar ransoms. In 2008, pirates hijacked a Ukrainian cargo ship carrying 33 Soviet-designed tanks and crates of small arms but later released it after receiving a reported $3.2 million.
The ship hijacked Monday is owned by Golden Pacific International Holdings Ltd. and is chartered out to Shanghai Dingheng Shipping Co. Ltd.
In a statement, the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority said it “is working with relevant government agencies and the ship owner, and is monitoring the situation closely.”
Somali pirates hold more than a dozen ships and several hundred crew members.
The Horn of African nation’s 19 years of lawlessness has allowed piracy to flourish. The waters surrounding Somalia, including the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, are known to be among the world’s most dangerous.
An international flotilla, including warships from the United States, the European Union, NATO, Japan and China, has been patrolling the area to protect a sea lane that links Asia to Europe.
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