10.04.2010:
1115 UTC: Posn: 12:02N – 045:08E: Gulf of Aden.
While underway a chemical tanker noticed one white and one blue skiff heading towards the vessel. Four persons were seen in the white skiff and five persons in the blue skiff. Crew alerted and armed security guards made themselves on the bridge wings. The skiffs approached to around 500 meters and the security team fired warning shots resulting in the skiffs moving away. The skiffs continued to follow the vessel for around 15minutes before finally moving away.
11.04.2011:
2220 LT: Posn: 03:22.7N – 104:49.5E, 50 nm SE of Pulau Mangkai, South China Sea.
Duty crew onboard a chemical tanker underway noticed a suspicious speed boat doing 6/7 knots at a distance of 6 nm. Master raised alarm, sounded horn, increased speed; crew mustered and switched on all deck lights. The suspicious boat came close to a distance of 2.4 nm from the tanker and then moved away.
11.04.2011:
1005 UTC: Posn: 12:31N – 043:38E, Gulf of Aden.
A passenger ship underway noticed a group of about 20 skiffs near the port bow at a distance of 3nm. Five skiffs were seen to break out from this group and head towards the vessel. At a distance of around 600-700 meters the armed security team noticed around five to seven pirates armed with RPG and guns were seen in each skiff and instructed all crew members to stay inside the ship. As the skiffs approached closer the security team fired warning shots and the skiffs moved away. At the same time three more skiffs approached the vessel from the stbd side at a distance of 800 meters. The security team noticed arms onboard these skiffs and fired warning shots when the skiffs closed to a distance of 600 – 300 meters. The pirates aborted the attempted attack and moved away. Master informed a warship in the vicinity and all ships in the area via VHF channel16.
12.04.2011:
0730 LT: Posn: 14:22N – 042:36E: Southern Red Sea.
About five pirates in a skiff approached a bulk carrier underway. All crew went into citadel while bridge team increased speed, enforced anti piracy measures and contacted authorities. Later the skiff aborted the attempt and moved away.
12.04.2011:
1218 UTC: Posn: 13:40N – 049:56E, Gulf of Aden.
Six pirates armed with RPG and guns in a skiff chased and fired upon a product tanker underway with intent to hijack. Master raised alarm. Armed security team onboard the vessel exchanged fire with the skiff resulting in the skiff moving away.
PIRACY BRIEFS FOR MARCH, 2011
Total Number of Attacks in March: 41
Total Number of Attacks this year: 124
Ships Released in March: 3
Crew Released in March: 79
New Ships Taken in March: 2
New Crew Taken in March: 49
Ships Held at end of March: 35
Crew Held As At End Of March, 2011: 640
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