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OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE

(U) WORLDWIDE: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report

21 August - 20 September2017
21 September 2017

(U) Table of Contents

1. (U) Scope Note
2. (U) Warnings and Advisories
3. (U) Summary
4. (U) Counter-Piracy and Maritime Crime Announcements and Advisories
5. (U) Details: Monthly Incidents by Region
6. (U) Appendix A: Further Contact Information and Resources
7. (U) Appendix B: Terminology and References
1. (U) Scope Note
1. (U) The Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) message provides information on piracy threats to, and criminal
action against or that involve merchant vessels, the shipping industry, and other maritime stakeholders worldwide in
the last 30 days. This report is produced primarily to inform merchant mariners and naval forces.

2. (U) Warnings and Advisories

1. (U) MDAT-GoG ADVISORY 005/SEP/2017: Category: Attack. Description: On 18th September 2017 at
2107UTC, a Merchant vessel was attacked near psn 044700N 0081800E (in vicinity of Parrot Island, Calabar,
Nigeria). 4 speed boats attacked the Merchant vessel and five persons are alleged to have been abducted.
Mariners are advised to exercise caution in this area. Any queries regarding this Warning Notice ring 0033 298 22
88 88 for further information.

2. (U) MDAT-GoG ADVISORY 004/SEP/2017: Category: Attack (Update of Warning 001/SEP/17). Description:
This Advisory is an update to Warning 001/SEP/17 issued on 14/09/17. On 14th September 2017 at approximately
13:35 UTC, a merchant vessel in position 041649N / 0070234E was attacked by a speed boat with 10 armed
men on board. The speed boat was hidden behind a fishing trawler before suddenly altering course. Armed security
team on board the merchant vessel fired shots, the speedboat then escaped. Vessel is safe. Any queries regarding
this Advisory Notice ring 0033 298 22 88 88 for further information.

3. (U) MDAT-GoG ADVISORY 002/SEP/2017: Category: MDAT-GoG notice. Category: Robbery. Description: On 8
September 2017, at approximately 03:16 UTC. At Conakry Anchorage, Guinea. In PSN 092196N / 0134448W. A
merchant vessel reported 7 armed persons with knives and crowbars onboard. They attempted to kidnap the
master. After 15 mins robbers left the vessel with ships property and personal effects. All Crew and vessel are
safe. Any queries regarding this Advisory Notice ring 0033 298 22 88 88 for further information.

4. (U) U.S. MARITIME ADVISORY 2017-006: Reference: U.S. MARITIME ALERT MESSAGE REFERENCE
NUMBER: 2017-005A, dated 1 September 2017. Issue: During the week of 19 June 2017, a vessel transiting the
northeast portion of the Black Sea, reported multiple instances of GPS interference. More than 20 other vessels in
the same area reported the same interference, which included an incorrect signal. Guidance: Indicators of
positioning systems interference include an intermittent signal, no signal, or an incorrect signal. Critical information

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to report during a disruption event includes: actual location, including Latitude and Longitude, date/time, and period
of outage and/or disruption. Additional background information on GPS interference and disruption is available at
www.gps.gov/spectrum. Contact Information: GPS disruptions or anomalies should be immediately reported to the
U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center (NAVCEN). Reporting a disruption or other navigational hazards or aids to
navigation outages to NAVCEN can be done electronically through NAVCENs website at
(https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=gpsUserInput ) or via phone at 703-313-5900, 24 hours a day. Reports
will be disseminated to the U.S. Air Force GPS Operations Center and the Federal Aviation Administration in an
attempt to identify the problem and correlate with any other GPS incidents in the same general geographic location.
Cancellation: This message will automatically expire on 01 March 2018.

5. (U) MDAT-GoG ADVISORY 001/SEP/2017: Category: MDAT-GoG notice, dated 5 September 2017.
Description: MDAT-GoG has been warned that fraudulent emails were received by merchant vessels all around the
Gulf of Guinea. These emails contain a message from a person who is proposing to the vessel to buy her cargo.
Mariners are encouraged to report any email of this kind to their CSO and MDAT-GoG. Any queries regarding this
Advisory Notice ring 0033 298 22 88 88 for further information.

6. (U) UKMTO NOTICE 01/SEP/2017: RELEASED ON BEHALF OF COMBINED MARITIME FORCES - BAHRAIN.
Category: NOTICE, dated 6 September 2017. Description: Combined Task Force 151, Focused Operation 14 to 28
Sept 2017. A Maritime Security Operation will be conducted in areas off the Somali Coast and Suqutra Gap
between 14 and 28 September 2017. Multinational naval units, aircraft and personnel will be operating under the
Turkish led Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) - Counter Piracy. The aims of the operation are to:

a. Deter, disrupt and deny acts of piracy,

b. Understand and Analyse the Pattern of Life in the area, and

c. Reassure the maritime community through overt demonstration of presence.

Merchant vessels are invited to interact with naval ships and are encouraged to provide valuable information as
requested by CTF 151. Contributions to better understanding of Pattern of Life by merchant vessels are highly
appreciated. Mariners are reminded to navigate with caution whilst transiting this area. Source: Combined Task
Force 151. Any queries regarding this Notice ring 0044 2392 222060 for further information.

7. (U) CMF Guidance dated 7 Sep 2017: Recent attacks against merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden and Bab el
Mandeb have highlighted the risks associated with transiting these waters. The multiple types of risks and the
broad expanse of ocean on which these attacks can occur dictate that Naval Forces must be used in the most
efficient manner possible. To assist in this, CMF is establishing a Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC). The
MSTC will consist of:

a. The Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC);

b. The BAM Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) and the TSS West of the Hanish Islands; and

c. A two-way route directly connecting the IRTC and the BAM TSS.

For further information, see:

https://combinedmaritimeforces.com/2017/09/06/guidance-on-maritime-security-transit-corridor/

8. (U) UKMTO ADVISORY NOTICE 004/AUG/2017: Category: SIGHTING. Description: On 28 August 2017 at
0302 UTC in position: 130012N 0431024E (Bab el Mandeb), a Merchant Vessel reported sighting 4 skiffs with 5 to
6 POB. Vessel reports seeing one ladder on board two of the skiffs, no weapons were sighted. The skiffs did not
approach any closer than 0.8NM. AST showed weapons and skiffs turned away. Vessel is safe. Source: Reported
to UKMTO by the vessel via EMAIL at 0840 UTC 28 Aug 17. Any queries regarding this Advisory Notice ring 0044
2392 222060 for further information.

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3. (U) Summary

A. (U) UNITED KINGDOM: On 21 September, activists from an environmental group boarded the vehicle carrier
ELBE HIGHWAY in the port of Sheerness.

B. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 20 September, customs authorities announced the seizure of 500 sacks of smuggled rice
in a shipping container falsely declared to contain polyester fabric.

C. (U) NIGERIA: On 19 September, customs authorities announced another find of smuggled weapons at Tin Can
Port in a shipping container loaded with 475 smuggled rifles.

D. (U) VIETNAM: On 19 September, robbers boarded an anchored bulk carrier during cargo operations in Campha
Inner Anchorage.

E. (U) BRAZIL: On 19 September, press reporting announced that a female British adventurer on a solo kayaking
trip through the Amazon was shot dead by river pirates.

F. (U) GREECE: On 19 September, authorities arrested the captain and chief mechanic of a ship that was taking
part in a cleanup operation on charges of fuel smuggling.

G. (U) VIETNAM: Between 17 and 18 September, border guard forces intercepted 2 illegal shipments of fish and
fish products being smuggled from China by boat.

H. (U) UNITED STATES: On 18 September, authorities arrested 3 persons and seized a boat and 1,600 pounds of
marijuana after the cargo came ashore on a beach.

I. (U) NIGERIA: On 18 September, a vessel reported it was attacked and boarded near Parrot Island, Calabar,
kidnapping five persons.

J. (U) MALAYSIA: On 16 September, maritime officials in Labuan seized a large consignment of smuggled beer
from a speedboat.

K. (U) UNITED STATES: On 16 Sept, the United States Coast Guard intercepted a fishing vessel operating illegally
in waters off the coast of Texas.

L. (U) NIGERIA: On 16 September, The Nigerian Navy arrested six Bangladesh nationals and 16 Nigerians for
allegedly illegally diverting 22 metric tons of diesel along the Calabar water channel.

M. (U) LIBYA: On 15 September, the general cargo ship ENVI 1 was intercepted by Libyan Coast Guard off Zawya,
under suspicion of illegal transportation of construction materials.

N. (U) GUINEA: On 15 September, seven robbers armed with a gun, knives and iron bars boarded an anchored
container ship in Conakry Anchorage.

O. (U) CAYMAN ISLANDS: On 14 September, officers arrested several men from Jamaica for transporting
marijuana in a canoe.

P. (U) CHINA: On 14 September, Chinese authorities announced they had busted an oil smuggling group in Fujian
Province, in eastern China.

Q. (U) PERU: On 14 September, container ship DIMITRIS C was searched by police and customs officers in the
port of Ilo. Cocaine was found during the search.

R. (U) NIGERIA: On 14 September, a supply vessel reported that its security team fired warning shots at a
suspicious speedboat as it headed towards their vessel 9 nm southwest of Bonny Island.

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S. (U) TAIWAN: On 5 September, police seized 70 kilograms of hydroxylamine hydrochloride, a substance used to
make the recreational drug Ketamine.

T. (U) PANAMA: On 29 August, a thief stole a dinghy and outboard motor from a yacht anchored in Bocas del Toro.

U. (U) NIGERIA: On 27 August, the Nigerian Navy arrested four trawlers belonging to a Chinese company and 79
suspects for Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing.

4. (U) Counter-Piracy and Maritime Crime Announcements

A. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Government of Japan convoy schedule for September 2017. To apply for JMSDF escort,
visit http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/maritime/maritime_fr2_000000.html, please contact directly the Anti-Piracy Contact
and Coordination Office, Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MILT), Japan:
Tel: +81-3-5253-8932; Fax: +81-3-5253-1643. Email: INFO-PIRACY@mlit.go.jp. (MSCHOA)

B. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Korean Navy convoy schedule for September 2017. All merchant vessels wishing to join
the convoy group must submit their application forms directly to the ROK naval warship carrying out the mission.
The ROK MTG can be reached directly at 1-203-574-6387. Email: bluesea24@navy.mil.kr. (MSCHOA)

C. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Chinese Navy convoy schedule for September 2017. For further information, please e-mail
planavy@navy.mil.cn, or call Tel: 00870 773 121 248; or 441 203 136. (MSCHOA)

D. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Indian Navy convoy escort schedule for September 2017. To register, email
dgcommcentre-dgs@nic.in; or visit www.dgshipping.com. Telephone numbers for contact are: 91-22-22614646 or
fax at 91-22-22613636. (MSCHOA)

E. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Russian Navy convoy escort schedule for September 2017. For further information e-mail
smb@msecurity.ru; isps@msecurity.ru; or fax +7 (499) 642-83-29. (MSCHOA)

5. (U) Details: Monthly Incidents by Region

(U) This section lists reports of active violence against shipping, credible threats to shipping, or the potential for a
situation to develop into a direct threat to shipping over the last 30 days. Every effort is made to ensure that
incidents are not double-counted. In the event double-counting is detected, or an incident is later learned to be
different than 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.

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A. (U) NORTH AMERICA:

Figure 1. North America Piracy and

Maritime Crime

1. (U) UNITED STATES: On 18 September, authorities arrested 3 persons and seized a boat and 1,600 pounds of
marijuana after the cargo came ashore on a beach in Del Mar, near San Diego. (www.sandiegouniontribune.com)

2. (U) UNITED STATES: On 16 Sept, the United States Coast Guard intercepted a fishing vessel operating illegally
in waters off the coast of Texas. USCG law enforcement personnel seized the boat and its gear and handed over
four Mexican fishermen onboard to federal border enforcement authorities for processing, according to a Coast
Guard news release. (www.seafoodsource.com/news)

3. (U) UNITED STATES: On 11 September, two men aboard a boat filled with marijuana were arrested after
officials found 1,500 pounds of marijuana on the suspects craft off Calafia Beach in San Clemente.
(www.mynewsla.com/orange-county/2017)

4. (U) CANADA: On 3 September, authorities searched a 9-meter sailboat, named Quesera, in East River, Nova
Scotia and found 270 kilograms of cocaine. The owner of the boat, and one other man, were arrested.
(www.thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia)

5. (U) CANADA: On 28 August, Canadian authorities announced they had broken a major drug smuggling ring by
arresting 3 persons and seizing 1,062 kilograms of cocaine. Called Project HOPE, the investigation led to the three
people responsible for importing enormous quantities of cocaine into Canada. They were identified and linked to
cocaine transported in shipping containers via cargo vessels from Argentina to the Port of Montreal.
(www.baytoday.ca)

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B. (U) CENTRAL AMERICA - CARIBBEAN - SOUTH AMERICA:

Figure 2. Central America - Caribbean -

South America Piracy and Maritime Crime
1. (U) BRAZIL: On 19 September, press reporting announced that a female British adventurer on a solo kayaking
trip through the Amazon was shot dead by river pirates, local police have confirmed. The woman was 42 days into
her 4,000-mile trip along the Amazon River when she was robbed and fatally shot, with the pirates then throwing
her body into the river. Police said her attackers had tried to sell the items they stole from her, including two mobile
phones, a tablet and GoPro camera, at a market in Lauro Sodr. A local teenager admitted to police officials that he
and six others robbed and killed the traveler. (www.foxnews.com/world)

2. (U) CAYMAN ISLANDS: On 14 September, officers from the Joint Marine Unit patrolling on the eastern side of
Grand Cayman came upon a canoe from Jamaica. Following a brief pursuit, during which packages were thrown
overboard, the canoe was intercepted. The packages contained a large amount of marijuana. The men in the
canoe were arrested and the remaining drugs, and several caged chickens, found aboard the canoe were
impounded. (www.caymannewsservice.com)

3. (U) PERU: On 14 September, container ship DIMITRIS C was searched by police and customs officers in the
port of Ilo. Three bags with a total of 120 bricks of cocaine were found inside the ship, police also collected $16,243
in cash. (www.maritimebulletin.net)

4. (U) PANAMA: On 29 August, a thief stole a dinghy and outboard motor from a yacht anchored in Bocas del Toro.
(www.safetyandsecuritynet.com)

5. (U) COLOMBIA: On 2 September, duty officer onboard an LPG tanker anchored near position 10:19N -
075:32W, Cartagena Inner Anchorage, noticed a small boat approaching near the bow and asked the duty watch
crewman to investigate. Upon checking, the duty crewman reported that the padlocks to the forepeak storeroom
and paint locker were broken and ships stores and properties stolen. (IMB)

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6. (U) GRENADA: On 1 September, multiple boardings were reported aboard 6 occupied and unoccupied yachts in
Prickly Bay. A minor altercation was reported with the thief, who escaped, when discovered by one of the
onboard owners. A generator and an outboard motor, among other items, were reported stolen.
(www.safetyandsecuritynet.org)

7. (U) VENEZUELA: On 1 September, five robbers in a small fishing boat armed with pistols, knives and sticks
boarded a tanker anchored near position 10:14N - 064:44W, Puerto La Cruz Anchorage. They assaulted the aft
duty watchman, tied him up and took him hostage. When the watchman failed to report, the duty officer sent
another duty crewman to investigate. The duty officer was notified about the robbers and the alarm was raised.
Hearing the alarm and seeing the crews alertness, the robbers jumped overboard and escaped in their boat. A
search was carried out and the watchman was found with minor injuries. Ships stores were reported stolen. Port
control was informed through local agents. (IMB)

8. (U) JAMAICA: On 28 August, narcotics detectives and customs agents seized 187 pounds of cocaine at the
Kingston Container Terminal. During a routine examination of a 40-foot shipping container, a total of five
leather bags were reportedly found hidden amongst the shipment. The bags reportedly had a total of 78 parcels,
each filled with cocaine. Initial reports are that the container, which was also loaded with a shipment of rice
destined for a local distributor, transited through Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from Guyana on its way to
Jamaica. (www.loopjamaica.com)

9. (U) GRENADA: On 27 August, an unoccupied catamaran was boarded while anchored in Mt. Hartman Bay. The
break-in was discovered the next morning by the care taker. The thieves broke the door lock and thoroughly
ransacked the interior of the boat, then badly damaged the main electrical panel and cut cables before removing
electronics. Davit lines for the raised dinghy with outboard motor were slashed and it was stolen. There was no
attempt to conceal the break-in. The Coast Guard and police were notified and are investigating.
(ww.safetyandsecuritynet.org)

10. (U) BAHAMAS: On 27 August, a large amount of marijuana was seized in Williams Town and two Bahamian
men were arrested. Police say the arrests are just the beginning in this major investigation. A speed boat was also
seized in the bust and brought into Nassau along with the 30 bales of marijuana it carried. It was offloaded by the
Drug Enforcement Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. (www.magneticmediatv.com)

11. (U) MARTINIQUE: On 22 August, a thief stole a dinghy and outboard motor from a yacht anchored in Le Marin.
Incident reported to the marina and on the local VHF net. (www.safetyandsecuritynet.com)

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C. (U) ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA:

Figure 3. Atlantic Ocean Area Piracy and

Maritime Crime
1. (U) UNITED KINGDOM: On 21 September, activists from an environmental group boarded the vehicle carrier
ELBE HIGHWAY in the port of Sheerness in an attempt to prevent the cargo of cars from being unloaded.
(www.telegraph.co.uk; Reuters)

2. (U) UNITED KINGDOM: On 9 September, three men were arrested after illegal firearms were found on five boats
moored at Fallwood Marina in Bramley. An initial police raid took place at an industrial building in Bramley the
previous week, and a man was arrested on suspicion of manufacturing firearms after several weapons were found.
Two other men were subsequently arrested on suspicion of firearms offences. Five boats and two container units
were searched and further weapons were discovered. (www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news)

D. (U) NORTHERN EUROPE - BALTIC: No current incidents to report.

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E. (U) MEDITERRANEAN - BLACK SEA:

Figure 4. Mediterranean - Black Sea

Piracy and Maritime Crime
1. (U) GREECE: On 19 September, authorities arrested the captain and chief mechanic of a ship that was taking
part in a cleanup operation after an oil tanker sank and polluted Athens coastline. The Merchant Marine Ministry
said in a press release the two were arrested on fuel smuggling charges. Their tanker ship LASSAIA was
carrying oil pumped into it from the wreck of the tanker AGIA ZONI II, which sank on 10 September while anchored
near Greeces main port of Piraeus. (www.hellenicshippingnews.com)

2. (U) LIBYA: On 15 September, the general cargo ship ENVI 1 was intercepted by Libyan Coast Guard off Zawya,
under suspicion of illegal transportation of construction materials, including sand, which were loaded at Zawya port.
Eight crewmen, five Albanians and three from Montenegro, were detained. (www.fleetmon.com)

3. (U) ROMANIA: On 13 September, Romania's coast guard rescued before dawn more than 157 migrants
from Iraq and Iran, of which were 53 children, from a ship in distress on the Black Sea. The rusty ship was towed to
the Black Sea port of Constanta, 250 kilometers east of Bucharest. Authorities initially spotted the ship outside
Romanian territorial waters. It sent a distress signal and two coast guard boats were dispatched, but high waves
and winds hampered rescue efforts before the ship was eventually towed to port.
(www.abcnews.go.com/International)

4. (U) TURKEY: Between 9 and 10 September, Turkish authorities rescued 313 migrants on the Black Sea
attempting to reach Balkan countries, suggesting the emergence of an alternative route to Europe. Turkey's coast
guard said it stopped the first fishing boat carrying 93 Syrians and one Afghan off the northern coast of Istanbul.
The coast guard says they were with a suspected Turkish smuggler. The next day, the coast guard also intercepted
68 Syrians and two Iranians in a sailboat with one alleged Turkish smuggler 36 nautical miles east of Bulgaria on
Saturday. (www.nhregister.com/news)

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5. (U) ITALY: Between 9 and 10 September, authorities in the port of Gioia Tauro found two large consignments of
cocaine hidden in shipping containers coming from South America. In total, 534 kilograms of cocaine were found.
(www.euronews.com)

6. (U) CYPRUS: On 10 September, authorities intercepted two boats carrying more than 300 undocumented
migrants off the north-west coast of the island and one person has already been arrested for human trafficking.
Paphos police arrested a 36-year-old male who allegedly navigated one of the two boats. The first boat with 134
undocumented migrants (92 men, 13 women and 29 under age children) was towed to Latsi late Saturday and the
second at Kato Pyrgos Tillyrias. The second was carrying 110 men, 17 women and 44 underage children.
(www.famagusta-gazette.com)

7. (U) ROMANIA: On 9 September, the Romanian coast guard intercepted a fishing boat in the Black Sea with 97
migrants on board, 36 of them children. Border police said that they were Iranian and Iraqi nationals, picked up
close to the Romanian-Bulgarian sea border. (www.theguardian.com)

8. (U) ROMANIA: On 8 September, authorities intercepted a boat heading for Romanian territorial waters. The
fishing boat, carrying around 120 migrants, was caught by border police and handed over to Turkish coast guard.
(www.theguardian.com)

9. (U) ITALY: On 6 September, Italian authorities boarded a yacht and seized four tons of marijuana off the coast of
Puglia. Three Albanian traffickers were arrested. (www.ansa.it/english/news)

10. (U) GREECE: On 5 September, Greek authorities rescued 103 migrants picked up from a crippled yacht and
they are being taken to port on the southern island of Crete. A Coast Guard statement says the vessel was located
by a merchant ship east of Crete after authorities received a distress call by phone. Also, on the same day, the
Coast Guard rescued another 107 refugees from small boats, in two incidents off the eastern island of Lesbos.
(www.abcnews.go.com/International) (U) ROMANIA: On 3 September, authorities rescued 87 migrants onboard
boat off its Black Sea coast. The boat

11. (U) LIBYA: On 2 September, following a request from the Italian Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre, an
Irish Navy vessel located and rescued 41 migrants during two operations off the coast of Libya. The operations
began in the late morning hours and the migrants were safely taken aboard L WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS.
(www.rte.ie/news/world)

12. (U) SPAIN: On 2 September, Spanish authorities announced that they had arrested 14 people on charges of
drug smuggling and drug dealing. The cocaine smuggling ring, based in Majorca, used speedboats to transport the
drugs into Magaluf. Officers said the members of the group consisted of 12 from Britain, one from Spain and the
other is Dominican. In a media release, the Civil Guard said it had also seized 3 kilograms of cocaine, as well as
smaller quantities of MDMA, hashish and methamphetamine. Four vehicles and cash totaling 103,000 were also
confiscated. The arrests are part of Operation Tatum, which started in July of last year to target drug smuggling and
selling in the Balearic Islands. The Civil Guard said the gang is suspected of selling drugs to tourists in nightclubs in
the Punta Ballena area of Magaluf. (www.guardiacivil.es; www.ybw.com)

13. (U) GREECE: On 1 September, Greek authorities seized 700 kilograms of marijuana on a Turkey-flagged
sailboat, after they responded to a distress call issued by the vessel stranded southwest of the island of Nisyros.
The wooden sailboats three-man crew said they suffered a mechanical failure and requested assistance. The
vessel was first located by the passing Malta-flagged freighter SHIRVAN and was later towed to the port of
Mandraki. Coast Guard officials found numerous large plastic bags which contained marijuana. The crew has been
arrested and detained in Kos. (www.greece.greekreporter.com)

14. (U) LIBYA: On 31 August, the Libyan Coast Guard apprehended an oil tanker believed to be smuggling crude
oil in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship, M/T REX, had ten crewmembers, all of whom were arrested by the Coast
Guard. The tanker flew the Tanzania flag and carried 1.16 million liters of diesel. (www.oilprice.com/Latest-
Energy-News)

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15. (U) SPAIN: On 30 August, the Spanish Coast Guard rescued 125 migrants in several operations, including two
men who were attempting the crossing to Spain by paddling on a surfboard. (www.dailymail.co.uk/news)

16. (U) TURKEY: On 30 August, security forces intercepted 150 Syrian refugees who boarded a fishing boat to
Romania from the city of Kastamonu on a route probably used for the first time by migrants trying to reach Europe.
Villagers in Kastamonu's Cide district noticed the crowd who arrived in three buses to the coast and alerted
authorities. Eighty-two migrants were nabbed on the shore while others were stopped by the Coast Guard.
(www.dailysabah.com)

17. (U) LIBYA: On 27 August, Libyan naval forces seized the Liberia-flagged oil tanker LEVANTE with its crew of
20 on suspicion of smuggling oil off the Abu Kammash area west of Tripoli, a naval spokesman said. The tanker
can carry a total of six million liters and it is a Greece-owned tanker. The members of the crew are being
questioned. (www.hellenicshippingnews.com; www.fleetmon.com)

18. (U) LIBYA: On 25 August, Tripoli's Rada Special Deterrence Force announced it had arrested one of the
biggest Libyan fuel smugglers and human traffickers; Fahmi Salim Musa Bin Khalifa from Zuwara, whom Rada
dubbed the "king of smuggling." The United Nations' panel of experts on Libya has told the Security Council in a
report that fuel smuggled from Libya was being transferred between ships on the high seas and brought to Malta.
They identified the mastermind as Fahmi Ben Khalifa, who co-owns ADJ Trading with former Malta international
footballer Darren Debono and an Egyptian man, Ibrahim Arafa Ahmed. The company is now in dissolution. The
UN's panel of experts said in their report on Khalifa that ships smuggling fuel sail south from Malta to between 40
and 60 nautical miles off the Libyan coast, where they turn off the automated identification system, a tracking
system. After they are loaded, they return to Malta. The vessels remain adrift at least 12 nautical miles off the
coast, outside Maltese territorial waters, while they discharge the fuel to other vessels that carry it to the coast.
(Malta Today Online)

19. (U) GREECE: On 23 August, Greek authorities intercepted a smuggling boat carrying 62 migrants northwest of
the Strofades Island complex in the Ionian Sea. The vessel, a US-flagged sailboat, was spotted by a surveillance
aircraft of the EUs border monitoring agency, Frontex. The migrants, whose nationality has not been made public,
were transferred to the port of Katakolo, in the western Peloponnese. (www.ekathimerini.com)

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F. (U) WEST AFRICA

Figure 5. West Africa Piracy and Maritime

Crime

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Figure 6. West Africa Piracy and Maritime

Crime

1. (U) NIGERIA: On 19 September, Customs authorities announced another find of smuggled weapons at Tin Can
Port in a shipping container loaded with 475 smuggled rifles. The interception came barely one week after the
command intercepted a 20-foot container load of 1,100 pump action rifles. (www.allAfrica.com)

2. (U) NIGERIA: On 18 September, a vessel reported it was attacked and boarded near position 04:47N - 008:18E,
vicinity of Parrot Island, Calabar. Four speed boats attacked the vessel and five crew were reportedly abducted. No
further details were provided. (IMB; www.pviltd.com)

3. (U) NIGERIA: On 16 September, the Nigerian Navy arrested six Bangladesh nationals and 16 Nigerians for
allegedly illegally diverting 22 metric tons of diesel in an illegal Ship to Ship transfer along the Calabar water
channel. The ship NNS VICTORY of the Nigerian Navy in Calabar carried out the operation. Commander of NNS
VICTORY, Commodore Salihu Ibn Danhu Jibril, stated that the vessel, NV PRINCESS OGE, brought the product
from Lome to deliver to a tank farm in Calabar. The ship was discovered carrying out the illegal transfer activity and
was immediately arrested. (www.thenationonlineng.net)

4. (U) GUINEA: On 15 September, seven robbers armed with a gun, knives and iron bars boarded an anchored
container ship near position 09:24N - 013:44W, Conakry Anchorage. They assaulted three crew members, stole
ships properties and escaped. Authorities informed. (IMB)

5. (U) NIGERIA: On 14 September, a supply vessel reported that its security team fired warning shots at a
suspicious speedboat as it headed towards their vessel near position 04:16N - 007:02E, 9 nm southwest of Bonny
Island. The speedboat had hidden behind a trawler before altering its course towards the vessel. (IMB;
www.pviltd.com)

6. (U) NIGERIA: On, 27 August, the Nigerian Navy arrested four trawlers belonging to a Chinese company and 79
suspects for Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing. A senior Navy spokesman said the trawlers
were arrested less than 30 nautical miles from shore, contrary to the permit granted them, which enabled them to

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trawl in the high seas. At the time of the arrest, the vessels had a total of 79 crew members, 28 Chinese nationals,
seven onboard each vessel, three Ghanaians and 48 Nigerians. (www.thenationonlineng.net)

7. (U) GUINEA: On 8 September, seven robbers armed with knives and crowbars boarded an anchored bulk carrier
near position 09:21N - 013:44W, Conakry Anchorage. They attempted to kidnap the master. After 15 minutes, the
robbers left the vessel with ships property and personal effects. Crew is safe. (IMB; MDAT-GoG)

8. (U) NIGERIA: On 7 September, the Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted
1,100 rifles which were smuggled into the country from Turkey. The Comptroller-General of NCS told journalists in
Lagos that the seizure was the third interception of smuggled firearms and ammunition at Lagos ports within the
past nine months. (www.thenationonlineng.net)

9. (U) NIGERIA: On 31 August, a prominent local citizen, Chief John Ekotoro, was kidnapped at the jetty of Amantu
community in Bayelsa State by gunmen. Local groups have called on the chairman of the Waterways and Land
Security, and Commander of the Joint Task Force in Delta State to assist in his rescue. (www.vanguardngr.com)

10. (U) NIGERIA: On 28 August, unknown gunmen, suspected to be militants, attacked a Navy boat and killed four
soldiers and a civilian in Bayelsa State. The suspects were said to have laid an ambush for the soldiers along the
waterways of Letugbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area of the State. Security sources confirmed that a team of
soldiers were returning from Letugbene community when they were attacked. (www.nigeriatoday.ng)

11. (U) NIGERIA: On 30 July, armed pirates boarded the general cargo ship OYA 1 underway near position 04:10N
- 006:59E, 15 nm southwest of Bonny Island. The pirates kidnapped five crewmen and escaped. The Nigerian Navy
was alerted and the vessel was taken to Bonny Island for further investigation. (IMB; www.fleetmon.com) UPDATE:
On 19 August, two Moroccan sailors kidnapped on 30 July were released, according to a spokesman for the
Moroccan government. (TelQuel Online)

G. (U) ARABIAN GULF:

1. (U) BAHRAIN: On 6 September, authorities announced the arrest of two Bahrainis in connection with an attempt
to smuggle 68 kilograms of drugs into the kingdom from Iran. (www.bna.bh)

2. (U) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: On 22 August, a state-owned newspaper in Dubai reported that a man was
recently arrested for smuggling 5.7 million amphetamine pills into the sheikhdom hidden inside barrels full of sheep
intestines. The drums were headed into Dubai's massive Jebel Ali port where they were found during a customs
inspection. (www.miamiherald.com)

H. (U) INDIAN OCEAN - EAST AFRICA - RED SEA:

1. (U) SAUDI ARABIA: On 3 September, naval patrols of the Border Guards in the Makkah region broke up an
attempt to smuggle in a large quantity of hashish through the Jeddah sector. A spokesman stated that naval patrol
boats intercepted and boarded a boat with three Yemeni nationals on board. They were arrested with a total of
258.35 kilograms of hashish. Coastal patrols also apprehended five other Yemenis who were about to receive the
drug consignment. (www.saudigazette.com.sa)

2. (U) EGYPT: On 21 August, authorities announced the arrest of a group of persons involved in smuggling a
collection of 18th century artifacts in a joint operation between the Hurghada Ports Authority and the Egyptian Ports
Antiquities Unit of the Ministry of Antiquities. (www.timesofisrael.com)

3. (U) RED SEA: On 28 August in position 13:00N - 043:10E, a merchant vessel reported sighting 4 skiffs with 5 to
6 persons in each boat. Vessel reported seeing one ladder onboard two of the skiffs, no weapons were sighted.
The skiffs did not approach any closer than 0.8 nm. Onboard security team showed their weapons and skiffs turned
away. Vessel is safe. (UKMTO)

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I. (U) EAST ASIA - SOUTHEAST ASIA - INDIAN SUBCONTINENT:

Figure 7. East Asia - Southeast Asia - Indian

Subcontinent Piracy and Maritime Crime
1. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 20 September, customs authorities announced the seizure of 500 sacks of smuggled rice
in a shipping container falsely declared to contain polyester fabric. (www.gmanetwork.com)

2. (U) VIETNAM: On 19 September, robbers boarded an anchored bulk carrier during cargo operations near
position 20:54N - 107:16E, Campha Inner Anchorage. Duty crewman on routine rounds noticed the paint
storeroom padlock broken and raised the alarm. Incident reported to port authorities through local agents. Ships
stores were reported stolen. (IMB)

3. (U) VIETNAM: Between 17 and 18 September, border guard forces intercepted 2 illegal shipments of fish and
fish products being smuggled from China by boat. The first shipment was intercepted on 17 September and
involved a ship owner transporting 2.2 tons of rotten goldfish. The next day, the guards stopped a boat transporting
40 styrofoam boxes containing ornamental fish, aquatic plants and accessories for aquariums. The patrol team
seized all the goods because the boat driver failed to show legal documents related to the goods. (VNS)

4. (U) MALAYSIA: On 16 September, maritime officials in Labuan seized a large consignment of smuggled beer
from a speedboat following a tip-off. However, the two suspects on board the boat managed to escape when they
noticed that they were being tailed by police. The Labuan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA)
director said his team was conducting patrols around the area when they saw a speedboat heading towards
Menumbok not far away. He said that they were tailing the speedboat for about 10 minutes when the suspects
noticed the police and sped off. (www.nst.com.my/news; www.thestar.com.my/news/nation)

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5. (U) BANGLADESH: On 13 September, authorities announced that at least 99 bodies, believed to be those of
Rohingya Muslims, have washed ashore in Bangladesh. Police and border guards said up to six overloaded boats
have capsized in the past two weeks. Many were small boats or rickety fishing vessels not intended to carry
passengers. (www.channelnewsasia.com)

6. (U) INDONESIA: On 11 September, robbers boarded a bulk carrier during cargo operations, near position
00:13S - 117:33E, Muara Berau, Samarinda anchorage, and stole two mooring ropes from the forecastle
storeroom and escaped unnoticed. Incident reported by duty crewman on routine rounds. Local agents informed.
(IMB)

7. (U) MALAYSIA: On 7 September, four persons armed with a gun and knives boarded an underway LPG carrier
near position 02:03N - 104:59E, 35 nm south-southeast of Pulau Aur. They stole crews and ships properties and
escaped. All crew safe. (IMB)

8. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 7 September, Philippine security forces rescued two Indonesians kidnapped in November
2016 by the Abu Sayyaf extremist group off Kunak town in Sabah, Malaysia. Brigadier-General Cirilito Sobejana,
commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said that the two men were found at 6:30 am inside a van in the Indanan
district of Sulu province, an Abu Sayyaf stronghold. The two were taken by the Abu Sayyaf on 19 November of last
year. (www.straitstimes.com)

9. (U) MALAYSIA: On 7 September, authorities completed a lengthy search of a shipping container at

Sepanggar Port, ultimately finding 1,148 ivory tusks weighing more than 3,000 kilograms and pangolin scales
weighing more than 5,000 kilograms. Officials stated that they believe these items were from Africa en route
Sepanggar Port before proceeding to China as they have high market value there. (www.dailyexpress.com.my)

10. (U) INDIA: On 7 September, an Indian Coast Guard (ICG) unit detained a passenger vessel, MSV AL KARIMI,
on suspicion of the illegal transfer and smuggling of 5,000 liters of diesel fuel. An ICG spokesman stated that the
ICG station at Okha received a tip-off about a passenger vessel involved in illegal activity at Bet Dwarka and
deployed a hovercraft to investigate. Upon finding the vessel, it was escorted to Kankai jetty at Okha harbor.
(www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

11. (U) VIETNAM: On 6 September, authorities in the port of Cat Lai searched a shipping container arriving from
Africa and found 1,356 kilograms of smuggled ivory. Authorities seized 6 tons of smuggled ivory at this same port
during 2016. (www.thestandard.com.hk)

12. (U) MALAYSIA: On 6 September, ten pirates hijacked the tanker MGT 1 off the coast of the northeastern state
of Terengganu. A special team from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency stormed ship 10 hours after it
was reported missing and arrested the suspected Indonesian pirates. The tanker, which was transporting 2.2
million liters of diesel valued at about $1.66 million, has been escorted to the town of Kuala Terengganu to help
with investigations into the case. (Reuters)

13. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 6 September, the Philippines Bureau of Customs Commissioner led the inspection of
several shipping containers loaded with two luxury cars and automotive parts at the Manila International Container
Port. The used black and white Mercedes Benz automobiles, as well as wheels and tires, were sent to the port from
Hong Kong in August. The shipment, declared as containing auto parts, was passed through the x-ray machines
which showed image irregularities. A spokesman said the shipping containers were seized after its shippers
violated a provision of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to the prohibition of the importation of
used motor vehicles. (www.update.ph/2017)

14. (U) BANGLADESH: On 2 September, four robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored bulk carrier
during cargo operations near position 22:14N - 091:44E, Chittagong Alpha Anchorage. The watchmen and duty
crewman on routine rounds noticed the robbers on the forecastle and informed the bridge. Alarm raised and crew
alerted. Hearing the alarm, the robbers escaped with stolen ships stores. Port control and coast guard were
informed. (IMB)

15. (U) SRI LANKA: On 1 September, Sri Lanka Navy personnel arrested three Indian nationals attempting to
smuggle in a banned herbicide in the seas off the northwest coast, 33 nautical miles west of Kudiramalai. The

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suspects were found in the possession of 1,125 kilograms of ammonium salt of glyphosate. The suspects along
with the banned consignment and their dhow were handed over to the police for legal action.
(www.colombopage.com)

16. (U) INDIA: On 29 August, robbers boarded an anchored chemical tanker during cargo operations near position
16:57N - 082:15E, Kakinada Port. They stole ships stores and escaped unnoticed. The theft was noticed by the
duty crew during routine rounds. Port control informed. (IMB)

17. (U) INDONESIA: On 25 August, authorities boarded and searched the cargo ship AMANAH II, near the Riau
Islands, finding 15 tons of salt for which the Master had no import documents. (www.en.netralnews.com/news)

18. (U) INDIA: On 25 August, Indias Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 40 metric tons of red sandalwood
logs which were about to be smuggled to Malaysia from the port of Chennai. The smugglers declared that the
containers contained export cargo consignments and got it sealed at the Container Freight Station. The seal was
subsequently tampered with and the logs were loaded when the containers were being transported to the port from
the freight station. (www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

J. (U) NORTHEAST ASIA:

Figure 8. Northeast Asia Piracy and

Maritime Crime
1. (U) CHINA: On 14 September, Chinese authorities announced they had busted an oil smuggling group in Fujian
Province, in eastern China, that has since the start of the year smuggled fuel worth US$138 million. The police
arrested 99 suspects and confiscated 1,700 tons of smuggled fuel. The network, local border police reported,
had been operating since June of last year and involved four gangs operating nine midsized oil tankers to smuggle
the fuel. The total amount of fuel smuggled to date is 180,000 tons. Police seized seven vessels, ten oil trucks, and
nine underground storage facilities that the smugglers used for the fuel. No details were provided as to where the
fuel was smuggled from or to. (www.oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News)

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2. (U) TAIWAN: On 5 September, police seized 70 kilograms of hydroxylamine hydrochloride, a substance used to
make the recreational drug Ketamine. In a joint operation by Luodong precinct police, customs and the coast
guard officers, the hydroxylamine hydrochloride was found hidden in water filters being imported into Taiwan in
shipping containers. (www.focustaiwan.tw/news)

K. (U) PACIFIC OCEAN - SOUTHERN OCEAN: No current incidents to report.

6. (U) Appendix A: Further Contact Information and Resources

(U) This appendix provides contact information for the author of the WTS as well as other entities that can be
contacted with maritime crime reports. It also lists other resources where the WTS is posted and where piracy and
maritime crime incident information can be found.

(U) Contact

(U) Originator of this WTS report requests consumer feedback. Originator will incorporate all anti-shipping events
and violence against the maritime industry into this weekly message where appropriate. To aid in our reporting,
please add the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) to your normal corporate and organizational reporting
requirements. The 24-hour watch can be reached at +1 (301) 669-4053.

(U) Other Resources

(U) This Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report is posted at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agencys Maritime
Safety site: http://msi.nga.mil/NGAPortal/MSI.portal. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) also publishes a live
piracy report based on reporting from the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, listing all piracy
and armed robbery incidents in the last ten days: http://www.icc-ccs.org/. The PAWW and WTS Reports are posted
weekly on the ONI Intel Portal: http://www.oni.navy.mil/Intelligence_Community/piracy.htm.

7. (U) Appendix B: Terminology and References

(U) This appendix is provided to promote consistent use of accurate terms of reference in reporting and also
identifies those references that were used to gather the information contained in this report. ONI welcomes
comment and suggestions for addition or amendment.

(U) Terminology

(U) In order to promote consistent use of accurate terms of reference, the following have been adopted to describe
the range of criminal anti-shipping activity and impediments to safe navigation in our worldwide reporting and
analysis. Please note that these terms relate to observable activity and are independent of target vessel status and
exclude actions by governmental powers in lawful pursuit of their authorities:

(U) Attempted Boarding Close approach or hull-to-hull contact with report that boarding paraphernalia were
employed or visible in the approaching boat.

(U) Blocking Hampering safe navigation, docking, or undocking of a vessel as a means of protest.

(U) Boarding Unauthorized boarding of a vessel by persons not part of its complement without successfully
taking control of the vessel.

(U) Fired Upon Weapons discharged at or toward a vessel.

(U) Hijacking Unauthorized seizure and retention of a vessel by persons not part of its complement.

(U) Kidnapping Unauthorized forcible removal of persons belonging to the vessel from it.

(U) Robbery Theft from a vessel or from persons aboard the vessel.

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(U) Suspicious Approach All other unexplained activity in close proximity of an unknown vessel.

(U) Sourcing

(U) ONI derives information in this report from direct reporting and analysis of reports from the following agencies
and commercial sources.

Agence France Presse (AFP)

Associated Press (AP)
BBC News
EU Naval Forces (EU)
International Maritime Bureau (IMB), London and Kuala Lumpur
International Maritime Organization (IMO), London
LSS-SAPU.com (LSS)
Maritime Administration (MARAD), U.S.
Maritime Security Centre - Horn of Africa (MSCHOA)
Marine Domain Awareness for Trade - Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG)
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Navigation Safety System
Noonsite.com (Noonsite), website
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)
Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia,
Information Sharing Center (ReCAAP ISC)
Reuters
Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN)
The Maritime Executive (website)
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO)
United Press International (UPI)
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)

(U) ICOD: 20 September 2017

(U) The PAWW and WTS reports are posted each week on the ONI Intel Portal and can be found at:
http://www.oni.navy.mil/Intelligence-Community/Piracy

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