The latest US Maritime OPINTEL analysis, published on Monday, shows three pirate attacks in the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Guinea areas for last week.
On March 6, three suspicious white skiffs approached a merchant vessel approximately 122 nm southeast of Muscat, Oman. The skiffs, with two people onboard each skiff, approached the ship to within a half mile. After self-protection measures were initiated by the crew, the skiffs moved away.
On 4 March at approximately 13h30 local time, pirates boarded the Nigerian-flagged offshore supply vessel Prince Joseph 1 and kidnapped three crewmembers near the Bight of Bonny, off Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. After the pirates departed the vessel, the remaining crewmembers sailed to the port of Onne.
Also on March 4, armed pirates attempted to board an underway bulk carrier approximately 60 nm west-southwest of Brass, Nigeria. The pirates in two skiffs chased and fired upon the vessel during the attempted boarding. The vessel raised the alarm and non-essential crew mustered in the citadel. The master increased speed, took evasive manoeuvres and sent an SSAS alert. The pirates aborted the attempted attack and moved away. The vessel sustained damage due to bullets striking the accommodation area.
Three piracy incidents last week
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