U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 5 October - 4 November 2015

ONI's unclassified Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report covering 5 October - 4 November 2015:

TThe Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) message provides info on piracy threats to, and criminal action against, merchant vessels worldwide in the last 30 days. This report is produced primarily to inform merchant mariners and naval forces.

U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 5 October - 4 November 2015

Didn't make the report yet, but there is an interesting story out of Somlia, "Four Iranian hostages freed in Somalia". Interesting because the rescue was done by a Somali force:

Four Iranian fishermen have been freed in Somalia after security forces rescued them from a pirate gang, security officials said on Thursday.

Local elder Mohamed Moalim Abdirahman said the men appeared "healthy" despite their ordeal, but that the pirate gang still held as many as nine other hostages, all believed to be from Iran.

"Security forces rescued four Iranians who have been held hostage by pirates," said Abdirahman Mohamed, a security official in central Somalia's Galgadud region.

"Two of the kidnapers were arrested during the raid on a house where they held the victims," Mohamed added.

Not to be too cynical, but I wonder who forgot to pay their "hostage tax."

"IRINSJamaran" by Aspahbod 

By the way, when last heard from the Iranian Navy was still "foiling" pirate attacks "somewhere on the high seas." As seen in the above WTS Report, no other nation has reported major pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden or nearby. Here's the Iranian - uh - "story" from 27 Oct 15:

Iran’s Navy chief Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says the country's naval forces have successfully thwarted a pirate attack on an Iranian oil tanker in high seas.

Sayyari added that pirates in seven boats were attempting to seize the Iranian oil tanker Tuesday morning but they were overpowered after Iran's domestically-manufactured Jamaran destroyer was called in and opened heavy fire on the pirates.

The assailants were then forced to flee, the commander said.

He noted that the 36th fleet of the Iranian Navy, comprising Jamaran destroyer and the Bushehr logistic vessel, is currently on a mission in high seas to provide security for merchant vessels and to display the Islamic Republic’s might.

Wow.

Piracy Updates from ONI (to 1 Sept 11)

Map from IMB Live Piracy Map 2011

A quick walk around the world thanks to the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence:

A. (U) NORTH AMERICA: No current incidents to report.

B. (U) CENTRAL AMERICA/CARIBBEAN: No current incidents to report.

C. (U) SOUTH AMERICA:

1. (U) ECUADOR: A chemical tanker was robbed 19 August at 0155 LT while anchored in Esmeraldas anchorage. Duty watchman noticed three robbers on the forecastle deck. One of the robbers threatened the watchman with a long knife. The watchman informed the duty officer on the bridge, who then raised the alarm. After the crew was alerted the robbers escaped with ship stores. (IMB)

2. (U) COLOMBIA: A chemical tanker experienced an attempted boarding 4 August at 0750 UTC while at anchor in position 10:19N / 075:31W, in Mamonal Inner Anchorage. Six robbers in a wooden speed boat attempted to board an anchored chemical tanker via the anchor chain. Alert duty seaman noticed the robbers, raised the alarm, and flashed lights on them. Upon seeing crew alertness, the robbers aborted the attempt and escaped. Incident was reported to the Mamonal port control who informed the coast guard. (IMB)

D. (U) ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA: No current incidents to report.

E. (U) NORTHERN EUROPE/BALTIC: No current incidents to report.

F. (U) MEDITERRANEAN/BLACK SEA: No current incidents to report.

G. (U) WEST AFRICA:

1. (U) NIGERIA: Passenger ship (MONICA EXPRESS) was boarded 27 August at 0700 UTC while underway off the coast of Nigeria. Pirates released all 150 crew members and passengers, but took the captain hostage. The ship was transiting from Cameroon to Oron, Nigeria. Seven armed pirates boarded the vessel and demanded a monthly security tax from the captain. They seized the captain after he said it had been paid already and released him a few hours later after a ransom was paid. The pirates also robbed the passengers onboard. (Open Sources)