INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT
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Telephone: 020-7735 7611
Fax: 020-7587 3210
Telex: 23588 IMOLDN G IMO

Ref. T1/13.01 MSC/Circ.977

30 November 2000

REPORTS ON ACTS OF PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY AGAINST SHIPS

Issued monthly - Acts reported during November 2000

1 In pursuance of the Maritime Safety Committee’s instruction to the Secretariat to issue

monthly reports of all incidents of piracy1 and armed robbery against ships reported to the
Organization and, in addition, to issue, on a quarterly basis, composite reports accompanied by
an analysis, on a regional basis, of the situation and an indication whether the frequency of
incidents is increasing or decreasing and advising of any new feature or pattern of significance,
the annex hereto provides, in the tabulated format agreed by the Committee, the summary of
reports on incidents received between 31 October 2000 (MSC/Circ.976) and 30 November 2000.

2 The total number of acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships so far reported to the
Organization is 2,055, an increase of 38 since 31 October 2000.

3 Previous incidents reported to the Organization since the fifty-ninth session of the
Committee have been circulated by various MSC circulars, those issued during the current year
being MSC/Circ.940, MSC/Circ.941, MSC/Circ.943, MSC/Circ.945, MSC/Circ.968,
MSC/Circ.969, MSC/Circ.972, MSC/Circ.973, MSC/Circ.974 and MSC/Circ.976.

***

1
“Piracy” is defined in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (article 101) as
follows:

“Piracy consists of any of the following acts:

(a) any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the
crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed:
(i) on the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on board such
ship or aircraft;
(ii) against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State;
(b) any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts
making it a pirate ship or aircraft;
(c) any act inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in sub-paragraph (a) or (b).”

I:\CIRC\MSC\977.doc
 ANNEX
Acts of piracy and armed robbery allegedly committed against ships reported by
Member States or international organizations in consultative status
MSC/Circ. 977
Nº Ship's name ANNEX
Type of ship Was the incident Reporting
Page 1
Flag Date Position of the incident* Details of the incident Consequences for crew, Action taken by reported to the coastal State or
ship, cargo the master and authority? Which one? international Action by the
Gross tonnage
Time the crew organization coastal State
IMO No.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 FUJI MOUNTAIN 11/10/00 Davao anchorange, Armed robbers threw hand grenades Ship's hull damaged - Yes. Coast Guard ICC-IMB -
Refrigerated cargo carrier Mindanao and explosives at the ship while at informed via agents PRC Kuala
Panama (Philippines) anchor Lumpur
6545
8811857

2 ARIES FOREST 25/10/00 Davao anchorange, Armed robbers in a motorized canoe Ship damaged - Yes. Coast Guard ICC-IMB -
Bulk carrier Mindanao threw explosives at the ship while at informed via agents PRC Kuala
Panama (Philippines) anchor Lumpur
19925

3 OOCL SAN FRANCISCO 03/11/00 04º04'.00N The ship's crew noticed a boat about - Anti-piracy Yes. SAR Djakarta ICC-IMB -
Container ship 23:35 LT 099º25'.00E one mile away while underway. As it measures taken informed PRC Kuala
Hong Kong, China Malacca Strait drew nearer it sped up towards the preventing Lumpur
67500 bow of the ship with the suspects' boarding
9199268 intention of boarding

4 SEA MUSE 03/11/00 Sandakan anchorage A small boat approached the ship's - Two of the crew Yes. Marine Police ICC-IMB -
Bulk carrier 03:25 LT (Malaysia) bow while at anchor. One armed noticed the armed informed PRC Kuala
Cyprus robber boarded while seven other robbers and Lumpur
20815 armed robbers remained in the boat. alerted the
7602998 Robbers fled when alarm raised bridge. The duty
officer raised the
alarm
5 SIMUNYE 04/11/00 03º17'.00S A fast moving target was detected - Evasive Yes. SAR Djakarta ICC-IMB -
Chemical tanker 01:35 LT 109º41'.00E approximately 2.5nm astern of the manoeuvres informed PRC Kuala
Australia ship while underway. The boat trailed taken and other Lumpur
28077 the ship for 40 mins but then headed ships in the vicinity
9111058 for another ship in the area informed by VHF

6 PRETTY PROSPERITY 04/11/00 Tanjung Priok anchorage Four to five armed robbers boarded Two liferafts and some - Yes. SAR Djakarta ICC-IMB -
Bulk carrier 02:00 LT (Indonesia) the ship while waiting for berthing ship's stores stolen informed PRC Kuala
Republic of Korea instructions Lumpur
27663
9129031
7 ALMORIA 05/11/00 Davao anchorange, Ship was attacked by rocket - - Yes. Coast Guard ICC-IMB -
Mindanao propelled grenades from a motorized informed via agents PRC Kuala
(Philippines) canoe while at anchor Lumpur

*The position given should be as accurate as possible including latitude and longitude co-ordinates or as a bearing and distance from a conspicuous landmark
 MSC/Circ. 977
Nº Ship's name ANNEX
Type of ship Was the incident Reporting
Page 2
Flag Date Position of the incident* Details of the incident Consequences for crew, Action taken by reported to the coastal State or
ship, cargo the master and authority? Which one? international Action by the
Gross tonnage
Time the crew organization coastal State
IMO No.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8 THOR KIRSTEN 05/11/00 01º45'.90N The Duty Officer spotted a red boat - Duty Officer Yes. SAR Djakarta ICC-IMB -
General cargo ship 05:10 LT 102º32'.00E 10 metres long with six pirates raised alarm and and MRCC Port PRC Kuala
Denmark Malacca Strait alongside the starboard quarter of the fired one shot in Klang informed Lumpur
1167 ship. Some of the pirates were the air. Crew
8702422 already onboard and fled when mustered
spotted by the crew

9 GLORY SELATAN VIII 05/11/00 01º49'.50N Nine pirates between 20 and 40 Crew's cash and Anti-piracy was Yes. SAR Djakarta ICC-IMB -
General cargo ship 03:55 LT 102º23'.20E years old armed with two guns, three personal belongings manned but the and MRCC Port PRC Kuala
Panama Malacca Strait long knives and some short knives stolen ship's freeboard Klang informed Lumpur
1668 boarded the ship while underway and was low
8405103 then escaped on a high-speed boat
with two motor engines

10 TORM ALEXANDRA 05/11/00 09º10'.50N About eight to ten robbers armed with Ship's cash (US$ Distress alert Yes. Director Malta -
General cargo ship 03:30 GMT 013º44'.70W machine guns boarded the ship 3,500), ship's property transmitted on General of Security, ICC-IMB
Malta Off Conakry and crew's personal INMARSAT C Guinea and RCC PRC Kuala
3972 (Guinea) belongings stolen Sierra Leone via Lumpur
8912821 Embassy in UK
informed

11 JAMES 05/11/00 Davao anchorange, Ship was attacked by rocket - - Yes. Coast Guard ICC-IMB -
General cargo ship Mindanao propelled grenades from a motorized informed via agents PRC Kuala
Philippines (Philippines) canoe while at anchor Lumpur
239
8944868

12 STOLT KENT 06/11/00 Copesul Terminal, Rio Five armed robbers boarded the ship Crew held at gunpoint. General alarm Yes. Port Control United Immigration
Chemical tanker 03:05 Hrs Grande and attacked the cargo control room Personal belongings and sounded after informed via VHF Kingdom officers arrived
United Kingdom (Brazil) and crew's accommodation contents of safe stolen armed robbers on board and
12141 and cabins ransacked had left and crew started an
9141417 mustered investigation

13 FORTUNA AUSTRALIA 06/11/00 01º56'.50N About 10-20 armed pirates boarded All of the crew taken - Yes. SAR and ICC-IMB -
Bulk carrier 01:28 LT 102º19'.00E the ship via the stern while underway hostage and cash and MRCC Klang PRC Kuala
Malta Malacca Strait valuables stolen informed Lumpur
15473
8401004

14 SMIT SULAWESI 06/11/00 10º34'.70N An unlit boat followed the ship while - Altered course Yes. MRCC and ICC-IMB -
Tug 03:40 LT 097º23'.90E underway towards open sea Marine Department, PRC Kuala
Bahamas Andaman Sea and switched on Myanmar informed Lumpur
747 all deck lights
8222161

*The position given should be as accurate as possible including latitude and longitude co-ordinates or as a bearing and distance from a conspicuous landmark
 MSC/Circ. 977
Nº Ship's name ANNEX
Type of ship Was the incident Reporting
Page 3
Flag Date Position of the incident* Details of the incident Consequences for crew, Action taken by reported to the coastal State or
ship, cargo the master and authority? Which one? international Action by the
Gross tonnage
Time the crew organization coastal State
IMO No.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

15 BANGA BONIK 09/11/00 01º46'.00N About 15-20 pirates armed with guns Master injured and five - Yes. MRCC, Marine ICC-IMB -
Container ship 03:00 LT 102º27'.00E and knives boarded the ship while crew taken hostage. Police, SWASLA PRC Kuala
Bangladesh Malacca Strait underway Crew's cash and and VTS Klang Lumpur
5883 personal belongings and informed
8126159 ship's cash and property
stolen

16 BUNGA MAWAR 09/11/00 Chittagong "A" anchorage Two armed robbers boarded the ship - Alarm raised and Yes. Coast Guard ICC-IMB -
Chemical tanker 01:30 LT (Bangladesh) from the stern while at anchor but crew mustered informed PRC Kuala
Malaysia were spotted by the anti-piracy Lumpur
18543 watch. The armed robbers jumped
8618877 overboard and escaped
17 MAERSK TAIKUNG 09/11/00 Chennai anchorage Anti-piracy watch spotted six armed - Alarm raised and Yes. Coast Guard ICC-IMB -
Bulk carrier 03:25 LT (India) robbers on the poop deck trying to crew mustered and Police informed PRC Kuala
Singapore steal mooring ropes from the ship Lumpur
38337 while at anchor. The robbers
8806503 escaped when spotted by the crew
18 NCC NAJD 12/11/00 06º01'.60S Five armed robbers boarded the ship Valuable engine spare - Yes. SAR Djakarta ICC-IMB -
Chemical tanker 12:20 LT 106º53'.90E while at anchor. They entered the parts stolen informed PRC Kuala
Panama Tg. Priok anchorage, engine room while the crew were Lumpur
8198 Jakarta having their lunch
8412924 (Indonesia)

19 KARIA 13/11/00 Anowra Thana, Chittagong Armed robbers boarded the ship Several security guards - Yes. Coast Guard, ICC-IMB Police
(Bangladesh) while at anchor injured and goods worth local police and PRC Kuala detained three
Indonesia millions of takas stolen Bangladesh High Lumpur armed robbers
Commission
informed
20 NAGA 13/11/00 Cilacap Three robbers armed with knives - - Yes. SAR Djakarta ICC-IMB -
Oil tanker 03:00 LT (Indonesia) boarded the ship while at berth but informed PRC Kuala
Bahamas were spotted by the duty crew and Lumpur
52716 escaped by jumping into the water
715442 and into an awaiting motor boat
21 JU253 14/11/00 05º47'.00N A large boat with four pirates came Mooring ropes stolen Alarm raised and Yes. MRCC, ICC-IMB -
Barge 10:40 LT 077º02'.56E alongside the ship while underway crew mustered Mumbai informed PRC Kuala
Off the coast of India and towing a barge. The pirates Lumpur
boarded the barge but when spotted
jumped into the boat and escaped

22 MOSEL 14/11/00 11º03'.60N A boat approached the ship while - Course altered - ICC-IMB -
Container ship 13:20 LT 062º44'.00E underway and crossed the bow when and preventative PRC Kuala
Cyprus Indian Ocean course was altered measures taken. Lumpur
22738 Called on VHF
9077288 but no response

*The position given should be as accurate as possible including latitude and longitude co-ordinates or as a bearing and distance from a conspicuous landmark
 MSC/Circ. 977
Nº Ship's name ANNEX
Type of ship Was the incident Reporting
Page 4
Flag Date Position of the incident* Details of the incident Consequences for crew, Action taken by reported to the coastal State or
ship, cargo the master and authority? Which one? international Action by the
Gross tonnage
Time the crew organization coastal State
IMO No.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

23 MAS ECO CHALLENGE 15/11/00 Outer anchorage A, About six to eight robbers belived to - The Master raised Yes. Coast Guard, ICC-IMB Navy patrolled
Bulk carrier 21:30 UTC Chittagong be armed with deadly weapons the alarm and Bangladesh, PRC Kuala
Malaysia (Bangladesh) attempted to board the ship from two crew mustered on Chittagong Port Lumpur
12876 boats deck preventing Control on VHF and
8029507 boarding Navy informed

24 BUNGA MAWAR 15/11/00 Vegetable Oil Terminal, Duty Engineer heard a knocking Zinc anode on rudder Crew alerted Yes. Coast Guard ICC-IMB -
Chemical tanker 11:15 UTC Jetty No. 3, Chittagong sound at the stern port while berthed missing informed PRC Kuala
Malaysia (Bangladesh) and alerted the Duty Officer to Lumpur
18543 investigate. When the Duty Officer
8618877 and crew arrived at the poop deck
they noticed a motor boat speeding
off from the stern of the ship. Shore
watchmen were not reliable

25 JAAMI 16/11/00 01º06'.00N Several speed boats came close to - Crew alerted Yes. MRCC Klang, ICC-IMB -
Multi purpose ship 14:00 UTC 102º09'.00E the ship while underway, but suspects SWASLA and PRC Kuala
Bangladesh Malacca Strait failed to board Marine Police Lumpur
9648 informed
7712145

26 ECO ELHAM 16/11/00 04º21'.00N A suspicious boat which looked like a - Evasive measures - ICC-IMB -
General cargo ship 07:00 UTC 049º42'.00E fishing trawler chased the ship for taken preventing PRC Kuala
Iran (Islamic Republic of) Off the coast of Somalia about two hours while underway boarding Lumpur
8027
7384754

27 LAEMTHONG GLORY 17/11/00 22º10'.20N A boat with about eight armed One mooring rope stolen Alarm raised and Yes. Coast Guard ICC-IMB -
Bulk carrier 091º45'.90E robbers approached the ship while at crew mustered informed PRC Kuala
Thailand Chittagong anchor. One of the armed robbers Lumpur
9077 (Bangladesh) climbed on board and on being
7533006 challenged by the crew threatened
them and fled

28 ASEAN VICTORY 18/11/00 05º29'.00S Eight robbers armed with knives Duty oiler taken hostage Duty bosun raised Yes. SAR Djakarta ICC-IMB -
Bulk carrier 17:30 UTC 105º17'.00E boarded the ship from the forecastle in engine room. Spare alarm and crew and Maritime and PRC Kuala
Singapore Panjang Pilot Station while at anchor and escaped when parts stolen mustered Port Authority of Lumpur
12916 anchorage alarm raised Singapore informed
8126056 (Indonesia)

29 LANIA 18/11/00 01º16'.00N A small unlit boat came alongside on - Duty Officer Yes. Coast Guard, ICC-IMB -
Oil tanker 21:56 LT 104º07'.00E starboard side of the ship just below informed the deck Singapore, MPA PRC Kuala
Panama Strait of Singapore the gangway and was spotted by the duty crew. Aldis Singapore and VTIS Lumpur
137712 Duty Officer. The pirates abandoned lamp flashed at East informed
8808642 the plan to board boat to prevent
boarding

*The position given should be as accurate as possible including latitude and longitude co-ordinates or as a bearing and distance from a conspicuous landmark
 MSC/Circ. 977
Nº Ship's name ANNEX
Type of ship Was the incident Reporting
Page 5
Flag Date Position of the incident* Details of the incident Consequences for crew, Action taken by reported to the coastal State or
ship, cargo the master and authority? Which one? international Action by the
Gross tonnage
Time the crew organization coastal State
IMO No.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

30 JULIA I 20/11/00 01º44'.42N About twenty pirates boarded the ship 3 officers taken hostage, - Yes. SAR Djakarta ICC-IMB -
Oil tanker 23:35 LT 102º31'.75E while underway and escaped in a crew's belongings and and VTS Klang PRC Kuala
Panama Malacca Strait speedboat cash (US$ 7,000) stolen informed Lumpur
5169
9182837

31 HANG TUO 2001 22/11/00 08º49'.00N Five speedboats approached and Spares stolen - Yes. Coast Guard ICC-IMB -
Tug 02:30 UTC 076º13'.00E boarded the barge that was being HQ informed PRC Kuala
China 25 NM off Quilon, India towed by the tug. They returned an Lumpur
848 hour later
8828800

32 AGIOS FANOURIOS 23/11/00 05º44'.00N Three boats chased the ship while - Alarm raised and Yes. SAR Djakarta ICC-IMB -
General cargo ship 03:30 UTC 095º17'.00E underway. Several other boats joined crew mustered informed PRC Kuala
Saint Vincent and the 3 miles off Pulau We them and approached the ship preventing Lumpur
Grenadines (Indonesia) boarding
9640
7808413

33 PONTPOROS 25/11/00 Port of Nacala Whilst discharging, duty crew spotted Mooring rope stolen Duty crew chased Yes. Embassy of ICC-IMB -
Bulk carrier 14:00 UTC (Mozambique) a stevedore armed with a knife the armed robber Mozambique in USA PRC Kuala
Cyprus who was caught and local police Lumpur
16912 by other informed
8318609 stevedores and
handed over to
the police
34 SEA BANIAN 25/11/00 22º09.00N Two robbers armed with knives One mooring rope stolen Alarm raised and Yes. Coast Guard ICC-IMB -
Bulk carrier 12:30 UTC 091º45'.00E boarded the ship while at anchor from crew mustered Bangladesh and PRC Kuala
Panama Chittagong anchorage a small wooden boat. When spotted with knives and Chittagong Port Lumpur
26136 (Bangladesh) by the crew, the armed robbers steel pole Control informed.
9176668 jumped into the sea and escaped in Port Control tried to
the boat with eight accomplices call the Bangladesh
Navy but got no
response

35 Name not reported 26/11/00 12º17'.00N Seven pirates in three speedboats - Evasive action Yes. French ICC-IMB -
Sailing boat 05:30 UTC 044º52'.00E tried to board the sailing boat twice taken to prevent Maritime Defence PRC Kuala
France Gulf of Aden boarding Forces, Djibouti Lumpur
informed. Distress
message sent but
no response

*The position given should be as accurate as possible including latitude and longitude co-ordinates or as a bearing and distance from a conspicuous landmark
 MSC/Circ. 977
Nº Ship's name ANNEX
Type of ship Was the incident Reporting
Page 6
Flag Date Position of the incident* Details of the incident Consequences for crew, Action taken by reported to the coastal State or
ship, cargo the master and authority? Which one? international Action by the
Gross tonnage
Time the crew organization coastal State
IMO No.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

36 YUHSHO 28/11/00 25º03'.50N Four armed robbers attempted to - Alarm raised. Yes. Coast Guard, ICC-IMB -
Gas carrier-LPG 15:30 UTC 056º27'.90E board the ship from a small craft 7 - 8 Anti-piracy officer Dubai, UAE informed PRC Kuala
Panama 5.8 NM from Kalba metres long while at anchor. They and crew used Lumpur
44694 breakwater threw two hooks with a line over the high pressurized
9172739 (United Arab Emirates) midship side near the ship's gangway jet water to chase
away the armed
robbers

37 CONQUEST VENTURE 30/11/00 Panjang anchorage Three robbers armed with long knives - Duty Officer Yes. SAR Djakarta ICC-IMB -
02:45 UTC (Indonesia) boarded the ship and escaped when raised alarm, informed PRC Kuala
spotted by the crew crew mustered Lumpur
and anti-piracy
measures taken
38 ETERNAL OIL II 30/11/00 01º42'.00N Pirates boarded the ship while Cash (US$ 500) and - Yes. Marine Police ICC-IMB -
Oil tanker 21:18 UTC 102º34'.00E underway and escaped in a ship's stores stolen HQ and SAR PRC Kuala
Singapore Malacca Strait speedboat Djakarta informed Lumpur
13621
9159828

*The position given should be as accurate as possible including latitude and longitude co-ordinates or as a bearing and distance from a conspicuous landmark