Has anyone on this board encountered pirates?

[irwinsailor]

Does anyone here have a first hand account of piracy involving their own boat?

[Strygaldwir]

Yeah; When the marine plumber said it was going to cost me $1000 to replace my head. That did not include any material cost!

(Sorry, Can't let me go anywhere!)b

[irwinsailor]

OK , I have to give you that one!

[RPC]

A yacht in our group heading up the Gulf of Aden was attacked by armed Pirates who fired warning shots. You can see his story as well as a lot of information on pirates on the website www.onpassage.com

The pirate page is here http://www.onpassage.com/Emergency_M...te_attacks.htm

Hope that is the information you are looking for, you will find links here to sites that have other reports of attacks.

Rod

[GordMay]

From http://www.cruiserlog.com/forums/

Here is a 1st hand account of pirate attack on to yachts making the annual trek to the Med via the Red Sea from S.E. Asia. It took place only 30 miles off the coast of Yemen at 13̊ 28'North x 48̊ 07 East on 8 March 5pm local.
(Maybe people will start to think twice about going to the Med via a very dangerous route! I find it very difficult to understand the "mindset" of wanting to cruise the Med anyway).
Regards
Richard
Net Controller
Maritime Mobile Net, SE Asia.

Pirate Attack Reported to Yemen Officials

"On 8 March 2005, two sailing yachts, Mahdi & Gandalf, were moving SW 30 miles off the coast of Yemen proceeding to the port of Aden from Salalah, Oman.

At about 0900 two outboard powered boats, about 25 feet long with 3 men in each one, passed off our stern moving south at about 25 knots. An hour or two later they returned, one coming quite close and looking us over carefully. The second boat passed our bows but quite a ways away. These boats were obviously not engaged in a normal activity such as fishing, etc. At that time we were south of Al Mukalla, Yemen. The area around Al Mukalla is well documented as being a piracy problem area and we started watching carefully for anything out of the ordinary.

At about 1600 we observed two different boats approaching us head on from the SW. These boats were 25-30 feet long, had higher freeboard and diesel powered. They were coming very fast directly at us. There were 4 men in each boat. The boats separated at about 200 yards, one boat ahead of the other, coming down Mahdi’s port side and firing into the cockpit. The other boat was firing an automatic weapon at both Gandalf and Mahdi from ahead, more at Gandalf. These guys were shooting directly at the cockpits, and obviously intended to kill us.

The first boat swung around behind Mahdi’s stern to come up and board us. At that point I, Rod Nowlin aboard Mahdi and armed with a 12 gage shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot, started shooting into their boat. I forced them to keep their heads down so that they could not shoot at us. I am not sure I hit anyone at that point although I could see the driver of the boat crouched down behind a steering console. After firing 3 shots at them their engine started to smoke and I swung around to shoot at the boat ahead. At that point, I saw Jay Barry on Gandalf ram that boat amidships almost cutting it in two and turning it almost completely over. I turned back around to shoot again at the boat behind Mahdi and that is when they turned away from Mahdi and were heading toward the stern of Gandalf. Gandalf was beside us, about 100 feet away. The bow of the pirate’s boat came right up against Gandalf’s stern and two men stood up on the bow to board Gandalf. That was a serious and probably fateful error on their part. I shot both of them. That boat then veered away and I shot the driver, although I am not sure of the outcome because they were farther away and I did not knock him down like the other two.

Mahdi and Gandalf kept going at full speed to put as much distance between the pirates and us as possible. As soon as we were out of rifle range we looked back and both boats were drifting and appeared to be disabled.

If Jay on Gandalf had not had the presence of mind to veer over into one boat and ram it, the outcome of this attack would have been totally different. All they needed to do was stand off a ways and shoot us to pieces with automatic weapons. We were extremely lucky.

We broadcast Mayday calls on all VHF and HF radio frequencies, including two HF emergency frequencies supplied by the US Coast Guard a few days before. The Coalition Forces in the area were supposed to be monitoring these frequencies. There was no response except from a commercial ship in the area on VHF 16 who approached and observed the disabled pirates for a bit, then sailed along side of us for 2-4 hours until dark to make sure we would be all right.

The pirates were well organized and well armed. There were at least 4 boats involved. They had set up a picket line out from the Yemen coast probably at least for 50-75 miles, so if you transited the area during the day they wouldn’t miss you. The two boats that attacked us appeared to have come from the south.

There has been speculation in the past that this ongoing piracy problem off the Yemen coast was being carried out by Somali pirates. Given the number, type of boats involved, and the direction the spotter boats came from, this does not appear to be correct in this case. This problem is getting worse and the pirate attacks are getting deadly. One could only expect that the Yemen Government will take more direct action. At the very least, allow yachts to group in Salalah, Oman and at some point on the NW Yemen coast to request an escort along the Yemen coast."

Rodney J. Nowlin, USN Retired
[b]S/V Mahdi
March 11, 2005

[Sonosailor]

Wife and I sailed from Canada to Trinidad last season, and are home for a bit.

Although we talked to many cruisers who had been living aboard for years without trouble, we were boarded twice during our little trip.

The first time, we were in Souffriere, St. Lucia. We had returned from Benny's Harmony Restaurant to our boat at the base of the Petit Piton, with our guest couple. Our catamaran has built-in swim ladders at the stern of both hulls, and a sliding glass door for entrance to the salon. We had one more "nightcap" and then went to bed. Shutting the door would severely limit air flow through the boat, so we left it open, but put up a mosquito screen that we use in Canada. The screen attaches all around the door opening with a velcro strip. At approximately 1:30 AM, I slowly became aware of the velcro being opened a bit at a time. It seemed to go on forever. I got out of bed and walked to the bottom of the stairs to see if the "traffic" was from the inside to the outside or from the outside to the inside. I was in time to see an arm and leg entering the boat. I responded with a loud: "You get the hell out of here", and the body parts disappeared and a splash was heard.

We got flashlights out, but could see nothing. Using lights and noise, we got the people awake on the cat beside us as well, but nothing was noticed. I did a lot of "securite" announcing on the radio, as well as requests to the police for assistance, but nobody responded.

The visit from the police the next morning was quite entertaining. The reason they arrived was because a private runabout was missing, belonging to a member of the fisheries/marine patrol, and the owner was convinced that the two crimes were connected. After hearing our story, the cop said that he had a suspect in mind, who had been released from prison recently. He said that the reason we could not spot him was because the suspect could dive to 60 feet without tanks. Apparently, he had a voodoo spell put on him to allow that (not that they necessarily believe in Voodoo, he added). He said their probable course of action was to wait until the suspect has some success, get a warrant, and then plant some evidence. He also added that if the guy had boarded his boat, the guy would have shot him. The marine patrol guy suggested the body could easily be placed in deep water a few miles out to save a lot of trouble. Oh well, not my culture, so how can I pass judgement?



Next time, we were with new guests in St. Vincent, in Young Island Cut. The guy came on board at 3:30, and I met him while he was still on the hull. He turned around and shielded his face as he quietly got back into the water. This time, I provided a stern lecture: "Listen here, you Dumbass (I love "That 70s Show"), you are playing a dangerous game. You could be pepper sprayed, stabbed, or even shot; and for what? A hundred bucks or a used camera? etc, etc."

By now, all crew was on deck, with flashlights. The guy tried to hide under the boat but we shooed him out. He began to swim to the far shore, towards Young Island and other boats. Resealable bags floated out of his pockets. Again, I used the radio to advise all others about this obvious thief and home invader. Again, nobody had their radio on. Sure would have been nice if we all had kept an eye on him, or had ganged up to apprehend him.

A couple of hours later, we listened on the radio as a charterer was asking for a visit from police or the coast guard to come to his boat. His teenage daughter had surprised a burglar in the salon, and they were shaken up. I felt like jumping on and saying if he had kept his radio on, he could have expected "company". The Coast Guard kept telling him to go to shore and visit the Police. They finally said they would drop by just to get the guy off the air. Doubt if they did.

Us? We didn't bother with the police. Felt we knew their level of interest.

We were aware of other boardings as well. One happened off Rodney Bay, the night after our first boarding. Likely the same guy trying the same M.O. in a new anchorage. He was successful that night, taking money and gear off a small Montreal monohull while the coulple slept. Another occurred off Union Island, by Frigate Island. A dog on a nearby boat woke the French couple, but the guy got out and slashed the dinghy on the way to the beach so he couldn't be run down. Calls to the Police could not get them to act. They could have easily caught the guy, as it is a ten minute walk along a causeway to the main island.

We now carry pepper spray acquired in Martinique, have our main door pegged so it can be locked while 5" open, and are considering a motion sensor. Although often bothered by dogs afloat in the past, we now understand why they seem to be trained to bark at any approaching dinghy, swimmer, or passing yacht. We have purposely befriended and parked near yacht-dogs since these these boardings. Let em bark all they want.

[Alan Wheeler]

Only Pirates I have come across are armed with a cash register or have used the more seriuose weapon like Ebay.

[GordMay]

According to Captain David N. Kellerman (Worldwide Maritime Piracy), pirates attack tankers (25%), cargo ships (23%), bulk carriers (13%), container ships (11%), fishing boats (16%), and coastal vessels and yachts (12%).
See also: http://www.geocities.com/cdelegas/PI...ITE_stats.html

The piracy hot spots, according the IMO’s 2000 first and second quarter reports, are the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Malacca Straits.
See also: http://www.geocities.com/cdelegas/PI..._hotspots.html

The two most dangerous areas for modern piracy are on either side of the Strait of Malacca, between Malaysia on one side, and the Indonesian Island of Sumatra on the other. This is the main ocean highway from Asia to Europe, used by 50,000 ships per year.
The Number 3 area of concern is Bangladesh. There is even a "General Warning" now in effect for pirates in the area of Port Chittagong.
India ranks 4th in the world &endash; where current government regulations restrict sailing to daylight operations only due to pirate activity.
Having been in 1st place at times during the 1990s, Brazil remains a particular hotbed of pirate activity.
Other areas of concern include:
The Philippines;
The Arabian Peninsula;
The West African Coast;
The Coasts of Venezuela & Columbia;
"Mosquito Bay" between Nicaragua & Jamaica

See also:
”Wärtsilä Corporation offers yacht security training” ~ By Capt. Bill Pike
http://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/fe...uritytraining/

[sv_makai]

As mentioned above the WIndwards sees alot of boardings/piracy. We saw more crime in Windwards and Trinadad than all of the time we spent in Venezuela, not to say Venezuela is safe. Some areas are very bad and others are very safe.

I think some of the difference is that a lot of the piracy and boardings are not reported, especially in the charter/tourist belt. Just listen to the Safty and Security net on 8104 in the morning. Almost everyday there is discussion of the crime/piracy in the Windwards. Especially dignhy thefts.

Point is that care must be taken everywhere. As pirates are just scum bag criminals on the water, no different than those onshore.

[RandyAbernethy]

Capt Bil: I noticed that you're in Venezuela. There have been quite a few reported incidents there. I'm considering looping the entire Caribbean but I've been concerned about Venezuela. Any thoughts?

Sonosailer: I plan to bring my dog (old and lazy but knows how to bark when the time comes). I know that here in Los Angeles County houses with dogs are almost _never_ robbed. I would assume that the disadvantage of attempting to rob a dogified boat would be even more extreme. You have the alarm benefit and also the potential for bodily harm packaged in a critter that doesn't care whether you have a gun or not. I would imagine even a small dog would make your boat an exceptionally undesirable target.

All: Does anyone have advice on carrying guns aboard? What are the legal issues, etc?

[Landlocked]

Randy,
There's an entire forum section devoted to firearms under the Cruising Equipment section.

[sv_makai]

I am going to start off saying that there are 2 parts to Venezuela. One is the east of Margarita and the west. The east is an area you do not want to tranverse along the shore line. It has a LOT of crime. The west has crime but a lot less than I saw living in Washington DC. Having said that I am sure people will scream. We had more breakins in our marina on the Bay than we have seen here.

We saw more dinghy thefts in Trinidad in a month including pick pockets in the yards than we have seen in all the time in Venezuela.

I am not saying that Venezuela is a crime free paradise. There is crime, but like anywhere one needs to protect onself by things like raising and locking the dink, not leaving expensive equipment on deck. Lot of the crime is quick board and grab types. There are physical attacks but they are rare and they usually don't carry guns. One French couple chase 2 boarders off thier boat with a frying pan.

In the Caribe there in the Safety and Sercurity net on 8140 at 8AM AST that reports the the problems in the lower Caribe. There is as many boardings or more reported in the WIndwards than is reported from Venezuela. People fear Venezuela. We know many that have never been here say this place is full of armed revolutionaires and criminals. We have found it no different than many places we have been. But like most of the Caribe it is a thrird world country and people are poor and will steal, though most of the people in barrio here by our marina are pretty decent.

We actually worry more about about the political risk between Chavez/Bush. But that is a different story.

I am going to climb on my soapbox for a minute on pirates. I don't call boardsings at sea piracy. It gives some of these crimal scumbugs a bit of glamor. Off the soap box, thx.


We have been traveling all over the Caribe now for a 1 1/2 years and we love Venezuela. Do not skip it. Some of the best islands we have been to are here and because most people are afraid they are relavitly empty. The Venezuelan are some of the nicest people we have met since we have been here.

If you have read my other posts or seen our website you will know we didn't like the windwards with the crime and the crowd, not to mention the expensive prices. Beside it is a heck of place to get work done, refuel( 7 cents a gallon), and reprovision. It is also more huricane free,

I could go on & on & on and proabably already have so I will cut it h ere. If you are interested in more let me know. We are happy to share knowledge, but not to much as we don't want all of the cruisers here in our bit of paradise.

[CaptainK]

If you count, "Greenpeace" as pirates too! Yeah I have.

In return washed them down with fire hoses! Instead of throwing garbage. Or shooting them. Hee hee!

Regards,

Kevin
CaptainK

[ssullivan]

While in Bonaire, we met several people from Venezuela, and were docked right next to many as well. They were quite polite and friendly. We even had interesting political discussions about our respective idiots in office.

(Pleeeeaase don't let this thread slide into politics...)

Apparently, many of them don't like Chavez either. We had some good laughs, and they came to our dockside BBQs.

sv_makai once whispered in the wind:
I am going to start off saying that there are 2 parts to Venezuela. One is the east of Margarita and the west. The east is an area you do not want to tranverse along the shore line. It has a LOT of crime. The west has crime but a lot less than I saw living in Washington DC. Having said that I am sure people will scream. We had more breakins in our marina on the Bay than we have seen here.

We saw more dinghy thefts in Trinidad in a month including pick pockets in the yards than we have seen in all the time in Venezuela.

I am not saying that Venezuela is a crime free paradise. There is crime, but like anywhere one needs to protect onself by things like raising and locking the dink, not leaving expensive equipment on deck. Lot of the crime is quick board and grab types. There are physical attacks but they are rare and they usually don't carry guns. One French couple chase 2 boarders off thier boat with a frying pan.

In the Caribe there in the Safety and Sercurity net on 8140 at 8AM AST that reports the the problems in the lower Caribe. There is as many boardings or more reported in the WIndwards than is reported from Venezuela. People fear Venezuela. We know many that have never been here say this place is full of armed revolutionaires and criminals. We have found it no different than many places we have been. But like most of the Caribe it is a thrird world country and people are poor and will steal, though most of the people in barrio here by our marina are pretty decent.

We actually worry more about about the political risk between Chavez/Bush. But that is a different story.

I am going to climb on my soapbox for a minute on pirates. I don't call boardsings at sea piracy. It gives some of these crimal scumbugs a bit of glamor. Off the soap box, thx.


We have been traveling all over the Caribe now for a 1 1/2 years and we love Venezuela. Do not skip it. Some of the best islands we have been to are here and because most people are afraid they are relavitly empty. The Venezuelan are some of the nicest people we have met since we have been here.

If you have read my other posts or seen our website you will know we didn't like the windwards with the crime and the crowd, not to mention the expensive prices. Beside it is a heck of place to get work done, refuel( 7 cents a gallon), and reprovision. It is also more huricane free,

I could go on & on & on and proabably already have so I will cut it h ere. If you are interested in more let me know. We are happy to share knowledge, but not to much as we don't want all of the cruisers here in our bit of paradise.

[GordMay]

Here’s some experienced advice/opinion, as posted at the SSCA bulletin board
by Mike Waters, Yacht ICHI, Raffles Marina Singapore
Posted: Oct 23, 2005

< Quote >
We are cruising in the Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand area and want to put to rest the eternal rumors of SE Asia pirates!

There has not been an actual pirate attack on a Yacht/Pleasure boat for over 20 years in SE Asia!

There have been several boardings of anchored boats related to thefts of dingys/outboards reported as piracy, but if you look at the actual reports this is our old bugaboo of dinghy theft just like we see everywhere in the world!

You MAY get a confrontation with an angry fishermen if you foul their nets or smash their bamboo fish traps, but that is hardly a pirate attack either!

Even the infamous Aceh province of Indonesia (source of actual attacks on commercial shipping and about 200 Nm from Malaysia) has quieted down due to some very active enforcement.

If you are foolish enough to go there you will likely meet the Indonesian Navy long before you meet any pirates though - the entire area is closed to pleasure craft due to the civil war there!

For more information contact Phil Blake, the manager of Raffles Marina, who has cruised these waters for over 20 years.

email: philblake@rafflesmarina.com.sg

Feel free to mention my name and this posting BTW.

Mike Waters
Yacht ICHI, Raffles Marina Singapore
< End Quote >