Attempted Piracy - The Caribbean Safety and Security Net

3629 – Attempted Piracy in Honduras – Offshore10

Incident Date: 2025-03-20 at 14:00

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: none, not successful

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A catamaran with 3 persons onboard departed Isla San Andres, Colombia for the Rio Dulce, Guatemala. At 1400HRS and position 15-25.6N 081-11.8W, approximately 125nmile off The Honduran coast and about 25nmiles south of the Thunder Knoll fishing shoals the crew observed 4 fishing boats approaching rapidly. The yacht altered course, putting on all sail/speed. The crew was monitoring VHF and there were no communications. ||The crew had discussed their plan before departure and gathered and then displayed multiple flare guns, a paint ball type weapon, a spear gun and a large fishing gaff. Three of the pursuing vessels were smaller, unable to keep up and fell away, coming no closer than about a ½ mile. The largest (4th) panga had 2 men wearing orange life jackets standing prominently near the bow and continued to pursue the yacht and approached to 200-300FT before they were able to see the crew’s very visible and ready preparation before they chose to end the pursuit. ||The yacht continued their passage without further incident and arrived safely in Guatemala. A report was made to the Honduran Navy by phone.

March 26, 2025

3022 – Attempted Piracy in Honduras – Offshore05

Incident Date: 2023-04-20 at 07:30

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: N/A

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A yacht transiting north from Providencia, Colombia to Caymans traveled in stealth mode (no lights, AIS Tx) overnight and observed a large fishing vessel on radar. At 0730HRS at position 15° 16.095N 81° 12.270W, approximately 100 miles off the coast, they had visually sighted the large steel vessel to port and it was tracking back and forth in a small area. As the yacht continued on its northly course they noted the fishing vessel had altered course and was now moving on a parallel course but closing the gap. The vessel attempted VHF communications with a trailing buddy boat, and the fishing vessel repeatedly |jammed their communications by continuously clicking over them. The buddy boats began using satellite texts. At a distance of about 1 mile the fishing vessel again altered course to intercept directly and put on speed, large amounts of dark smoke were now billowing from its exhaust. The buddy boat issued a pan pan, and the yacht activated their Iridium SOS feature and began voice communications with the emergency response team that included the USCG, Colombian Coast Guard, and the Nicaraguan military. None had assets in the immediate area but maintained continuous voice contact with the crew. The yacht put on all possible speed with sails and engine and turned sharply southeast, and the fishing vessel continued to follow at speed. At 8+knots the yacht was able to slowly increase the separation and after some time the fishing vessel gave up the pursuit, it remained in the area for several hours. Both yachts left the area and returned south.||A full report will be made by the crew at their next port of entry.

April 20, 2023

2576 – Attempted Piracy in Dominica – Location – Listed – Dominica

Incident Date: 2020-12-11 at 23:59

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: Unsuccessful piracy attempt

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 2nd Hand Report

Incident Details: Four(4) yachts were transiting from Martinique to Guadeloupe. At position 15.5432N 061.2407W , about 3 kilometres offshore Marigot, along the north eastern coast of Dominica, pirates first laser targeted and then attempted to board one of the yachts around midnight. The 2 pirates in an open boat were wearing hoods/balaclavas, had handguns and spoke english with an island accent. The boarding was not successful, and a report was made to French authorities.

December 11, 2020

2370 – Attempted Piracy in Honduras – Location – Listed – Honduras

Incident Date: 2019-06-27 at

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: None

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A monohull transiting from Providencia, Colombia to the Bay Islands, Honduras was approached by a white pilothouse fishing vessel ~ 45ft on June 27 at 00:00, position 16 20.486' N 82 57.469' W. The yacht deviated to starboard 20 degrees and the fishing vessel matched course change to follow. The yacht again deviated to starboard and started their engine and increased speed to 8 knots. The suspect vessel again took an intercept course and closed to within 150ft, then matched the yacht's speed and tried to come along aside. At this point, the yacht released sails and made a hard turn to port, passing behind the stern of the other vessel. They shut off all lights, changed course again and motor-sailed at 8 knots away from the vessel. The suspect vessel initially turned to follow but did not increase speed and eventually resume its original course. No attempt to contact on VHF 16 was made by either vessel. The sailboat continued its course to Roatan and encountered suspicious activity the following night (see related report). A report was made to the Port Captain in Roatan after arrival.

June 27, 2019

2337 – Attempted Piracy in Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad – Hibiscus Gas Platform

Incident Date: 2019-04-04 at 10:30

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: None, not successful

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: CSSN PRELIMINARY REPORT : A 53′ Trinidad flagged monohull transiting from Trinidad to Grenada with 2 persons onboard was approached by 8 pirates in an open piroque at 10:30 AM, at approximate position 11-24N, 61-36W, about 16 miles NNE of the Hibiscus gas platform, and 37 miles south of Grenada.

The pirates 40 ft. boat had 2 large outboards, was white/blue with an orange bow and approached from the east. The pirates fired warning shots into the air and indicated they wished the yacht to stop. It did not. Additional warning shots were fired as the helmsman attempted to use the VHF radio, which he did not. High seas prevented the piroque from successfully approaching and boarding as the yacht maintained full speed and began zigzag maneuvers. Additional shots were then fired at the boat and helmsman, damaging the hull and coach roof, but no injuries were sustained.

The pirates gave up and fled the area at high speed to the west. Reports were made by the victims on arrival in Grenada to both Grenada and Trinidad/Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG).

Yachting Services Association Trinidad/Tobago (YSATT) indicates that TTCG are on “High Alert” and have added assets and increased patrols in the area. As the overall situation in nearby Venezuela is not expected to improve, plans are being formulated to form escort/convoys. Float plans filed with TTCG and North Post Radio remain the best method for communicating with officals there.

Additional details are expected and CSSN will update this report when they are received.

April 4, 2019

2223 – Attempted Piracy in Honduras – Offshore

Incident Date: 2018-04-18 at 09:00

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: none, not successful

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: Two yachts departed Isla Providencia, Colombia for the Cayman Islands. They traveled northward together on a moonless night with lights and AIS. They were clear of the Gordo Banks region by about 30 miles. Feeling they were out of the piracy danger zone (see prior reports to CSSN) one of the boats raised full sail and began to pull away just before sunrise. || At 9 am the second yacht, a French flagged 51ft. monohull with a family of 5 onboard, at position 16-04.31N/81- 18.51W now more than 100 miles off the Honduran coast , sighted a fishing boat of about 10 meters overloaded with a dozen men onboard on an intersecting course. They attempted to contact their friends who were still in visual range on VHF 08, (which they had used sparingly overnight), but without success. They heard another conversation in a strange language/dialect (not Spanish/French/English) that included "barco grande, barco grande". When they tried to call their friends on VHF 16 the channel was immediately blocked by very loud, continuous music.| |The suspect pirate boat was able to pull parallel and close to 50 meters, and the occupants displayed a nervous and aggressive attitude. They were not friendly fishermen wanting to trade. No weapons were visible.||The yacht had put on all remaining sail and then attempted to add the engine, but it failed. Changing course to the SE put the pirate vessel at a disadvantage to the increasing wind and seas and the yacht was able to increase the distance separating the 2 vessels. Eventually the pirates fell back and the yacht turned northward. The yacht made contact with the French Coast Guard (Cross) by satellite phone, and the French Coast Guard maintained regular contact for the next several hours.| |At 5 PM, alerted by the French CG, the Honduran navy reached the yacht by satellite phone and advised in English that they were still in danger, and that there were now 2 armed Honduran Naval vessels approaching the area but outside VHF range, who would escort the yacht back to safe port in Honduras. The yacht declined, but welcomed the presence of the Honduran Navy, and continued northward toward their planned destination. ||Overnight and into the next day the French CG maintained regular satellite phone contact with the yacht, and later alerted officials in Cayman about the yachts expected arrival that evening, and their engineless status. They were met and assisted by Cayman CG/port officials to a mooring on arrival. ||CSSN would like to thank the volunteer translators who so kindly assisted with this report.

April 18, 2018

2188 – Attempted Piracy in Honduras – Location – Listed – Honduras

Incident Date: 2018-01-18 at 17:00

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: n/a

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A sailing yacht with 2 persons onboard departed Belize for Panama via Providencia. Off the Gordo Banks at 5PM at a position of 16*36.700N 082*17.280W they observed a small fishing boat with an enclosure on an intersecting course. They immediately altered course 90 degrees and noticed the small boat continued to attempt to follow. 2 other small fishing boats were spotted about 2-3 miles further away.||Listening to VHF they heard a discussion in Spanish about stealing a dingy (theirs was on the foredeck) and no other vessels were in the vicinity. The crew hailed a merchant vessel located about 15 nm away, and one of the small fishing boats made a false response, attempting to impersonate the merchant vessel. A private VHF DSC call was made to the merchant ship. Radar indicated that the small boats were unable to close the gap into difficult sea and wind conditions, and had fallen further out of range as it became dark. The yacht continued without lights or AIS transmit.||The next day VHF traffic in Spanish was overheard discussing "keeping a lookout for a white sailboat that got away last night".||The yacht continued to Providencia without further incident.

January 18, 2018

2181 – Attempted Piracy in Venezuela – Cabo Tres Puntas

Incident Date: 2017-12-28 at 10:00

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: none

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A monohull with 2 persons onboard departed Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela for Grenada. At 10 AM, 2 miles off the Paria peninsula, and approximately 10 miles east of Cabo Tres Puntas an open fishing boat with 6 men approached, displaying and firing multiple long guns into the air. The crew immediately altered course and turned offshore. When the pirates came closer the crew fired their flare gun directly at the pirates, and nearly hit them. The pirates, apparently understanding the fire hazard a burning flare would pose to their gasoline fueled boat turned away, dropped back and made no further approaches. The yacht then headed northwest and made safe port at Porlamar, Margarita, where a report was made to local officials.

December 28, 2017

2422 – Attempted Piracy in Nicaragua – Location – Listed – Nicaragua

Incident Date: 2017-06-16 at 10:00

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: unsuccessful

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: NOTE: CSSN has recently received this report from June 2017, and we are publishing now to share the victims firsthand information so it can be included in our incident database, and all maps (including the regional Piracy Maps) .Unfortunately, the victims only recently became aware of CSSN, and we encourage everyone to spread the word about CSSN so that all reports can be published in a timely way. ||A 33FT steel sailing yacht with 2 persons on board was transiting from Isla Providencia, Colombia to Roatan, Honduras. At 10AM at position 14-26N, 82-11W, approximately 65 miles off the Nicaraguan coast a 25ft launcha with 4 men onboard approached at high speed from the east in a menacing way. ||The captain, prepared with a firearm fired a warning shot as the launcha came within 50 meters. The pirates, aware of the warning shot paused briefly but then displayed machetes and resumed their approach. At the point of having their hands on the rails to begin boarding the captain fired his remaining loaded round very close to the pirate on the tiller. The pirates, apparently reconsidering the risk, departed.|| The yacht continued its passage without further incident.

June 16, 2017

2063 – Attempted Piracy in Trinidad and Tobago – Location – Listed – Trinidad and Tobago

Incident Date: 2016-08-02 at 06:30

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: None

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: Three yachts left Grenada in the afternoon, bound for Trinidad. A float plan was filed with TTCG/NPR and Jesse James. The reporting captain attempted to call North Post Radio and Trinidad Coastguard on two separate occasions on VHF 16 during the voyage but did not get a response to either call. The first call was to NPR at approximately 1600, from a position about 5 miles south of the Grenada coast. The second call was to TTCG between midnight and 0100, about 3 miles directly east of the Hibiscus platform. The captain is confident his radio was working properly, he made contact with the other yachts (VHF 71) and also with the marina on arrival (VHF 16 and 72). During the passage he was able to listen to North Post Radio and heard them monitoring and conversing with other vessels.

After passing 3 miles east of the platform the yacht continued due south. The next morning (August 2) at approx. 0630, his yacht was motor sailing at about 3 knots and located 10 nm northeast of Boca Monos. The 2 other yachts, Buddy Boat 1 (BB1) and Buddy Boat 2 (BB2), were about 1 nm further east (BB1) and 2 nm further south (BB2). The yacht was approached by a white pirogue with 3 men onboard. The men in the pirogue spoke English and there were no fishing nets or any fishing gear in the pirogue. The yacht captain went to his starboard rail with his handheld VHF and in full view of the pirogue called the nearest buddy boat (BB1) to tell them what was happening. He describes the situation:

– The general attitude of the two men who spoke was aggressive and angry. With much shouting and waving of arms in the general direction of Trinidad – it seemed to me that they were telling me to slow down and not go any further ….the noise level was high since this was happening as they approached with their engine and our engine noise making communication indistinct and hard to make out initially. There was no doubt in my mind that this was not a friendly encounter.
– The pirogue pulled up alongside on our starboard side, and tried to get as close to my boat as was feasible. Two men were standing and one tried to hold on to the hull of my boat but the sea state was too rough and they pulled away about 1 meter.
– One of the men shouted across to us in an aggressive manner – asking what “sea area are we in?” – I replied that we were off the coast of Trinidad
– He then shouted across, pointing ahead…”what is that Island..?” – I replied Trinidad
– The second man then shouted across “what is that …” while gesticulating at the passage ahead …I took it to mean that they were trying to point out the Boca – I replied Boca Monos
– I updated BB1 on the situation, using my handheld VHF. This seemed to increase the agitation of the men in the pirogue.
– BB1 immediately turned directly towards us.
– Our VHF communication would have been audible to the men in the pirogue. They were obviously annoyed that I was speaking to someone. They were not asking directions, the conversation was heated; aggressive; menacing. There was absolutely no doubt that the “directions” were a ruse, we were being sized up.
– The men had a conversation amongst themselves and pulled away at high speed. They went eastwards in the general direction of BB1.
– They did not make any further approach to any of our vessels.
– We updated BB1 and BB2 and all 3 vessels continued towards Boca Monos.
– We did not attempt further calls to the coast guard at that time.

All three yachts arrived safely in Chaguaramas later that morning. The captain contacted Jesse James, who arranged and attended a meeting the next day with the TTCG Fleet Commander, where an official report was made. Based on details described by the reporting captain, TTCG indicated that the pirogue was likely from Trinidad. Follow up with Jesse James indicates that TTCG/NPR has assured him that they will continue to patrol the area and try to improve their communications.

August 2, 2016

Tag: Attempted Piracy Archives