Tag: Honduras Archives

Incident Date: 2025-08-04 at 13:00

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A yacht transiting from Guanaja, Bay Islands, Honduras to Grand Cayman altered course due to easterly winds and a developing tropical weather system, redirecting to Isla de Providencia, Colombia. The revised route traversed the Thunder Knoll area.

At position 16°00’34.4″N 81°02’31.3″W, approximately 145 nm NE of the Honduras/Nicaragua border, at 1300HRS, the southbound yacht encountered three traditional lobster fishing boats. The yacht passed the first vessel without incident. As it approached the second boat, the lobster boat altered course, turning eastward on an intercept course. The third boat, (also west of the yacht), was moving southward in parallel.

Concerned about these maneuvers, the yacht executed a 180-degree turn northward and increased separation to approximately one nautical mile. The second vessel subsequently repositioned itself southeast of the yacht’s location.

Faced with deteriorating sea conditions (2+ meter waves) from the east, the yacht turned southward planning to pass between the first and second lobster boats, which were separated by over one nautical mile. As the yacht came closer to the second vessel, it again altered course toward the yacht. Simultaneously, the third boat turned and maneuvered northward, attempting to block passage between the first and second boats.

The yacht immediately turned hard to port (SE) and proceeded at maximum speed on a beam reach in 18-20 knot winds. While the first vessel did not pursue, vessels two and three followed for approximately 3-4 hours before discontinuing pursuit.

The yacht had been scanning VHF continuously and no transmissions between the 3 boats were heard, and none of the lobster boats attempted contact with the yacht. There were no injuries and the catamaran continued its passage without further incident. A report was made to the Colombian Coast Guard on arrival in Isla de Providencia.

Incident Date: 2024-12-02 at 08:00

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: See 3442, #3||The third encounter was the next morning, 0800HRS December 2, at position 16-56.09N 80-49.64W, approximately 220 nmiles off the Honduran coast. A single fishing vessel again initiated an intercept course. Tacking again, the yacht increased speed and the gap and after about an hour the fishing vessel turned back. The yacht eventually turned southward leaving Serranilla bank to starboard and continued to the San Blas.

Incident Date: 2024-12-01 at 12:00

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: See 3442, location #2|The second encounter was at 1200HRS later that day at position 16-27.1N 82-26.6W, approximately 110nmiles off the Honduran coast. The 55ft. fishing vessel had altered course to intercept. The yacht|again altered course to NNW , again motorsailing at full speed. Another fishing vessel appeared astern, and a third was spotted to port at a distance of about 3 miles. After about an hour all 3 fishing vessels turned back. The crew decided not to cross the Thunder Knoll channel and tacked north several times before turning east.

Incident Date: 2024-12-01 at 05:00

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A yacht was making a planned passage under sail from Livingston, Guatemala to The San Blas Islands, Panama. Three times during the passage the crew encountered fishing vessels that behaved in a suspicious manner. No radio communications were heard/made at any time.||The first encounter was at 0500HRS December 1, at position 16-29.51N 82-55.47W, approximately 100 nmiles off the Honduran coast. The yacht noticed the fishing vessel had turned and began tracking them at a distance of approximately 2 miles. The yacht tacked quickly, added engines/speed and headed NNW. After about 30 minutes the gap widened and the fishing vessel abandoned the pursuit. ||The second encounter was at 1200HRS later that day at position 16-27.1N 82-26.6W, approximately 110nmiles off the Honduran coast. The 55ft. fishing vessel had altered course to intercept. The yacht | again altered course to NNW , again motorsailing at full speed. Another fishing vessel appeared astern, and a third was spotted to port at a distance of about 3 miles. After about an hour all 3 fishing vessels turned back. The crew decided not to cross the Thunder Knoll channel and tacked north several times before turning east. ||The third encounter was the next morning, 0800HRS December 2, at position 16-56.09N 80-49.64W, approximately 220 nmiles off the Honduran coast. A single fishing vessel again initiated an intercept course. Tacking again, the yacht increased speed and the gap and after about an hour the fishing vessel turned back. The yacht eventually turned southward leaving Serranilla bank to starboard and continued to the San Blas.