Honduras - The Caribbean Safety and Security Net

2423 – Suspicious Activity in Honduras – Offshore06

Incident Date: 2019-12-05 at 14:00

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: none

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A yacht transiting from San Andreas, Colombia to Roatan, Honduras lost its engine and altered its planned offshore course, and tracked along the outer eastern/northern edge of the Gorda banks. Having sighted many fishing vessels during the passage, who took no interest in the yacht, around noon the crew became aware of a suspicious 60 ft. steel fishing vessel at position 16-23N 83-09W. ||The fishing vessel first passed in front of the yacht and then turned abruptly altering course and thereafter matched its track and speed to the changing course of the yacht for over an hour. No fishing gear or fishing activity was evident. A second large fishing vessel arrived and proceeded directly towards the yacht (also no fishing gear or fishing activity visible) and in what appeared to be coordinated activity, together they “boxed” the yacht, coming within about ½ mile of the yacht as the yacht continued to alter their westward course. || A VHF16 mayday call was made by the captain, but not answered. The 2 fishing vessels continued to track and box the yacht. After about 15 minutes a container ship appeared on the horizon and the captain made VHF16 contact with the ships officer, and described the situation. The 2 suspect fishing vessels became aware of the container ship and suddenly altered their course away from the yacht, turning from the westward course and began heading at full speed south in the direction of the Honduran coast. The container ships officer indicated he would file a report, and the yacht captain made a complete report (including photos) to the Port Captain in Roatan.

December 5, 2019

2405 – Theft in Honduras – Roatan – West End

Incident Date: 2019-09-03 at 23:00

Event Type: Theft

Stolen Items: Dinghy outboard, 2.5HP

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: One of two yachts in the anchorage discovered that the 2.5HP unlocked outboard had been removed from their in-the-water dinghy overnight. The yachts’ crew normal practice was to remove the engine at night, but they did not do so on this night and an opportunistic thief took advantage.

September 3, 2019

2371 – Suspicious Activity in Honduras – Location – Listed – Honduras

Incident Date: 2019-06-28 at

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: None

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A sailing vessel enroute from Providencia, Columbia to the Bay Islands, Honduras at 16 27.700' N 84 50.914' W at 22:45 sighted two boats off their bow approximately 5 nm away.||The crew on the vessel began monitoring a conversation on VHF 16 in Spanish involving three boats after hearing the word "velero" (sailboat). The VHF conversation eventually seemed to suggest that a plan was being made to attack the yacht. ||One of the captains was heard to say "I have no fish in my boat, let's see if we can put something else in it."||At this point, the yacht went dark and changed course 60-90 degrees to starboard. After about 30 minutes, one of the vessels that had been sighted was determined to be approaching on an intercepting course. This boat was raised on the bow and the stern like a typical Caribbean steel fishing boat of ~60 feet. About 1 hour later at 16 29.157'N, 84 58.678'W, the vessel had approached within 500ft but then stopped.||VHF 16 conversation resumed with one captain calling the other two boats, only one of which responded to hails. The yacht continued its course at maximum speed, with no further pursuit. A report was made to the port captain in Roatan after arrival.

June 28, 2019

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

2343 – Theft in Honduras – Roatan – North Coast

Incident Date: 2019-03-25 at 09:30

Event Type: Theft

Stolen Items: 3ipads, 1 iPhone, liquor, clothing, sunglasses,

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: Owners left their catamaran unlocked to go diving, and on their return discovered wet footprints onboard. The swimmer had brought a dry bag and had stolen 3 iPads, an iPhone, liquor, sunglasses, clothing and shoes. The owners found footprints and drag marks for the bag ashore. The police were notified.

March 25, 2019

2308 – Theft in Honduras – Roatan – West End

Incident Date: 2019-02-08 at 23:30

Event Type: Theft

Stolen Items: 9.9HP Nissan outboard

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: While the owners slept onboard, a thief boarded and stole the unlocked outboard from the rail mount of the yacht. A police report was made. A nearby yacht had its dinghy fuel tank stolen the same night.

February 8, 2019

2277 – Theft in Honduras – Roatan – West End

Incident Date: 2018-12-02 at 02:00

Event Type: Theft

Stolen Items: Two 80 cu ft dive tanks

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 2nd Hand Report

Incident Details: Overnight, while owners were sleeping, 2 boats each had an 80 cu ft dive tank stolen from their deck. It is not known if police reports were made.

December 2, 2018

2276 – Theft in Honduras – Utila

Incident Date: 2018-11-24 at 02:00

Event Type: Theft

Stolen Items: fishing rod

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 2nd Hand Report

Incident Details: Overnight, A fishing rod was stolen from an anchored yacht while owners slept, it is not known if a police report was made.

November 24, 2018

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

2226 – Suspicious Activity in Honduras – Location – Listed – Honduras

Incident Date: 2018-04-13 at 11:15

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: N/A

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A yacht transiting northward from Isla Providencia, Columbia to Grand Cayman, at a position of 15-45 N – 81-32 W was off the Gordo banks and traveling dark, and noticed a suspicious vessel on an intercept course from the WSW at 2245 HRS. At 2315 the suspect vessel was within a few hundred meters, displaying only running lights. The yacht assumed it was law enforcement and turned on its lights and made 3-4 calls on VHF 16 that were not answered. ||The suspect vessel continued to track on an intercept course and increased speed in clear pursuit. The yacht was now able to identify the large 70+ ft. boat as a fishing trawler type vessel. The yacht was making good speed with full sail and added engine to further increase speed and was able to outpace the suspect vessel, which after 20 minutes gave up the pursuit, then stopped dead and lit up. The captain believes he was a target of opportunity and that the trawler was on the banks to fish. ||CSSN NOTE: Routing, vigilance and preparation are important. Review summary piracy precautions specific to this area and other incidents on the dedicated regional piracy map, it's easy to Know Before You Go!|https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/piracy-passage-precautions-central-america/ |https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/regional-piracy-infographics/

April 13, 2018

Tag: Honduras Archives