Nicaragua - The Caribbean Safety and Security Net

2704 – Suspicious Activity in Nicaragua – Offshore – 2

Incident Date: 2021-10-30 at 05:50

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: nothing

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A catamaran with 3 persons onboard departed Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras, for Isla San Andreas, Colombia. At 0550 hours at position 14-45.8N 082-43.6W, approximately 35 miles off the Nicaraguan coast approaching the Edinburgh channel, they were approached by an open boat with 5 men onboard who began shouting for them to stop, coming as close as 75 meters, no weapons were displayed. The crew presented a show of force and the boat slowed and tracked the yacht but then departed as a squall reduced visibility. Map marker 2704||At approximately 0800 at position 14-45.8N 082-43.6W the same skiff with 5 men returned at high speed with the bimini top removed and 2 of the men standing on the bow. They came within 25 meters of the yacht in rough seas holding a dead lobster. The crew presented a stronger show of force and aggressively shouted to get away while throttling up to 11 knots and making evasive maneuvers. After about 20 minutes the boat gave up and departed. Map marker 2711||At 0945 hours, now 50 nautical miles offshore, (N14-31.4N 082-26.3W) two different skiffs containing 11 men approached at high speed from port with one moving to approach from the stern. The yacht resumed evasive maneuvers and again presented a show of force. The 2 skiffs regrouped about 100 meters behind and tracked for 30 minutes before disappearing. Map marker 2712||The yacht continued to San Andres without further incident. A report was made to the Port Captain and the Colombian Coast Guard. A report to the home country consulate was planned.

October 30, 2021

2711 – Suspicious Activity in Nicaragua – Offshore – 3

Incident Date: 2021-10-30 at 08:00

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: nothing

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: At approximately 0800 at position 14-45.8N 082-43.6W the same skiff with 5 men returned at high speed with the bimini top removed and 2 of the men standing on the bow. They came within 25 meters of the yacht in rough seas holding a dead lobster. The crew presented a stronger show of force and aggressively shouted to get away while throttling up to 11 knots and making evasive maneuvers. After about 20 minutes the boat gave up and departed. Event #2 of 3||See also map marker 2704, 2712

October 30, 2021

2712 – Suspicious Activity in Nicaragua – Offshore – 4

Incident Date: 2021-10-30 at 09:45

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: nothing

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: At 0945 hours, now 50 nautical miles offshore, (N14-31.4N 082-26.3W) two different skiffs containing 11 men approached at high speed from port with one moving to approach from the stern. The yacht resumed evasive maneuvers and again presented a show of force. The 2 skiffs regrouped about 100 meters behind and tracked for 30 minutes before disappearing. Event 3 of 3.||See also markers 2704 and 2711

October 30, 2021

2338 – Piracy in Nicaragua – Location – Listed – Nicaragua

Incident Date: 2019-04-11 at 17:42

Event Type: Piracy

Stolen Items: everything from deck, 12 scuba tanks, RIB dinghy, liferaft , all dive gear, stern anchor , all navigation electronics +

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A Canadian flagged yacht with 4 persons onboard departed Roatan, Honduras for Isla Providencia, Colombia. At 1742 HRS, at a position of 14-50N, 82-47W, approximately 23 miles ESE of Cabo Gracias a Dios, they were approached by 2 local fishing boats (pangas) with about 10-12 men. Initially they asked for food and drink, which the crew provided. The 2 pangas drifted back a bit and were seen making calls on handheld VHF radios. Two (2) additional pangas then arrived, and all 4 (now 20-25 men in total) surrounded the yacht, and began ramming the yacht, damaging the stern ladder and swim platform, damaging the hull on both sides, and then began boarding the yacht.||The crew had begun MAYDAY calls on VHF and retreated and secured themselves safely below, protected by interior security bars that covered all hatches and companionways. Mayhem ensued topsides, as the pirates ransacked and destroyed sails, halyards, cushions, etc. The pirates used fishing knives and the yacht's heavy winch handles to smash all port lights, the pilothouse windows, and the plexiglass hatch (which they then discovered was protected by interior security bars). The pirates proceeded to steal all electronic and navigation equipment, scuba tanks, scuba gear, the yachts RIB dinghy, liferaft and various other items.| |The crew continued with VHF MAYDAY calls (no response) and activated DSC (no response). They activated the SOS function on their inReach satellite communicator and received prompt text replies, indicating the Nicaraguan Navy had been informed of the situation, but could not give a time of arrival on the scene. After about 40 minutes the pirates had seemingly exhausted themselves, and stolen, discarded overboard or destroyed almost everything within reach of the topsides.| |The 4 pangas departed back toward the Nicaraguan coast. The yacht proceeded under power and set course directly away from the coast, to Providencia, and arrived there the next afternoon having had no contact from the Nicaraguan Navy. Reports were made to the Colombian Port Captain and Coast Guard. Some repairs were effected and the yacht will soon continue on to Panama, where further repairs will be made and a report will be made to Canadian consular officials.| |This event differed in some respects from prior small boat piracy events in the region. Please review the CSSN Central America regional Piracy Zoom-Tap, Know&Go interactive infographic for complete information on those events, and review the CSSN region specific Piracy Precautions Central America page. A well thought out and executed plan protected this crew from physical harm.| |Additional details and insights provided by the captain are available here, on Noonsite, a longtime CSSN partner.

April 11, 2019

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

2094 – Piracy in Nicaragua – Media Luna Cays

Incident Date: 2016-12-20 at 10:00

Event Type: Piracy

Stolen Items: all extra diesel stored in containers, mobile phones, money, clothes, food, fishing equipement, navigation aids, personal effects, various sailing equipement

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A yacht owner and friend were sailing a 12m monohull from Bocas del Toro, Panama to Belize. Passing 30-40 miles off the shallow coast of Nicaragua, it had been a difficult and tiring trip so they decided to make a rest stop in the uninhabited Media Luna Cays. At 10 AM while underway they were approached at high speed by 2 pangas (longboats with outboards), each with 4 men onboard. They seemed friendly initially and asked for a drink, and were given a few beers. Then suddenly many more boats appeared over the horizon, making thirteen in all, and the intentions of the assembled group became clear. They overwhelmed the yacht, and were raucous and menacing while their visible knives remain sheathed. They attempted to “guide” the boat onto the reef where 2 other wrecked boats were visible. When the yacht veered away they became more aggressive and began to ram into the side of the yacht, causing damage to the hull and port lights. The crew managed to keep sailing as they were boarded by 25-30 men, with another 30 or so men in the remaining pangas. A larger boat with a cabin and radio antenna carried the leader. He boarded and demanded to search the boat for cocaine. The crew negotiated a truce of sorts with the leader and allowed him (only) to search below. Some of the others forced their way below anyway, and along with the many pirates topsides helped themselves to fuel, food, cash, cellphones, fishing gear, clothing, marine electronics and anything they could remove. The crew protested when they took gear necessary to their continued travel and in a few cases it was reluctantly returned by the leader. The leader seemed proud of his control over his assistants and eventually forced them up and off the yacht. He asked for a reward for keeping his word, and pointed to a small Wi-Fi speaker, which he was given. The pirate leader and crew thanked each other and shook hands. The pirates then departed and the crew continued onto Belize, where they made a report to the Cucumber Beach Marina on arrival. They were relieved the pirates had remained nonviolent, after not finding the cocaine that they had apparently expected to commandeer. A courtesy report to the regional British High Commission (consulate) has been made.

December 20, 2016

2010 – Attempted Piracy in Nicaragua – Offshore

Incident Date: 2016-01-27 at

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Unknown

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A large motor yacht was on passage between Colon, Panama and Roatan, Honduras off the coast of Nicaragua north of Isla Providencia (Colombia) when a 60 foot steel fishing boat attempted to ram and board them. At full speed (14 knots) the motor yacht was able to successfully outrun the pirates. A report was made to the US Coast Guard.||CSSN UPDATE First hand report just in from the victims: "Pirates tried to ram and board us off the coast of Nicaragua. They gave chase and at full speed we were able to outrun them. A warning to all cruisers needs to be initiated. We were in transit from Colon, Panama to Roatan, Honduras. We were taking the outside route north of la Providencia ." The vessel was a 60 foot steel vessel- white and blue. Very good condition. Boat name – Mister Henson. Fishing Vessel with crab fence. No other fishing equipment. Minimum of 6 men aboard.||Time 11 am Wednesday morning, January 27. Location :N14*30'13.0 W 081*55'41.9 The Captain was communicating with other boat/partner name Reynaldo. They switched to SSB and we're discussing money. Additional CSSN sources advised: A "Quick [internet] search [revealed the existence of a] Mister Henson IMO # 9064607 trawler built 1992 by Rodriguez Boat Builders Bayou La Batre Alabama. The tonnage is way high to be the boat at 120 ton. But it is flagged Honduras and a search of the builder shows expedition trawlers of 70 feet. If the 120 ton is a typo this is the boat.

January 27, 2016

1985 – Attempted Piracy in Nicaragua – Location – Listed – Nicaragua

Incident Date: 2015-10-12 at 16:00

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: None

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: Attempted boarding by 4 men in a skiff.||Before they got close enough to jump on board we displayed weapons and they backed off. They followed us for about 15 minutes until we called a pan pan distress call.||Reported to Police, Coast Guard, Port Captain, Local VHF Net.

October 12, 2015

Tag: Nicaragua Archives