Piracy - The Caribbean Safety and Security Net

3439 – Piracy in Venezuela – Offshore04

Incident Date: 2024-12-07 at 05:00

Event Type: Piracy

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A catamaran with 2 persons onboard was under sail on passage from Los Roques, Venezuela to Grenada. At position 11-27.976N 063-23.585W approximately 20 nmiles WNW of Los Testigos at 0500HRS the yacht was approached by a panga with 3-4 men, and boarded by 2 armed pirates. ||One crew was on watch but inside when the sound of the approaching panga was heard. Returning to the cockpit she found it was only 10 meters away. She immediately went below to awaken the other crew member who was sleeping and then she returned to the cockpit. The second crew member came on deck through a hatch in the forward sleeping quarters as the 2 masked/hooded men began to board the boat. The crew member who was forward was able to intercept the first pirate and force the gun from his hand, disarming him before pushing him off the boat. The gun went into the water. It is unclear if the pirate fell into the water or the panga. He then went aft to aid the other crew member who was engaged with the second pirate who was attacking her with a short club of some sort. Unseen from behind, the other crew member was able to punch the second pirate in the head and neck sending him overboard between the 2 boats. ||The crew added engines for maximum speed as they got underway and altered course, going dark by dousing all lights and AIS. Satellite calls were made to friends and then to the Grenada Coast Guard. They do not think the pirates pursued, and they made safe landfall the following day in Grenada. They treated their injuries and did not require medical assistance. A report was made to the Grenada Coast Guard and reports to their consulates are also planned.

December 7, 2024

3196 – Piracy in Colombia – Offshore01

Incident Date: 2023-12-29 at 08:00

Event Type: Piracy

Stolen Items: batteries,cables,sails,fenders +++

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A singlehander departed Santa Marta, Colombia, for the San Blas islands (Panama) and was attacked by pirates about 5 miles offshore Barranquilla, Colombia. The 3 pirates boarded and attacked the captain, beating him and then stabbing him with a knife they found onboard. They made 3 trips to his boat over a few hours time and stole many things including batteries, cables, sails, blocks, fenders +++ and they destroyed electronics.|| The captain was able to make phone contact with a friend in his home country between visits and they contacted their local rescue authorities who then made contact with the Colombian Coast Guard. ||The injured captain continued to repel the pirates' later visits with a hammer and flares, and cut a line they were using in an attempt to tow him toward shore. The pirates finally gave up. The Colombian Coast Guard arrived at the yacht about 30 minutes after the final visit by the pirates and provided assistance and then towed the yacht back to Santa Marta marina where the captain was taken by ambulance to the hospital, treated and kept overnight. ||Reports were made to the Coast Guard and the marina.

December 29, 2023

2775 – Piracy in Honduras – Offshore03

Incident Date: 2022-03-18 at 10:00

Event Type: Piracy

Stolen Items: cash, binoculars, handheld VHF, old laptop, alcohol and sunglasses

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A yacht with 2 persons on board was transiting from San Andres, Colombia to Roatan, Honduras and passed through a fleet of about 10 small fishing boats, near position 15-16N, 082-50W, 25 miles off the Honduran coast and west of the Media Luna reef. A short time later at about 1000HRS, they were approached by a single open boat with 6 men onboard, and 5 men boarded. No weapons were displayed and they were told in Spanish "no guns, no calls, no problem". The pirates were a mix of young and old, some aggressive, some apparently drunk. ||The pirates demanded cash. The crew continued to execute their previously agreed piracy plan and complied quickly and willingly, and the pirates were satisfied with the readily available (sacrificial) stash of cash, an old laptop, and a few other items (handheld VHF, binoculars, sunglasses, alcohol) . ||The 5 men returned to their launcha after about 30 minutes onboard and departed eastward. The yacht continued on to Roatan without further incident.

March 18, 2022

2689 – Piracy in Venezuela – Offshore

Incident Date: 2021-09-15 at 08:30

Event Type: Piracy

Stolen Items: Cash, food, alcohol, liferaft, clothing, shoes, sunglasses, phone charger

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A single handed yacht on passage from Curacao to Brazil having passed well north of Margarita Island, Venezuela, was boarded at 0830HRS by Spanish speaking pirates 15 miles offshore the Paria Peninsula at position 10-58.744N 062-38.279W along the north eastern coast of Venezuela.||Initially two (2) open boats with multiple large, new outboards and twenty (20) men took control. The pirates were all armed with automatic weapons and handguns. They beat the captain and forced his yacht close to shore in this remote and sparsely populated area. There was a well established house/camp and other armed men visible ashore. Two (2) additional boats (total 4) and men (total 40) then spent four (4) hours threatening the captain with their weapons and ransacking/searching the yacht while he was forced to circle close to shore. The pirates repeatedly demanded cash, which was surrendered. They also took all alcohol/beverages and food, as well as clothing, shoes and sunglasses. The pirates took the yacht’s liferaft, but had no interest in the dinghy or outboard, laptop, the yacht’s electronics, the captain’s credit cards or his cell phone. The pirates did take the phone charger. They were fairly well organized and under the control of “the boss” who communicated with his men and the captain by VHF. ||Eventually the pirates were satisfied they had taken all they wanted, and the captain asked the pirate boss for some small food and diesel so he could depart and continue his voyage. It was provided with a proviso to go and never look back. The yacht proceeded and made safe harbor in Chaguaramas, Trinidad. Assistance was provided by a cruiser who noticed the distressed state of the captain. ||The captain was visited by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard who took a full report, he also talked with his consular officials. He was tested and put into 14 day (onboard) Covid quarantine, with limited but necessary support provided by a shore-side marina and boatyard. ||CSSN would like to thank everyone who has supported this cruiser during a difficult time made even more so because of Covid restrictions and regulations. ||Subscribe to (FREE) CSSN email ALERTS!, stay well informed and Know Before You Go!

September 15, 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

2176 – Piracy in Honduras – Offshore

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

Event Type: Piracy

Stolen Items: cash,phone,GPS,computer,dive gear,fishing gear,food,medicine,rum and many small items

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A single hander departed Livingston, Guatemala for Isla de Providencia, Colombia. At noon, when about 35 miles offshore of the Honduras/Nicaragua border he was boarded while motoring by 20 men in 3 pirogues.||The pirates did NOT display any weapons, but simply overran the yacht. The captain did not resist in any way. The pirates ransacked the yacht for about an hour. They “”””took everything””””, cash, phone, GPS, computer, dive gear, fishing gear, food, medicine, rum and many small items. The captain was able to negotiate with the leaders and was allowed to keep a navigational computer and a small GPS, as well as some jerry jugs of diesel. The pirates asked for drugs (there were none) before finally departing.||There were no injuries. The captain describes that damage to the yacht was out of ignorance, not malice. A report was made to Colombian officials in Providencia on arrival.

October 28, 2017

2142 – Piracy in Honduras – Puerto Cortes Naval Base Yard

Incident Date: 2017-04-13 at 08:00

Event Type: Piracy

Stolen Items: VHF, SSB. EPIRB, flares, outboard engine, binoculars, smartphones, tools,security items, clothing, suitcases, toiletries and many more small items

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A sailing vessel departed the Rio Dulce, Guatemala intending to visit Utila, Honduras. They were motor sailing in light winds and at 8:00 AM, they were about 10 miles off the coast and were boarded by pirates. 4 men boarded (2 armed with handguns) and 1 remained in the open fishing boat. ||The pirates were very aggressive, and fired their guns several times very close to the heads of the crew to ensure compliance. The crew spoke French and pretended not to "understand" while the boat was ransacked for about 1 hour. ||The pirates took everything they could, while taking no precautions to conceal their identities. Once satisfied with their haul they departed in the direction of the Honduran coast. ||There were no injuries to the crew. The yacht was able to make radio contact with the Puerto Cortes naval base and routed there to make reports to the Coast Guard, Police and Port Captain.

April 13, 2017

2099 – Piracy in Honduras – Location – Listed – Honduras

Incident Date: 2017-01-19 at 20:00

Event Type: Piracy

Stolen Items: iPads, electronics, rum

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: Preliminary Report : Chris Parker has provided the following information from a Weather Center subscribing yacht currently transiting from west Panama to the Yucatan. The yacht was boarded late on the 19th off Gordo Bank by pirates who seemed to be looking for drugs. Finding none, they took iPads, small electronics and rum. No injuries. No further information is currently available but a detailed report is expected once the yacht reaches its destination.||CSSN UPDATE 2017-01-26: Victims have provided a detailed FIRST HAND REPORT:|A 40 ft. monohull sailing from Panama passed over Gorda Banks at night with their AIS turned off. Passing Gorda Cay, they saw several fair sized fishing boats at the cay. A couple of hours later as they were exiting the banks about 10 miles NW of Gorda Cay, a panga tried to approach but was not able to overtake them, they were sailing quite fast.||The too-slow panga left but the men returned in a larger panga. Seeming friendly, they were fairly young and asked for food. They wouldn't leave the yacht alone, came close and were thrown a pineapple. They seemed happy and went away. A while later, another panga with several young men caught up with the yacht and asked for liquor. They were persistent but friendly and were tossed a six pack of beer. They also went away seeming happy. Then a third panga with a few men came asking for liquor. They were told they didn't have any and were tossed a melon. They went away.||Meanwhile the crew had texted friends using their Delorme InReach satellite texting system, alerting them that they were being pursued and didn't know if these were just desperate fishermen or pirates. At about 12 noon 4 pangas with a total of about 30 men approached and the crew activated the DSC distress signals on the SSB and VHF. Their InReach contact alerted the US Coast Guard in Baltimore, MD, to the changing situation.|The pirates signaled for everyone to put their hands up as they boarded. The lead panga carrying a man they all called "Boss" came alongside, bumping against the hull, and demanded in Spanish that they stop the engine. Faced with overwhelming force, they turned more into the wind and slowed down but pleaded ignorance as to their understanding of Spanish.||Several men boarded the boat. One had a knife that he continuously tapped on top of the chartplotter at the helm. One of the other men spoke some English and told the crew he wanted his men to go below and "inspect" the boat. He was told that only 2 at a time could go down, but several went down anyway. They turned off the SSB and VHF distress signals and ransacked the boat. They opened every cupboard and floorboard presumably looking for drugs. The English speaking pirate reported to ""Boss"" and when they found no drugs, the pirates down below took whatever they wanted, the most valuable of which included an iPad, a GPS, foul weather gear and shoes. Oddly, they did not ask for money. The "Boss" told them to finish up and the English speaking pirate made the crew shake hands as if this were a normal business transaction. The pirates motored away, and the crew continued sailing onward.||The crew was grateful that they were not harmed. Official reports to authorities will be made after the yacht reaches the US mainland.

January 19, 2017

2100 – Piracy in Honduras – Location – Listed – Honduras

Incident Date: 2017-01-19 at 10:00

Event Type: Piracy

Stolen Items: Computers, smartphone, cash, electronics, binocular , vhf and handheld radios, alcohol, clothing

Secured: Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A French flagged catamaran departed Isla Providencia (Colombia) for Rio Dulce, Guatemala on 1/18/2017 at 8 AM. Travelling well offshore the Nicaraguan coastline, they turned OFF their AIS transmitter but monitored all traffic closely. They noticed only a few cargo or fishing vessels.||At 0830 on the morning of the 19th, after traveling 175 nm, now located 70 nm off the Nicaraguan coast and 35 nm ESE of the Hobbies islands they were approached by a single panga from the north with 6-7 men who asked for water and food. They were provided. At 0900 the same panga returned asking for more, and a pack of cigarettes was given, while suddenly 2 more fishing boats with 40 HP outboards approached at high speed from the south with 6-7 additional men. They converged on the catamaran, rammed and boarded the yacht, now visibly armed with knives and iron bars. Some of the pirates beat the locked doors and gained entry to the cabin while the others scavenged on deck. The leaders seemed to be looking for drugs, but found none. The pirates took computers, a smartphone, cash, assorted electronics, binoculars, VHF and handheld radios, alcohol, clothing, anything that they could grab or remove. After about an hour they departed.||Using a previously hidden VHF the crew made contact with a nearby merchant cargo ship which then contacted the Colombian navy and piracy agency while diverting in their direction. At 1030 AM a single panga returned with a mixed group of 8 of the youngest of the original pirates and again boarded, holding knives to the throats of the crew, this time attempting to sever the locked to the yacht dinghy/outboard. They were not successful and became nervous when they heard a VHF transmission from the approaching cargo vessel. The second group of pirates departed. The crew again made radio contact with the cargo vessel who took all necessary information and agreed to inform Colombian officials, the yacht declined further assistance and both vessels returned to their intended courses. The yacht proceeded to Guanaja, Honduras without further incident. They arrived on Friday January 20, and began the process of filing official reports with the police, port captain, Honduran navy and piracy agencies. Much had been stolen, there was damage to the yacht, but no injuries.

January 19, 2017

2098 – Piracy in Honduras – Puerto Cortes Naval Base Yard

Incident Date: 2017-01-13 at 17:30

Event Type: Piracy

Stolen Items: Hand held electronics, wall mounted TV, RIB dinghy and outboard, cash, alcohol, dive gear, passports

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A US flagged sailing yacht with the owner/captain and 1 Canadian crew member onboard departed Puerto Cortez for Roatan. After 10 hours of sailing in strong easterlies and current they had made 13 miles of easting and were 5 miles off the coast.

At sunset they were approached and boarded from the west by a panga with 8 men onboard, with weapons drawn. The two pirates armed with semiautomatic guns immediately took control of the captain, who quickly made it clear he would comply with their wishes. Two men remained in the panga, while the 4 remaining pirates began pilfering the boat, roughing up the female crew member as she retrieved the demanded cash. During the 15 minutes they were ransacking the yacht the pirates took hand held electronics, a wall mounted TV, cash, alcohol, dive gear, and passports, as well as the RIB dinghy/outboard which was launched off the deck. The pirates departed to retrieve the dinghy and the yacht continued onward to Roatan. The captain believes his compliant and non-threatening posture prevented injury or worse.

After a difficult night with limited navigation and communications capability their radio call was answered by a US Navy surveillance airplane, that then overflew them and arranged for continued airborne escort to Roatan. The US Navy had arranged a warm welcome and official reports were made to the police, port captain and Honduran coast guard. The supporting consulates provided additional assistance with communications and passport replacement.

January 13, 2017

Tag: Piracy Archives