Suspicious Activity - The Caribbean Safety and Security Net

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

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

2694 – Suspicious Activity in Honduras – Offshore02

Incident Date: 2021-10-11 at 09:30

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A 38' catamaran traveling from Utila, Bay Islands, bound for Shelter Bay Marina, Panama, was approached on the port stern by 3 launchas at 0930HRS, at position 15â° 41.020`N and 082â° 40.975' W, approximately 50 miles off the coast of Honduras. The captain was sleeping in the cockpit, a crew member stepped into the cockpit, saw the launchas approaching approximately 50 yards off and alerted all hands, who immediately executed their previously agreed plan. ||The three crew presented themselves on deck with the intent to show menace, displaying what appeared to be a rifle, and a barking dog. No weapons were evident in the lead launcha and it fell back, continuing to match the yachts speed on the starboard side for a few minutes, then it turned and left on a beam run, followed by the other two launchas. The 3 launchas carried a total of 11-13 men. ||The crew continued their passage to Panama without further incident and planned to make official reports to officials there with the aid of marina personnel, as well as to their consulate.||Take the time to Know Before You Go! Having a well thought out and agreed amongst the crew plan is the best way to ensure a best possible outcome. ||Check out the CSSN dedicated Piracy Zoom-Tap, Know & Go maps to understand the facts about what has happened previously in the region, and be sure to review the helpful Piracy Precautions information as well. All on the CSSN website www. safetyandsecuritynet.org

October 11, 2021

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

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

2470 – Suspicious Activity in Grenada – Location – Listed – Grenada

Incident Date: 2019-02-02 at 20:00

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A 50 ft. catamaran with 5 persons onboard departed Fernando De Noronha, Brazil on 19 January 2019, northbound. To avoid small ships, their routing kept them well off the South American coast, 170 – 200 miles, in international waters. Before approaching the area of Trinidad and Tobago, they filed a float plan with the Trinidad/Tobago Coast Guard and monitored VHF 16/68 continuously. ||After passing 50 miles to the east of Tobago, at 8 PM on February 2, at position LAT: 12.27.0 N LONG: 060.47.39 W (approximately 66 miles north of Tobago and 38 miles off the east coast of Grenada) the watch detected a white and red light on the horizon, approaching.||The captain was awoken and confirmed that the light configuration had not altered course or changed bearing. The yachts radar MARPA target confirmed that there was no change on the vessels course. The yacht took immediate avoiding action, turning hard to starboard to pass the vessel port to port. The vessel altered its course to intercept the new course of the yacht. Another avoiding action was taken by the yacht, turning hard to port to pass starboard to the now suspect vessel. The suspect vessel yet again took an intercepting course and MARPA indicated a collision and an increase in speed of the suspect vessel to 6 knots. ||The yacht turned on its port engine and furled the sails and turned hard to starboard again. The suspect vessel yet again took an intercepting course and had now closed to about 2 miles. The suspect vessel turned on red and blue flashing lights in an attempt to approach the yacht, but made no radio contact. The suspect vessel continued its intercept approach and ended up within 200 meters while displaying red and blue flashing lights. ||The captain and crew recognized the ruse and non-legitimate nature of the light display. The yacht went dark, and engaged the starboard engine. With both engines at full rpm, they fled the impostor vessel at approximately 11 knots. The impostor vessel appeared limited to a speed of 6 knots, and continued its pursuit, but did not identify itself via AIS or make any radio contact. The yacht continued to make course changes over the next several hours as the impostor vessel continued to follow. The yacht arrived in Carriacou the following day, and made reports to Customs and Immigration officials there.| |CSSN NOTE: Legitimate marine/law enforcement officials (Trinidad/Tobago, Grenada, USCG) do NOT display flashing red/blue lights, the international standard is flashing/strobe blue, and make clear their intentions to approach closely/board with radio contact or loud hailer.

February 2, 2019

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

2221 – Suspicious Activity in Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad – Hibiscus Gas Platform

Incident Date: 2018-03-29 at 04:00

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: None

Secured:

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: During a night transit from Chaguaramas, Trinidad to Grenada at 0400 hours and approximately 6 nm South of the Hibiscus gas platform, a boat about a mile ahead and slightly off to port of the yachts track suddenly switched on an array of nonstandard lights, including a flashing red/green light, and two or three hand held lights. The yachts crew were monitoring VHF 16 and could not determine what this boat was doing or its intentions.

After a while they passed it port side to at about a quarter of a mile. The boat then motored around astern of the yacht, and began to follow, gradually closing to about 100yds astern over the next 20 minutes. Once it became clear they were being followed, the yacht went dark, all navigation lights and other visible lighting were doused. Defensive equipment was made ready on deck, and full speed on engine and full sail was made, approximately 7kts.

After an additional 20 minutes the suspect vessel dropped back, and once far enough away, the yacht changed course 60 degrees with intermittent further changes over time to make themselves more difficult to find, and to keep well clear of the normal Hibiscus direct route to Grenada. The crew had no doubt they had been checked out as a possible target for attack, and a full report was made to TTCG.

CSSN NOTE: Reminder, for those planning this passage there are several important and helpful resources available on the CSSN website. Review Prior piracy incidents in this area using the dedicated Piracy Zoom-Tap, Know & Go interactive map. Review the Piracy Precautions specific to this passage, and file a float plan by email with TTCG/YSATT.

March 29, 2018

2106 – Suspicious Activity in Trinidad and Tobago – Location – Listed – Trinidad and Tobago

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

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: none

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 2nd Hand Report

Incident Details: A local sport-fisherman cut lines and outran 3 masked Venezuelans who attempted an ambush from their open boat 12 miles off the north coast of Trinidad. A formal report was made to the TT Coast Guard. CSSN NOTE: TTCG continues air and sea patrols in this area, and all vessels are encouraged to file a float plan (link template here) with TTCG (link here)

January 19, 2017

Tag: Suspicious Activity Archives