Incident Date: 2018-09-15 at 02:30
Event Type: Burglary
Stolen Items: TBD
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: An unoccupied yacht was burgled overnight. (boat #7 of 7 burgled this same night, see prior reports)
Incident Date: 2018-09-04 at 01:30
Event Type: Attempted Theft
Stolen Items: Dinghy and engine
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: Unknown Hand Report
Incident Details: Owners were awakened by noise around 0130 HRs and quickly discovered that their yacht had been boarded and their dinghy/25HP outboard had been cut from its davits, by two thieves in an open fishing boat about 16-18 ft. in length. Shining a bright light and yelling by the captain caused the driver of the fishing boat to retrieve his partner from the stolen dinghy, which they abandoned before speeding off toward Chaguaramas, leaving behind the knife that had been used to cut the davit lines. The captain swam out and retrieved the dinghy, and the next day a report was made on the VHF net, to TTSA management, the Coast Guard and the police.
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.
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)
Incident Date: 2016-08-21 at 20:00
Event Type: Robbery
Stolen Items: Two mobile phones and cash
Secured: Does not apply
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: At approximatley 9:45 PM four adult family members were returning from the weekly Sunday school dancing event when they were accosted by 2 young men (about 20 years old) with machetes as they were preparing to launch their beached dinghy which had been locked to a tree near the carpark. The men demanded cash and grabbed one of the bags that had been put into the dinghy. The captain grabbed a paddle and the group started yelling loudly and the men fled into the woods. The police were summoned by security at the festival location and a full report was made.
Incident Date: 2016-08-02 at 06:30
Event Type: Attempted Piracy
Stolen Items: None
Secured: N/A
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: Three yachts left Grenada in the afternoon, bound for Trinidad. A float plan was filed with TTCG/NPR and Jesse James. The reporting captain attempted to call North Post Radio and Trinidad Coastguard on two separate occasions on VHF 16 during the voyage but did not get a response to either call. The first call was to NPR at approximately 1600, from a position about 5 miles south of the Grenada coast. The second call was to TTCG between midnight and 0100, about 3 miles directly east of the Hibiscus platform. The captain is confident his radio was working properly, he made contact with the other yachts (VHF 71) and also with the marina on arrival (VHF 16 and 72). During the passage he was able to listen to North Post Radio and heard them monitoring and conversing with other vessels.
After passing 3 miles east of the platform the yacht continued due south. The next morning (August 2) at approx. 0630, his yacht was motor sailing at about 3 knots and located 10 nm northeast of Boca Monos. The 2 other yachts, Buddy Boat 1 (BB1) and Buddy Boat 2 (BB2), were about 1 nm further east (BB1) and 2 nm further south (BB2). The yacht was approached by a white pirogue with 3 men onboard. The men in the pirogue spoke English and there were no fishing nets or any fishing gear in the pirogue. The yacht captain went to his starboard rail with his handheld VHF and in full view of the pirogue called the nearest buddy boat (BB1) to tell them what was happening. He describes the situation:
– The general attitude of the two men who spoke was aggressive and angry. With much shouting and waving of arms in the general direction of Trinidad – it seemed to me that they were telling me to slow down and not go any further ….the noise level was high since this was happening as they approached with their engine and our engine noise making communication indistinct and hard to make out initially. There was no doubt in my mind that this was not a friendly encounter.
– The pirogue pulled up alongside on our starboard side, and tried to get as close to my boat as was feasible. Two men were standing and one tried to hold on to the hull of my boat but the sea state was too rough and they pulled away about 1 meter.
– One of the men shouted across to us in an aggressive manner – asking what “sea area are we in?” – I replied that we were off the coast of Trinidad
– He then shouted across, pointing ahead…”what is that Island..?” – I replied Trinidad
– The second man then shouted across “what is that …” while gesticulating at the passage ahead …I took it to mean that they were trying to point out the Boca – I replied Boca Monos
– I updated BB1 on the situation, using my handheld VHF. This seemed to increase the agitation of the men in the pirogue.
– BB1 immediately turned directly towards us.
– Our VHF communication would have been audible to the men in the pirogue. They were obviously annoyed that I was speaking to someone. They were not asking directions, the conversation was heated; aggressive; menacing. There was absolutely no doubt that the “directions” were a ruse, we were being sized up.
– The men had a conversation amongst themselves and pulled away at high speed. They went eastwards in the general direction of BB1.
– They did not make any further approach to any of our vessels.
– We updated BB1 and BB2 and all 3 vessels continued towards Boca Monos.
– We did not attempt further calls to the coast guard at that time.
All three yachts arrived safely in Chaguaramas later that morning. The captain contacted Jesse James, who arranged and attended a meeting the next day with the TTCG Fleet Commander, where an official report was made. Based on details described by the reporting captain, TTCG indicated that the pirogue was likely from Trinidad. Follow up with Jesse James indicates that TTCG/NPR has assured him that they will continue to patrol the area and try to improve their communications.
Incident Date: 2016-06-25 at 11:59
Event Type: Attempted Piracy
Stolen Items: None
Secured: N/A
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: In the absence of a firsthand report CSSN has compiled information from multiple credible second hand sources, who spoke directly with the involved captain in Trinidad. A 65 ft. sailing yacht with 3 persons on-board on passage to Trinidad encountered what were felt to be probable "pirates" during daylight hours. The yacht's position was 2-5 miles east of the Hibiscus platform, and its sails would likely have been visible for 10-12 miles. A pirogue with 5-6 Spanish speaking men made multiple rapid approaches to the yacht, and began yelling (about fuel). One of the men in the pirogue appeared to have a holstered gun at his waist. The yacht captain began multiple evasive maneuvers and had crew "pose" as though they themselves were armed while visibly appearing to make VHF radio contact with TT Coast Guard, North Post radio and the Hibiscus platform itself. The emergency VHF radio calls were not answered. After about 15 minutes the pirogue gave up chase and departed to the west. The yacht continued onto Trinidad. No float plan had been filed with TTCG; it is unclear if any official reports have been made. CSSN will update this report if additional information becomes available.
Incident Date: 2015-12-27 at 10:30
Event Type: Piracy
Stolen Items: They took everything they could get: clothes, computer, cell phones, trinidad flag, clock, etc. TOTAL Value about $4,000us
Secured: N/A
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: Boarding and robbery between Trinidad and Grenada of a 32 foot sailing sloop three on board. The vessel had passed close west of Trinidad Hibiscus Gas Platform and was some 30 miles from Trinidad with 40 to go to Grenada.||At about 10am, when about 30 nautical miles from Trinidad, to the north and a little to the west of the Hibiscus Gas Platform, the sloop was approached from the eastern side by a pirogue. It was an unmarked pirogue which looked white (or slightly bluish) on the outside with a grey gunnel with a 130 hp outboard on the stern and a 150 hp outboard laying inside. The pirogue had three blue barrels in it, presumably containing extra fuel. Six persons were on board. They all spoke Spanish and one spoke broken English. Three boarded while the others kept gun barrels under cloth wraps pointed at crew. The people in the pirogue used what appeared to be a rifle but the captain could not say for sure as it was hidden by a piece of cloth. They took everything they could get: clothes, computer, cell phones, Trinidad flag, clock, etc. TOTAL Value about $4,000us They did not harm the occupants or harm the vessel but the pirates threatened to kill the captain if he called for help. The pirates were aboard for about 20 minutes. They remained cool and were not nervous or jumpy.||After the robbery the pirogue headed off in a s.w. Direction, towards Venezuela.||Reported to the TT coastguard and YSATT.
Incident Date: 2015-12-20 at 12:00
Event Type: Piracy
Stolen Items: Money, passports, cell phones, computers, food clothing and ship’s documents, cash, credit cards, wallets, clothes, luggage, watches, books, sailing gear, keys, food, miscellaneous electronics, toiletries, and other items.
Secured: N/A
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: On December 20 at approximately noon, a 24 meter (80 ft) sailing yacht was sailing from Chaguaramas Trinidad N. to Port Louis Grenada, at about the halfway point In the vicinity of the Hibiscus Gas platform or 30 miles N of Trinidad.
The crew were busy working on the backstay and didn’t notice the boat until it was right on their stern.
VEN Pen
Typical open style fishing boat sometimes used by bandits
It was an 18 ft narrow open boat, white hull with blue inside fishing type boat with 5 young men aboard. The fishing boat had 4 blue barrels that the crew guessed was extra fuel. They had a 120 hp Yamaha outboard engine, and an additional engine laying on the boat’s floor.
We were approached from the south astern by the men speaking Spanish apparently asking for something. Once close to the yacht, one individual pulled out a military type assault rifle and made it clear they were coming aboard. The crew was held at gunpoint the
BG Group Data book 2014 – Where we work – Trinidad & Tobago
Hibiscus Gas Platform location is in upper left of graphis with red circle.
entire time. 2 guys stayed in the boat, 2 went through the boat. 1 with the gun stayed with the captain and 2 yacht crew in the cockpit. The pirates below deck proceeded to put the valuables in bags and luggage found inside the boat, and transport said bags into their dinghy. No shots fired. They were aboard for approximately 15 minutes and took money and electronics. None of the 3 crew were injured. all three pirates on board, jumped back into their dinghy, and started motoring south, from the same direction in which they came. The yacht carried on to Grenada and reported the incident to the US Coast Guards, who reported to Trinidad and Grenada Coast Guards. At some point within the hour of reporting the incident to the USCG, the Trinidad and Tobago coast guard called the satellite phone to review the report that was forwarded to them via the USCG.
CSSN NOTE: CSSN original report was from sources directly in contact with captain and crew and was necessarily classified as second hand. The Captain of the yacht has now confirmed all the facts of this report directly to CSSN. The captain provided additional detail which has been edited into this report. This report is is updated to a first hand, confirmed report with quotes and information also taken from the Captain’s official written report to authorities.
Incident Date: 2015-11-28 at 00:00
Event Type: Vandalism
Stolen Items: Jumping from Jetty into Dingy which broke the underlining and broke my paddle
Tampered with my engine and took out my drain plug on the transom
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: In Charlotteville Tobago there are a bunch of young adults who are damaging dingies on purpose. When you leave your dingy at the dingy dock they jump from the dock onto your dingy breaking the underside and then into the sea and they are break your oars and take the drain plugs out of your transom. 28 November, they trashed my dingy and broke my Tohatsu motor and 29 November, they broke the oar of another dingy and stole the seat from a French dingy. They also stole the stern anchors of the Brazilian dingy a few days ago just leaving the rope behind. If you are going to come here best beware but its not safe to leave your dingy at the dock. Reported to Police.
