Venezuela - 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

3394 – Assault in Venezuela – Offshore03

Incident Date: 2024-10-10 at 03:30

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A monohull singlehander departed Grenada for Colombia. Unfortunately bad weather and rough conditions led to equipment failures and some injuries(broken ribs). At position 12-09.3N and 069-34.8W, approximately 40 nmiles from Venezuela and 50nmiles from Aruba at 0330HRs the captain was motorsailing with AIS Tx OFF and only the anchor light showing. No other vessels/lights were visible to the yacht. ||The captain was injured when a bullet crossed from the port side, into the open cockpit enclosure, passed in front of his face and ricocheted off the cockpit enclosure frame and then grazed his hand. No vessels could be seen nearby, no further shots were fired, and no vessel approached. The captain diverted north to Aruba and contacted port control on arrival. He was met by the Coast Guard, three of them boarded, provided assistance in anchoring and took a report. The normal inspections were made. The captain treated his own injuries and did not require medical assistance.

October 10, 2024

3047 – Suspicious Activity in Venezuela – Offshore02

Incident Date: 2023-07-07 at 13:00

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: At 1100HRS a yacht on passage from Grenada to Colombia was approximately 60 nmiles north of Los Roques,Venezuela at position 12-49.9N, 66-18.3W when the crew noticed that a fishing boat had altered course and was on an intercept course and closing, for about 45 minutes. ||The fishing vessel GLADIADOR did not make radio contact and came within 200m before the yacht abruptly changed course and sail plan to attain maximum speed. The fishing vessel attempted to follow but was no longer able to close the distance, and gave up the pursuit. The yacht tracked the fishing vessel on radar for another 2 hours, before turning to resume their course towards Colombia, where they arrived safely a few days later.

July 7, 2023

2805 – Suspicious Activity in Venezuela – Offshore01

Incident Date: 2022-05-25 at 23:30

Event Type: Suspicious Activity

Stolen Items: N/A

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: Two yachts transited together from Grenada to Bonaire, with lights and AIS ON, on a planned course 80-100 miles off the mainland and well north of the offshore Venezuelan islands. At about 2130HRS they had an unusual VHF communication initiated by a passing cargo vessel, warning them of "bad weather ahead" and inquiring about their destination and the number of persons onboard (POB). The yacht responded that they were 2 boats traveling together to Bonaire, ignoring the POB question. ||Shorty thereafter, at position 13-14N 65-35W, about 120 miles NW of Isla Blanquilla they observed 2 small fishing type boats following, and over a 2 hour period the suspect boats had closed to within about 100 meters, and between the 2 yachts, which had been traveling on parallel courses about 1 mile apart. The yacht notified their buddy boat by VHF, both powered up their engines, put on speed and made a course change, moving closer together. Both yachts continued onto Bonaire without further incident.

May 25, 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

2181 – Attempted Piracy in Venezuela – Cabo Tres Puntas

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

Event Type: Attempted Piracy

Stolen Items: none

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A monohull with 2 persons onboard departed Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela for Grenada. At 10 AM, 2 miles off the Paria peninsula, and approximately 10 miles east of Cabo Tres Puntas an open fishing boat with 6 men approached, displaying and firing multiple long guns into the air. The crew immediately altered course and turned offshore. When the pirates came closer the crew fired their flare gun directly at the pirates, and nearly hit them. The pirates, apparently understanding the fire hazard a burning flare would pose to their gasoline fueled boat turned away, dropped back and made no further approaches. The yacht then headed northwest and made safe port at Porlamar, Margarita, where a report was made to local officials.

December 28, 2017

1972 – Assault in Venezuela – Manamo River

Incident Date: 2015-05-24 at 23:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: silver coins and other items

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: While the Manamo River/Orinoco Basin are not in the strictest sense part of the Caribbean, cruisers from Trinidad/Tobago have often chosen to explore this remote area. CSSN has received a first hand report from a single hander who was boarded, restrained and held at gunpoint while his boat was ransacked on the night of 24 May 2015. Six men boarded from a (stolen) engine-less boat, ransacked the yacht and stole valuable silver coins and other items. The captain did not resist, he was tied up, his head covered with a shirt, but left unharmed. He later reported the incident to the Guardia, who showed little interest and did not follow up. For additional details see a summary report posted in Noonsite here http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Venezuela/venezulea-manamo-orinoco-assault-robbery

May 24, 2015

1943 – Assault in Venezuela – Puerto Cabello

Incident Date: 2015-03-07 at 07:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: 3 occupied weekend motorboats were boarded around 10AM Saturday morning by thieves armed with guns , those on-board were sequestered in cabins, the boats were then ransacked and pillaged. The criminals then stole 1 of the 3 boats to depart.

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: Three families in weekend motor yachts were boarded about 10 AM by men armed with guns near Cayo Sur, which is located between Puerto Cabello and Chichiriviche in Morrocoy National Park. The 3 boats/occupants were taken to a remote location, the vessel occupants locked below in cabins and the boats ransacked/pillaged . At 4 PM when the criminals were done, they took one of the 3 boats and departed. From Noonsite piracy reports 2015 – http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Venezuela/venezuela-morrocoy-national-park-three-local-motorboats-held-hostage-and-ransacked-march-2015

March 7, 2015

Tag: Venezuela Archives