Tag: Piracy

Boarding and theft on or of a vessel while underway

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3439 – 2024-12-07 – Venezuela – Offshore04 – Piracy

 

CSSN Report
CSSN First Hand Report

DATE: 2024-12-07 05:00
LOCATION: Venezuela – Offshore04
EVENT: Piracy
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Nothing, not successful
SECURED: Does not apply
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.
ID: 3439

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3196 – 2023-12-29 – Colombia – Offshore – Piracy

 

CSSN Report
CSSN First Hand Report

DATE: 2023-12-29 08:00
LOCATION: Colombia – Offshore
EVENT: Piracy
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: batteries,cables,sails,fenders +++
SECURED: N/A
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.
ID: 3196

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2775 – 2022-03-18 – Honduras – Offshore03 – Piracy

 

CSSN Report
CSSN First Hand Report

DATE: 2022-03-18 10:00
LOCATION: Honduras – Offshore03
EVENT: Piracy
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: cash, binoculars, handheld VHF, old laptop, alcohol and sunglasses
SECURED: Not Locked
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.
ID: 2775

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2689 – 2021-09-15 – Venezuela-Nearshore Islands – Paria Peninsula – Offshore – Piracy

 

CSSN Report
CSSN First Hand Report

DATE: 2021-09-15 08:30
LOCATION: Venezuela-Nearshore Islands – Paria Peninsula – Offshore
EVENT: Piracy
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Cash, food, alcohol, liferaft, clothing, shoes, sunglasses, phone charger
SECURED: Does not apply
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.

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Incident ID: 2689

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