Suspicious activity Archives - Caribbean Safety and Security Net

2024-12-14

3442 – 2024-12-01 – Honduras – Offshore07 – Suspicious Activity

DATE: 2024-12-01 05:00
LOCATION: Honduras – Offshore07
EVENT: Suspicious Activity
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: None
SECURED: Does not apply
DETAILS: A yacht was making a planned passage under sail from Livingston, Guatemala to The San Blas Islands, Panama. Three times during the passage the crew encountered fishing vessels that behaved in a suspicious manner. No radio communications were heard/made at any time.

The first encounter was at 0500HRS December 1, at position 16-29.51N 82-55.47W, approximately 100 nmiles off the Honduran coast. The yacht noticed the fishing vessel had turned and began tracking them at a distance of approximately 2 miles. The yacht tacked quickly, added engines/speed and headed NNW. After about 30 minutes the gap widened and the fishing vessel abandoned the pursuit.

The second encounter was at 1200HRS later that day at position 16-27.1N 82-26.6W, approximately 110 nmiles off the Honduran coast. The 55ft. fishing vessel had altered course to intercept. The yacht
again altered course to NNW , again motorsailing at full speed. Another fishing vessel appeared astern, and a third was spotted to port at a distance of about 3 miles. After about an hour all 3 fishing vessels turned back. The crew decided not to cross the Thunder Knoll channel and tacked north several times before turning east.

The third encounter was the next morning, 0800HRS December 2, at position 16-56.09N 80-49.64W, approximately 220 nmiles off the Honduran coast. A single fishing vessel again initiated an intercept course. Tacking again, the yacht increased speed and the gap and after about an hour the fishing vessel turned back. The yacht eventually turned southward leaving Serranilla bank to starboard and continued to the San Blas.
ID: 3442

2024-04-22

3292 – 2024-04-20 – Honduras – Offshore06 – Suspicious Activity

DATE: 2024-04-20 18:30
LOCATION: Honduras – Offshore06
EVENT: Suspicious Activity
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: N/A
SECURED: N/A
DETAILS: A motor yacht moving at 8.2kn was transiting from the San Blas islands, Panama, to the US via the Yucatan channel. At 1830HRS at position 16-21.197N 081-26.630W, approximately 130nm from the NE coast of Honduras in the Thunder Knoll area, they observed a 50-65′ white fishing vessel with beige superstructure at a distance of 1.8nm. The yacht altered course and added speed (8.8kn). Radar indicated that the fishing vessel had significantly increased its speed (8.5kn) and altered its direction to an intercept course. There were no radio communications. As a precaution the yacht went dark (lights and AIS transmit off). Several course changes by the yacht were mirrored by the fishing vessel that continued to track at speed on an intercept course.

The yachts crew prepared in accordance with their previously agreed boarding plan. They readied multiple flares, a spear gun and had already preprogrammed USCG phone numbers in their devices/Starlink. They began to close and secure all access points. PLB’s and EPIRBS were hidden but remained easily accessible to the crew.

After about a half hour of pursuit/evasion the yacht had increased the distance to 2.3nm and the fishing vessel turned around, reduced speed and slowly headed SSW back to the area where it had first been sighted.

The crew notified another vessel traveling behind them about the situation and they chose to alter course 30nm further east. After some distance had been achieved the yacht restored its lights/AIS transmit and continued its passage. They will make a report to officials on arrival.
ID: 3292

2023-11-02

3125 – 2023-04-29 – Saint Kitts and Nevis – Offshore01 – Suspicious Activity

DATE: 2023-04-29 20:00
LOCATION: Saint Kitts and Nevis – Offshore01
EVENT: Suspicious Activity
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: n/a
SECURED: N/A
DETAILS: A singlehanded sailing yacht was on passage from the BVI’s to the Grenadines. At approximately 18:00HRS the captain noticed a ship on AIS that had reduced speed, decreasing the CPA to less than 500 meters. AIS indicated the vessel was registered in Venezuela. Visibility was poor and the captain went dark, turning off AIS transmit and all lights . He then changed course to pass about 3 miles behind the vessel. The yacht monitored VHF 16 but no radio contact was made by the vessel.

At 20:00HRS, the captain heard the sound of an auxiliary boat bouncing off the waves in the distance. It was doing a search pattern, and coming steadily closer. It had no running lights. At this point the yacht was passing astern of the larger vessel at a distance of about 3.5 miles. The captain noted his position at 20:05HRS: 17° 06.0220′ N 063° 51.9680′ W, about 60 miles east of St. Kitts.

At about 20:45HRS the auxiliary vessel passed the yachts stern, travelling in the direction of the ship, which was visible at a distance of six or seven miles to the north-east. It did not return and the yacht continued without incident to the Grenadines.
ID: 3125

2023-07-13

3047 – 2023-07-07 – Venezuela – Offshore01 – Suspicious Activity

DATE: 2023-07-07 13:00
LOCATION: Venezuela – Offshore01
EVENT: Suspicious Activity
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS:
SECURED: Does not apply
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.
ID: 3047

2023-01-14

2957 – 2022-11-16 – Honduras – Offshore04 – Suspicious Activity

DATE: 2022-11-16 22:45
LOCATION: Honduras – Offshore04
EVENT: Suspicious Activity
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: None
SECURED: Does not apply
DETAILS: A 47′ catamaran with two (2) persons on board departed Shelter Bay marina, Panama for Punta Gorda, Belize. Moving at about 8 knots, at 2245HRS they detected a boat two (2) nm in their forward path on radar. Their position was 16° 08.560 N, 082° 05.140 W, approx. 95 nautical miles off the coast of Honduras.

The captain determined there were 2 fishing boats, one heading directly (bow to bow) at the catamaran. Course was altered, and the enclosed fishing boat (est. 12m) also altered course and continued its direct approach. Course was again altered and 2nd engine added and the yacht went dark. A second similar fishing boat was noted, also heading for the yacht. The first fishing boat had closed to within 60 feet on the port beam. With the addition of the second engine and a favorable wind angle the catamaran was moving at 12 knots, and the fishing boats were unable to keep pace but followed on the altered course for an additional 30 minutes. There were no radio communications.

The catamaran continued without further incident to Belize, and made an informal report to authorities on arrival.
ID: 2957