Suspicious activity Archives - Caribbean Safety and Security Net

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

2022-05-29

2805 – 2022-05-25 – Venezuela – Offshore01 – Suspicious Activity

DATE: 2022-05-25 23:30
LOCATION: Venezuela – Offshore01
EVENT: Suspicious Activity
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: N/A
SECURED: Does not apply
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.
ID: 2805