Week of 10 March: Maritime Crime and Piracy Update Rob Almeida Total Views: 86 March 17, 2011 Weekly Maritime Crime and Piracy Summary (source: Office of Naval Intelligence) NIGERIA: The Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) well no. 3 in Clough Creek, Bayelsa state was attacked with explosives by unknown assailants at around 02:00 LT on 16 March 2011. INDIAN OCEAN: Cargo ship (SINAR KUDUS) was hijacked 16 Mar at 1639 UTC while underway in position 14:21N – 059:25E, approximately 357NM SE of Salalah, Oman. The vessel was en route Singapore to Suez when it was hijacked with a crew of 20 Indonesia nationals.  Crew reports indicate 30-50 pirates are onboard.  (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization, UKMTO) Vehicle carrier (SAGITTARIUS LEADER) was fired upon 12 Mar at 0325 UTC while underway in position 12:24N – 066:42E, approximately 460NM SW of Mumbai, India.  The vessel was fired upon by two skiffs accompanied by a mother ship.  (International Maritime Bureau, IMB) Container vessel (VANCOUVER BRIDGE) was fired upon 11 Mar at 0454 UTC while underway in position 10:55N – 066:33E, approximately 413NM NW of Minicoy Island.  As many as 15 pirates on three skiffs accompanied by a mother ship fired RPG and automatic weapons on the vessel, and attempted to board with ladders.  The vessel evaded the hijacking attempt.  (IMB) INDIA: A bulk carrier was robbed 14 Mar at 0830 local time while at anchorage in position 22:49N – 070:02E, off Kandla.  Multiple robbers boarded the vessel using grappling hooks, and broke into the forward paint store and stole supplies.  The port authority was informed of the incident.  (IMB) BANGLADESH: A bulk carrier was robbed 12 Mar at 0600 local time while at anchorage in position 22:12N – 091:45E, off Chittagong.  The vessel was boarded by four robbers, one of whom threatened a crew member with a knife to the throat.