Somalia - NE and Eastern Coast - Thirty eight incidents have been reported since March 15 2005. January 22 2006 in position 02:48N-048:36E, off east coast Somalia. Pirates armed with guns hijacked a general cargo ship underway. They fired warning shots and threatened the 20 crew members. They are demanding a ransom for the release of the crew and ship.
January 21 2006 at 1810 UTC in position 15:50N - 041:45E, southern Red Sea. Persons in several speedboats attempted to board a hopper dredger underway. D/O raised alarm, crew mustered and directed searchlights and speedboats moved away.
January 20 2006 at 0700 LT in position 05:25.1N - 052:34.6E, 213nm east of Somali coast. Two speedboats, operating from a mother ship chased a bulk carrier underway. One boat had three men with machine guns and the other had two men. They opened fire aiming for the bridge. Boats came close to ship and persons inside attempted to board. Ship increased speed and took evasive manoeuvres. Later boats stopped chase and returned to mother ship.
January 20 2006 at 0310 LT in position 06:09N - 003:15E, Lagos anchorage, Nigeria. Five robbers in a wooden boat attempted to board a bulk carrier using hook attacked to a long pole. Alert crew thwarted the attempt and robbers fled. Lagos port security informed.
January 17 2006 at 0245 LT at Tg. Bara anchorage, Indonesia. Three robbers boarded a bulk carrier they threatened a watchman with a knife and took him as a hostage. When watchman did not respond to calls on walkie-talkie, duty officer raised alarm and crew mustered. Robbers jumped overboard and escaped with ship's stores. Port authorities informed.
January 16 2005 at 0630 UTC, Kingston harbour, Jamaica. Five robbers armed with assault rifles in a 25 ft canoe with an outboard motor boarded a yacht at anchor. They took substantial equipment at gunpoint and escaped. Jamaican authorities informed. No injuries to crew.
And from the Better Late Than Never Department:
January 14 2006 at Racha Yas Island, off Phuket, Thailand. Robbers hijacked a yacht at anchor. Subsequently it was located on 19.01.2006.