Latest ONI Worldwide Threats to Shipping (to 12 Feb 10)

From here (text).

Highlights:

***
1. COLOMBIA: Passenger vessel hijacked 3 Feb 10 while underway in the Buenaventura waterways. The vessel was traveling from Buenaventura port to Puerto Merizalde when three gunmen brandished their weapons and ordered the passengers to jump overboard. A total of 29 people were forced into the water before the gunmen proceeded to steal the vessel and flee to an unknown location. The Colombian coastguard responded to the incident and rescued all
passengers and is currently leading the search for the vessel (Risk Intelligence/MaRisk).
***
1. GULF OF ADEN: Bulk carrier (ARIELLA) fired upon 5 Feb 10 at 0600 UTC while underway in position 13:00N ñ 048:45E, approximately 93NM southwest of Al Mukalla, Yemen. Six armed men in a speedboat opened fire on the vessel while underway. The vessel raised the alarm, sent out a distress call and contacted coalition assistance while conducting evasive maneuvering. A Danish warship responded by deploying a helicopter to intercept the attack. The armed men aborted the attack once the warship arrived on scene (IMB, AP).
.
2. GULF OF ADEN: Cargo ship (RIM) hijacked 3 Feb 10 at 0813 UTC while underway in position 13:04N ñ 047:04E, approximately 120NM east of Aden, Yemen. Pirates boarded and hijacked the vessel. There is no further information to provide at this time (ONI, AP).
.
3. GULF OF ADEN: Vessel fired upon 1 Feb 10 at 1325 UTC while underway in position 12:44N ñ 047:27E, approximately 140NM east of Aden, Yemen. Two skiffs with four men in each opened fire on the vessel as it transited the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor. The crew was alerted and appropriate counter-piracy measures were taken to prevent boarding (UKMTO, MSCHOA).
.
4. GULF OF ADEN: Vessel reported suspicious approach 1 Feb 10 at 1150 UTC while underway in position 15:18.2N ñ 052:32E, approximately 200NM northeast of Al Mukalla, Yemen. The captain reported being chased by a vessel and seeing a mother ship in the vicinity. The captain conducted evasive maneuvering and no further information was reported (IMB).
***