Thewarning comes in the latest piracy report from security consultants AKEMaritime which cites two recent incidents.
Itsays two failed low level robberies were reported at Suez anchorage andAlexandria port on 27 and 31 July respectively.
“Continued instability and a rising death toll in Egypt continue to causeconcern for maritime infrastructure and personnel in the Suez zone,” the UK-based company said.
“Whilstpolice and military forces have claimed recent successes against Islamicmilitants in the region, the underlying terrorism risk against maritimeinfrastructure will continue over the coming weeks, as will the risk of lowlevel opportunistic robbery.”
Thewarnings from AKE Maritime come a few days after Skuld P&I Club issued analert over reports of persons seeking to board vessels, stating that they are ‘businessmen’.
“Theyoften seek to remain on board the vessel while she is in transit through thecanal, and may seek to engage in unlawful activities, including thefts, whileon board the vessel,” Skuld said.
Iturges members to continue to advise their vessels to be on alert and verycautious while transiting through the Suez Canal and while calling at anyEgyptian ports.
“Continuousdeck watch will be necessary, and the master and officers on board are welladvised to make sure that passage planning allows for a senior person to be onwatch at all material times to ensure the safety of the vessel and her crew.”
“Theadvice given, which is universally applicable, is that a vessel should notallow any unidentified persons to board,” the club advises.
“Ifpersons seek to board the vessel, and they do not possess proper identification/ authorisation then the master should not permit them to come on board.”
Egyptplays a vital role in international energy markets through the operation of theSuez Canal and Suez-Mediterranean (Sumed) Pipeline.
In2012, about 7% of all seaborne oil and 13% of LNG traded worldwide transitedthrough the Suez Canal, according to figures from the US Energy InformationAdministration (EIA).
However,Egypt’s 2011 revolution and the unrest that has followed have not had anynoticeable effect on oil and LNG transit flows through the Suez Canal or SumedPipeline.
