Caribbean Piracy Shocks Sailors

Throughout the Caribbean Basin, many businesses and tourism promoters lightheartedly capitalize on the region’s legacy of piracy. But it was no laughing matter late last month when two incidents of actual modern-day piracy occurred only a week apart. In fact, sailors in the region are now considering taking extreme measures such as traveling in convoys and running dark at night.

Both incidents occurred during transits from Trinidad to Grenada in the vicinity of the Trinidad Hibiscus Gas Platform, roughly 30 miles north of Trinidad and 40 miles from the northeastern tip of Venezuela. The first was on December 20: An 80-ft sailboat was approached and eventually boarded by a group of Spanish-speaking men traveling in an open 18-ft fishing boat with a spare outboard and barrels of fuel as its only visible cargo. The pirates searched the boat and took primarily electronics and money. None of the sailors resisted, and none were harmed. No shots were fired. The robbers’ boat returned to the south, whence it had come. 

Victims of the second incident, December 28, were traveling north in a 32-ft sailboat. Similarly, their boat was boarded by Spanish-speaking gunmen and searched, but reports detail the taking of mostly utilitarian items such as toilet paper, food, clothing and cell phones. (It is unclear whether this boat had no modern electronics and cash.) Again, no shots were fired and no sailors were harmed. 

Although both attacks were similar in nature, descriptions of the open boats used varied: the first was said to have been a white hull with blue interior, powered by a 120hp Yamaha outboard; the second was said to have been a pale blue hull with a white interior, powered by a 130hp outboard. 

Naturally, the coast guards of Trinidad and Tobago (TTCG), Grenada and the US are deeply concerned by these incidents, as are other local authorities and maritime organizations such as the Caribbean Safety & Security Net and the Yacht Services Association of Trinidad & Tobago (YSATT). TTCG recommends that yachts traveling between Trinidad and Grenada travel at night, and possibly without running lights (as it is assumed that the pirates do not have radar); travel in convoys with vessels of similar speed; and alert local coast guards of your float plan, as well as departure and arrival times. Phone the Trinidad CG at 800-TTCG or 6341476, email here, or radio them (call sign 9YA) on HF 2186MHz. We cannot recall such extreme measures ever before being recommended in any area of the Caribbean Basin.