MODUS OPERANDI. Requesting country: Thailand. Date of publication: 13/01/2017. Absconding to evade investigation and false registration

Transcription

1 Requesting country: Thailand Date of publication: 13/01/2017 MODUS OPERANDI Type(s) of offence: Absconding to evade investigation and false registration Date of the offence: 23 October 2016 Place of offence: Country of offence: Circumstances of offence: Phuket, Thailand Thailand The subject vessel, along with 8 (eight) other vessels making similar claims of registry, called on the port of Phuket to receive dockside repairs. As part of the Royal Thai Government s (RTG s) responsibilities under the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (FAO-PSMA), inspectors of the Department of Fisheries reviewed the records of the vessel YUTUNA No. 1 to verify that it had not engaged in illegal, unregulated, or unreported (IUU) fishing as there is evidence of recent longline fishing. The vessel master presented a vessel registration claiming a Bolivian flag, which is described in more complete detail below. The International Ship Registry of Bolivia (RIBB) confirmed that the vessels are not, in fact, registered under the Bolivian flag, making them stateless vessels. The false registration document and radio license indicate ownership interests in Chinese Taipei. Given their stateless status, the vessels appear to have engaged in IUU fishing as there is evidence of recent longline fishing activity for tuna on board the vessels. While the vessels were being formally detained in the port of Phuket, the master and crew of the YUTUNA No. 1 illegally removed the vessel from the port and fled. There are no indicators of the likely destination of the vessel. The above described facts are contrary to Thailand s laws and regulations, and represent a criminal case of using false documents the reason why two case files (Number 1177/2016 of WICHIT PROVINCIAL POLICE Station and number 297/2016 of SA KHU PROVINCIAL POLICE Station) have been launched against the captain of the FV YUTUNA No. 1 and its owners, and/or commercial operators. Description of modus operandi: Object/ device/concealment method/procedure. The master of the fishing vessel presented a vessel registry and radio license from Bolivia that were confirmed as false by Bolivian authorities. Any information linked to this address or vessel identity is requested to be passed to the Royal Thai Government to confirm the current location of the vessel and aid the investigation into the beneficial owner of this vessel for further investigation. Additionally, all countries are cautioned to be vigilant for any vessel presenting a Bolivian vessel registry with number or call sign CPA-302. This is a

2 false registry and radio license and anyone presenting it should be questioned as to their links to the vessel and their information passed to RTG. Images of the vessel, the registry certificate, and radio license are shown below. VESSEL INFORMATION 1 General Name: YUTUNA NO. 1 Flag: None IMO: - Call Sign: CPA-302 MMSI: - Vessel Type: Fishing Gear Type: Longline Last Known Position: Port of Phuket, Thailand 2 Name and flag history Year Name Flag 2016 YUTUNA NO. 1 None

3 PHOTOGRAPHS Figure 1. FV "YU TUNA No. 1" at Port of Phuket (THA) on 28th October Port side view. Figure 2. FV "YU TUNA No. 1" at Port of Phuket (THA) on 28th October Starboard side view.

4 Figure 3. Photo of the Certificate of Bolivian Ships Registry submitted by Captain of "YU TUNA 1" to Thai authorities.

5 Figure 4. Photo of the Bolivian Ship Radio Station License submitted by Captain of "YU TUNA 1" to Thai authorities.

6 INFORMATION BEING SOUGHT This Purple Notice is circulated for law enforcement and fisheries management authorities, ports-, coastal-, and customs agencies, and other relevant national bodies to alert them to this vessel and its modus operandi so that they may take whatever measures they deem necessary. All information about the vessel YU TUNA No. 1 is of interest, especially the following: a) Identification information, including the vessel s current name, call sign, IMO number, MMSI number and hull colour. b) Photos of the vessel in its current configuration while in port, conducting fishing or transhipment activities, etc. c) If seen fishing: summary of activities, location, species targeted, fishing methods used, duration of activities, etc. d) If seen transhipping at sea: summary of activities, location, information on and photos of the associated vessel(s), etc. e) If seen in port: information about entry permit and cargo (type, quantity and customer) on board or unloaded, purpose of entry, documentation of catch (log books and catch certificates), details of shipping containers or consignment numbers, etc. f) Names and company registration details/national identification details of current and past owners, operators, and crew. g) Information related to all past and ongoing legal proceedings conducted against the owners or operators of the vessel, or associated companies. h) History of transactions related to fuel, port bills, etc. that may lead to beneficial owners. i) Any information that could help establish links with other vessels, owners and operators. This information must be exchanged with INTERPOL to update databases and cross-check files with activities of this type.