On December 20, 2021, the US Navy’s 5th Fleet intercepted a stateless dhow in the North Arabian Sea carrying arms and ammunition. This was the third interception made by the 5th Fleet during 2021, of dhow carrying SALW towards Yemen with its origin likely being Iran. Notably, this is the first instance of ammunition being found by the 5th Fleet this year.
This seizure was conducted by the USS Typhoon’s Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) team on December 20, in accordance with international law regarding flag verification, since this vessel had no flag indicating its national origin. As seen below, this dhow is of the Shau’ai type often used in Arab and Persian Gulf coastal waters.
Fig.1.0. NORTH ARABIAN SEA (Dec. 20, 2021) U.S. service members from patrol coastal ship USS Typhoon (PC 5) interdict a stateless fishing vessel carrying illicit weapons while transiting international waters (Source: NAVCENT Public Affairs 2021c)
This dhow type is known as a “workhorse of inshore waters,” and is used for fishing and coastal trade (NATO 2021). This likely means that the weapons were transferred from an ocean-going vessel to this dhow for final transit to Yemen or Somalia. During the seizure, approximately 1,400 Chinese Type 56-1 self-loading rifles & 226,600 rounds of ammunition, presumably 7.62×39mm, were found, totaling to 8,700 illicit weapons captured by the 5th Fleet in 2021. As stated previously, the Type 56-1 is one of the most common rifle types found off Yemen and Somalia, but ammunition is an unusual find.
Fig.1.1. Dec. 20, 2021 U.S. service members from patrol coastal ship USS Typhoon (PC 5) inventory an illicit shipment of weapons while aboard a stateless fishing vessel transiting international waters in the North Arabian Sea. (Source: NAVCENT Public Affairs 2021b)
After US forces boarded the vessel they found five Yemeni crewmen and took them into custody to be returned to Yemen. The US forces cataloged the weapons and ammo onboard then transferred them to the USS O’Kane to get an inventory.
Fig.1.2. Dec. 21, 2021 Illicit weapons seized from a stateless fishing vessel in the North Arabian Sea are arranged for inventory aboard guided-missile destroyer USS O’Kane’s (DDG 77) flight deck. (Source: PO3 Elisha Smith 2021)
Following this inventory check, US forces sunk the dhow since it posed a navigational hazard as an unmanned ship in a sea lane.
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Sources:
NATO. 2012. Dhow Identification Guide. <http://www.maniobradebuques.com/pdf/articulos/identification_guide_2012.pdf>
NAVCENT Public Affairs. 2021a. U.S. Navy Seizes 1,400 Assault Rifles During Illicit Weapons Interdiction [Images 1-3]. <https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6990631/us-navy-seizes-1400-assault-rifles-during-illicit-weapons-interdiction>
PO3 Elisha Smith. 2021. U.S. Navy Seizes 1,400 Assault Rifles During Illicit Weapons Interdiction. <https://twitter.com/US5thFleet/status/1473730281710493701>