Armed men attack U.S.-flagged vessel in Haiti’s Port-au-Prince Bay

Armed men attempted to board a U.S.-flagged vessel anchored in Port-au-Prince Bay during the night of October 10 to 11, 2026, according to information obtained by AyiboPost from the Haitian Coast Guard and two sources familiar with the incident.

The vessel, identified as the MV National Glory under IMO number 8302246, is registered to the American company R&D Investments Inc., according to the maritime database MagicPort. The attack occurred at approximately 10 p.m. while the ship was anchored in the bay.

Jean Pedro Mars, head of Haiti’s Coast Guard Directorate, told AyiboPost that the attackers arrived in a small boat and attempted to board the vessel. The crew took refuge in a secure area before the captain contacted the Coast Guard.

“When the Coast Guard officers arrived, the bandits opened fire, but they were nevertheless driven back,” Mars said. The vessel remained under protection until it returned to the dock the following day.

Wilfrid Fleursaint, coordinator of Haiti’s Maritime and Navigation Service (SEMANAH), confirmed receiving information about the incident from an inspector who was present at the scene. He said approximately 20 crew members escaped unharmed and that the vessel was able to dock, unload its cargo and depart. Fleursaint said he was awaiting a formal report.

Attack raises concerns over maritime security

The attackers have not been identified. However, Mars said the area where the incident occurred is controlled by gang members operating from Mariani.

A source in Haiti’s port sector described the incident as serious and warned that it could affect maritime traffic. The source expressed concern that the United States could impose additional restrictions on Haiti and that shipping companies might stop serving the country.

On June 5, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard announced new entry requirements for commercial vessels that had called at Haitian ports. The measures took effect on June 22 and were based on the U.S. assessment that Haitian ports lacked adequate anti-terrorism security measures.

According to the port-sector source, the MV National Glory’s visit to Haiti was organized by Enmarcolda, a local maritime agency. AyiboPost contacted the vessel’s owner, the agency’s representative Mike Lemke and Haiti’s National Port Authority, but none had responded by the time of publication.

Haiti’s dependence on maritime imports

Haiti relies heavily on imports to supply goods, making the Port-au-Prince port central to the country’s commercial activity and customs revenue. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2025-2026, the port’s customs office collected more than 28.27 billion gourdes, accounting for 82% of the customs revenue recorded during that period.

The latest attack comes amid ongoing efforts to contain armed groups. In March 2025, the Haitian government enlisted Vectus Global, a private military company led by U.S. Army veteran Erik Prince, to fight gangs. According to AyiboPost, the organization has not reopened a major road controlled by gangs or secured the arrest of a senior gang leader.

The Gang Suppression Force (GSF), deployed after replacing a Kenyan-led mission, has also struggled to contain violence in several parts of the country.

In a 2023 investigation, AyiboPost documented attacks by the “5 Segond” gang, led by Johnson “Izo” André, against small vessels off Port-au-Prince. The gang reportedly targeted coastal trading sailboats, held passengers captive and stole their belongings, using motorized fishing boats to attack vessels traveling toward Carrefour and Arcahaie.

AyiboPost said it sought comments from the Haitian National Police, the GSF and Vectus Global. The article may be updated if they respond.