Iran Dispatches New Naval Flotilla to High Seas

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Navy’s 71st flotilla of warships set sail for international waters on Saturday as part of regular missions to ensure security of the country’s trade vessels.

The 71st fleet, including Alborz destroyer and Khark helicopter-carrier, departed Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas for high seas.

The flotilla started its journey after the return of the 70th fleet, which comprised Sabalan destroyer and Lavan logistical warship.

The latter has returned from a mission to Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

In recent years, Iran’s naval forces have increased their presence in international waters to secure naval routes and protect merchant vessels and oil tankers against pirates.

In comments in October, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said Iran’s first homegrown auxiliary ship is capable of sailing around the globe three times without being refueled.

Source: tasnimnews.com

Esszone curfew extended

TAWAU: The curfew in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone), scheduled to end today (Wednesday), has been extended to Dec 31.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali (pic) said the curfew covers the waters off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.

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Source: dailyexpress.com.my

Eight More Crewmembers Abducted off Cargo Ship by Nigerian Pirates

The toll on seafarers continues to rise in the Gulf of Guinea with reports that eight crew members early this morning. The threat to seafarers remains high in the region with the security services warning that additional incidents are likely in the coming days.

The latest incident, the ninth this morning according to Dryad Global, involved a 38-year old bulk carrier, the Stevia. The 11,990 DWT vessel registered in Cameroon was reportedly sailing from southern Nigeria to Abidjan, Ivory Coast when it was attacked by what is believed to local Nigerian militants. Praesidium reports that the vessel’s speed dropped and was believed to be drifting for about two hours.

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Source: maritime-executive.com

U.S Government hands over equipment to Nigerian Navy to combats threats in Gulf of Guinea

By William Ukpe

The United States of America has handed over maritime equipment to the Nigerian Navy to secure maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea and also promote bilateral relations between both nations.

This was disclosed by Claire Pierangelo, Consular General, U. S. Embassy, and Rear Adm. Oladele Daji, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) represented by Rear Adm. Tanko Pani, the Chief Staff Officer, during the handover ceremony on Friday.

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Source: nairametrics.com

Three Beninese Arrested In Lagos Waters While Stealing Petrol

The Nigerian Navy has arrested three nationals of Benin Republic in Lagos and handed them over to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for allegedly stealing 6,250 litres of petrol.

While parading the suspects, Mr Paul Ayeni, the Commandant of the Lagos State Command, said they were apprehended by the patrol team of the Navy on December 5, at about 7.50 am.

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Source: saharareporters.com

Mozambique LNG security in spotlight again as insurgency creeps closer

Author: Stuart Elliott

London — Militants have attacked a village in northern Mozambique just 20 km from the site of two major LNG project developments, according to local media reports, highlighting the continued security issues facing the southeast African country and its fledgling LNG industry.

More than 30 million mt/year of LNG production capacity is under development in Mozambique as the country looks to join the ranks of the world’s biggest LNG exporters.

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Source: spglobal.com

Navy laments involvement of officers in crude oil theft, illegal bunkering

By Okodili Ndidi

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has decried the involvement of Naval personnel in illicit oil bunkering and crude oil theft.

He lamented that while there are significant achievements in the fight against this Maritime crime, there are pockets of personnel still colluding with criminals to sabotage the effort, adding that “the Navy in collaboration with other security agencies strives to protect the economic mainstay of the country through various operations.”

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Source: thenationonlineng.net

‘122 seafarers kidnapped in Gulf of Guinea this year’

By Sulaimon Salau

With the latest piracy attack involving the kidnap of four seafarers, 122 crew members have so far been abducted from vessels in the Gulf of Guinea this year.

The latest piracy attack involving a crude oil tanker is estimated by Dryad Global (UK-based maritime security firm) as the 24th confirmed kidnapping incident in the waters of the Gulf of Guinea in 2020.

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Source: guardian.ng

Nigerian Pirates Want $1.5 Million To Release 3 Lebanese Hostages

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry and the Lebanese Embassy in Nigeria continue to closely monitor the kidnapping of 3 Lebanese nationals who were, among reportedly 5 other people, on the Milano 1 cargo ship when it was boarded by pirates last week.

The ship, which disappeared from radars for some time last Thursday as it made its way from Nigeria to Cameroon, is believed to have been hijacked by a notorious militant group known as the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers.

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Source: the961.com

Gulf of Guinea attacks continue

A pair of tankers, one Greek-flagged and the other Maltese-flagged, was unsuccessfully approached by pirate action groups (PAGs) in the Gulf of Guinea over the past 72 hours.

The West African body of water carries the dubious reputation of being the hardest hit by pirates in the world, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

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Source: defenceweb.co.za

MarsecNews: I have reports of seven incidents in the GoG since the beginning of December. The attacks show no significant signs of slowing.