Iran’s defense chain in PG ready to respond to any threat

Iranian Navy ships in Velayat-90 military exercise, by Mohammad Sadegh Heydari via Wikipedia

TEHRAN, Oct. 13 (MNA) – Deputy Navy Commander for Coordination Rear Admiral Hamzeh Ali Kaviani said that Iran’s defense chain in the south of the country is ready to respond to any threat.

He made the remarks at the welcoming ceremony of Iran’s 69th naval flotilla which returned to the southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Tuesday after a 67-day mission in the international waters. “The presence of foreigners in the Persian Gulf is of no use to them, we declare to the enemies that Iran will respond to any threat to its waters and interests,” said Kaviani.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: mehrnews.com

Troops Rescue 5 Foreign Expatriates Kidnapped by Sea Pirates

By JOHN ENENCHE

Recall that on 9 May 2020 some foreign expatriates onboard MT RIO MITONG and MT DJIBLOHO were kidnapped by unknown militants group in Yellow Island. Acting on credible intelligence a joint team from Forward Operating Base Bonny, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER and troops of 146 Battalion swiftly combed the creeks in search of the kidnapped victims. After a thorough search and rescue operation, the gallant troops raided 4 identified sea pirates/militants hideout at Ibiakafemo, Idinkiri, Tombie and Ogboma.

The identified camps were subsequently destroyed to deny the pirates freedom of action. Consequently, on the early hours of 6 October 2020, the pirates/militants compelled by the ongoing operation surrendered to the gallant troops and handed over the 5 kidnapped foreign expatriates at Iwofe Waterfront. The 5 expatriates comprising 3 Russians, one Ukranian and one Equatorial Guinean are presently at NNS PATHFINDER medical centre receiving medical attention.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: prnigeria.com

IMO hit by “sophisticated” cyber attack, media report

It would appear that maritime cyber security is once again in the headlines. Following the recent ransomware attack on CMA CGM, news has emerged that the United Nation’s regulatory body for shipping, has suffered a “sophisticated” cyber attack.

At the time of writing, even the IMO’s public-facing pages were offline. Media reports state that the same is true of the organisation’s intranet, as IT technicians have shut down key systems in order to prevent further damage.

The exact nature of the attack has not yet been made public, but with staff still working remotely, systems are always going to be at risk, as new attack vectors are available to APT groups and criminals. Quite what could be achieved by attacking the IMO remains unclear, but it provides yet another wake up call to the maritime industry as a whole. After all, if the regulatory body can be taken offline so easily, how secure are shipping companies, ports and related maritime firms?

Is the media guilty of exaggerating West African piracy threat?

By Gary Dixon

West African piracy remains a threat but attacks are not becoming more frequent despite headline-grabbing abduction stories in the media.

That is the view of Dirk Siebels, senior analyst at Danish security consultancy company Risk Intelligence.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: tradewindsnews.com

EFCC begins probe of eight suspected oil thieves, vessel in Port Harcourt

By Matthew Ogune

The Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation of eight suspected oil thieves and a vessel, Miracle Worker, handed over to it by the Nigerian Navy.

The EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, who disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja, said that the suspects were handed over to the commission by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Bonny, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after being intercepted for suspected involvement in illegal oil bunkering.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: guardian.ng

Two oil thieves bag three years jail term in Lagos

A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced two oil thieves, Jacob Momodu and Onutu Anthony, to three years imprisonment each.

The convicts were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on dealing in petroleum product without appropriate license, after they were arrested by officers of the Nigerian Navy and handed over to the Commission for investigation.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: guardian.ng

CEMLAWS reveals alarming trends of wide spread of piracy incidents in Gulf of Guinea

The Executive Director of the Centre for Maritime Law and Security (CEMLAWS) and a Retired Naval Captain, Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, has revealed alarming trends in its new report concerning the dark shades of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, indicating an exponential spread of attacks across the Gulf, where Ghana was not spared.

The retired Naval Captain indicated that “as the month of August came to an end, pirates registered their presence in Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone, with an attack on the Ghanaian-flag fishing vessel AP 703 where two foreign crew members were kidnapped.”

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: ghanaweb.com

Why sea piracy is rampant now in Nigeria

By Godfrey Bivbere

THE spate of pirate attacks in Nigeria’s maritime domain has been attributed to dearth of ships to engage the growing number of unemployed seafarers.

Linked to this is also the problem of lack of sea-time training for the cadets being produced annually from various maritime academies in the country.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: vanguardngr.com

Nigerian Navy deploys 6 warships, 60 gunboats against pirates, oil thieves

BY Desmond Ejibas

The Nigerian Navy has deployed troops on board six warships, including 60 gunboats, in a special military exercise to tackle pirates, oil smugglers and other criminals in the nation’s waters.

Rear Adm. David Adeniran, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, announced the deployment at the flag-off of the exercise in Onne, Rivers.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: pmnewsnigeria.com

PH Coast Guard foil bomb attack in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) failed to create havoc in the town of Jolo in Sulu after elements of the Philippine Coast Guard–Explosive and Ordnance Division (PCG-EOD) discovered a baggage that contained an improvised explosive device (IED) that the bandits planted at the local port, Saturday night, September 19.

Armed Force of the Philippines- Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) Commander Lt Gen Corleto Vinluan, Jr. said PCG EOD wharf security personnel found the abandoned baggage between the Harbor Master and Maritime Police Office located in Barangay Walled City in about 6:02 p.m., Saturday.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: mb.com.ph