Category: Robbery

Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project: Who, What, and Why it Matters to the Gulf of Guinea

by Kelly Moss

In a year of unabated insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, one of the most welcomed maritime security-oriented acts of 2019 was Nigeria’s establishment of its Deep Blue Project. The Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, otherwise known as the Deep Blue Project (DBP), aims to comprehensively address insecurity and criminality in Nigeria’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. The means of the DBP involve the acquisition of assets, (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles and fast intervention vessels), development of infrastructure (e.g., new command and control centers), interagency information-sharing, and enhanced training of security services, among other things. According to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), between August 2019 and June 2020, 80 percent of the necessary assets had been delivered and the Command, Control, Computer Communication, and Information Centre (C4i) was officially launched at NIMASA’s base in Kirikiri, Lagos.

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Source: stableseas.org

MDAD-GoG issues piracy alert

In an unusual step, MDAT-GoG, the agency which monitors piracy and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, has issued the following alert to shipping:

Description: Information from military source indicate an armed group from Rivers State, NIGERIA are planning a piracy attack against vessels in area D (especially Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea) since the 1st of September. It is likely the attack will occur at low tide, when the monitoring units are missing. Therefore, you are requested to be on maximum alert, to increase vigilance and surveillance and intensify intelligence both on the water and in the port. Systematically identify and search all suspicious boats coming from or leaving Nigeria. Report any suspicions and take into account any diversion.

New PH Navy assets to beef up capabilities vs. lawless elements

By Priam Nepomuceno

MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) on Tuesday said the arrival of new patrol assets will greatly enhance its patrol capabilities and prevent terrorists and other criminals from sneaking in.

“This situation will be best addressed through the modernization of our assets that we are now continuously pursuing, particularly the acquisition of the Philippine Fleet’s Fast Attack Interdiction Craft (FAIC) project and the Philippine Marine Corps’ Combat Raid and Interdiction Boats as well as its Small Unit Riverine Craft (SURC),” PN chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said.

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Source: pna.gov.ph

India, Nigeria resolve to deepen cooperation to counter terrorism, piracy

India and Nigeria on Tuesday vowed to deepen cooperation to counter terrorism, insurgency and piracy while also boosting trade exchanges as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with his Nigerian counterpart Geoffrey Onyeama.

The two foreign ministers discussed the entire gamut of India-Nigeria bilateral relations via video conferencing.

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Source: business-standard.com

ESSZone curfew extended until September 17th

Sabah

KOTA KINABALU-The confinement order in the waters of seven districts in the eastern zone of Sabah (ESSZone) which ended at 6 pm this day was extended until September 17.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said orders that prohibit the community in the area are involved out of the house or enter the waters of Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran to take effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.

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Source: sinarharian.com.my

Maritime piracy in Mexico… a ticking time bomb.

MEXICO CITY (Informex) – Communication equipment, diving equipment, tools, wiring, metal caps, navigation instruments, watches, cell phones, and even wallets, stolen by groups of pirates from oil platforms and ships that sail in the probe of Campeche, Dos Bocas, and Veracruz, are offered through the Internet, as well as in local markets and flea markets in the State of Mexico, Tabasco, Queretaro and Iztapalapa in Mexico City.

According to a federal government report, organized crime groups operating at sea -to which Organización Editorial Mexicana had access- pirates have increased their illegal activity in Mexican seas for several years now, forcing the federal government to entrust the control of the country’s seaports to the Navy.

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Source: theyucatantimes.com

Tema: Marine Security On Wild Hunt For Kidnappers Of 2 South Korean Sailors

Ghana’s Maritime Security has intensified a wild hunt to clamp down on some alleged kidnappers of two sailors believed to be South Korean nationals.

Authorities believe that the two abducted sailors were attacked by some unidentified gunmen on the waters off Ghana.

The victims were reportedly onboard a Ghanaian-flagged fishing vessel, AP 703 when it was attacked 200 kilometers southeast of the coastal city of Tema Friday night.

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Source: modernghana.com

IPMAN Launches Waterways Surveillance To Check Oil Theft

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria on Tuesday launched sea surveillance patrol boats in Rivers State to fight oil theft and sea piracy in Rivers State.

IPMAN also unveiled an operational base in the state to complement other surveillance operational bases across the country.

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Source: economicconfidential.com

Troops Rescue 13 Foreigners, 4 Nigerians Abducted by Pirates in N’Delta

SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE
15. Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have sustained the aggressive fight against economic sabotage in the zone with tremendous successes. For the month of August, subsidiary Operation SILENT HEAT was launched by Operation DELTA SAFE on 1 August 2020 for 90 days. The objective of the operation was to protect critical installations, Key Points and Vital Points as well as combat all forms of illegalities/crimes in the area. The operation is conducted in order to maintain conducive environment for oil and gas industries as well as other economic activities to thrive.
16. Since the activation of Operation SILENT HEAT, several arrests and deactivation of various militant camps have been made. Also, significantly, it was during the course of the operation that on 19 August 2020, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH intercepted a speed boat with 13 foreigners made of 7 Russians and 6 Ukrainians alleged to have been kidnapped by pirates in Lome waters. The 13 kidnapped foreigners as well as 4 Nigerians on the speed boat have been handed over to Defence Intelligence Agency on 24 August 2020 for further necessary action.

The above is an extract from the Nigerian Navy media update, which can be found here.
Source: prnigeria.com