Iran Warns US of Decisive Response to Trouble for Venezuela-Bound Tankers

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami warned the US that causing any disturbance to the Iranian oil tankers carrying fuel to Venezuela will draw a harsh and decisive response from the Islamic Republic.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a weekly cabinet session on Wednesday, General Hatami said the US and other countries are well aware that Iran will not hesitate to take serious action against any threat to its oil tankers that are bound for Venezuela.

Causing any disturbance to the oil tankers would be in violation of the international law and must draw a reaction from international organizations and countries that care about the security of maritime routes, he added.

Describing any action against the trade vessels as an act of piracy, he said, “Our policy is clear and we have announced explicitly that we will not tolerate any disturbance.”

If the disturbance continues and escalates, Iran will definitely show a decisive and crushing response, the defense minister added.

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sent a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, warning the US about sending troops to the Caribbean Sea with the aim of interfering with the transfer of Iran’s fuel to Venezuela.

Zarif has stressed that the US must give up bullying on the world stage and respect the rule of international law, especially free shipping in the high seas.

Source: tasnimnews.com

IMSC Comment on Incident in Gulf of Aden

BAHRAIN

05.19.2020

Story by NAVCENT Public Affairs 

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet

The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) monitored an incident involving a United Kingdom flagged tanker which was approached in the international waters of the Gulf of Aden, May 17.

Initial reports indicated the Stolt Apal tanker was approached by two speed boats approximately 100 miles off the coast of Yemen. The incident occurred in IMSC’s area of operations.

“While we do not yet know who is responsible for this incident, it serves as an example of the behaviour IMSC is here to deter,” said Commodore Rob Bellfield, IMSC commander.

No immediate threat to the free flow of shipping was assessed, and no further action was taken by IMSC vessels or aircraft.

The multi-national, British-led IMSC deploys ships and aircraft throughout the region as part of the international surveillance and detection effort, ensuring freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce in international waters.

Source: dvidshub.net

Nigeria to prosecute pirates under new law

By

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has restated its commitment to collaborate with relevant agencies and stakeholders for the security of the country’s maritime domain.

Director-General of the agency, Bashir Jamoh, stated this in Lagos during the official handover of pirates arrested by the Nigerian Navy for prosecution.

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Source: shipsandports.com.ng

Spike in sea piracy threatens offshore oil storage

By Sulaimon Salau

Rising activities of pirates in the Gulf of Guinea is posing serious threats to offshore oil storage model currently adopted by oil multinationals in the wake of supply glut.

This is even as speculations are rife that the coronavirus pandemic may lead to a spike in tanker vessel attacks and possible kidnappings.

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Source: guardian.ng

Marsec News: I’m aware of anecdotal reports from friends in the oil and gas industry in the region of pirates buzzing facilities and oil platforms in the region. They happen frequently and are rarely reported. Partly, this is because the pirates are chased off by patrol boats without attacking and partly because incidents continue to be under reported in the Gulf of Guinea. If tankers are used as storage platforms in the region, then they will almost certainly be targeted by kidnap and ransom gangs looking for easy targets.

Three sailors kidnapped by pirates off Gabon released

Three sailors, two Moroccans and an Equatorial Guinean, abducted nearly two months ago in the attack on their merchant ship off Gabon in the Gulf of Guinea, the epicentre of global maritime piracy, have been released in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea announced.

On 21 March, an Equatorial Guinean-flagged merchant ship, the Elobey 6, was attacked by unidentified pirates off the Gabonese port of Port-Gentil. The three sailors had been kidnapped.

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Source: voaafrique.com

Nigerian Navy Thwarts Hijacking of Chinese Fishing Vessel

The Chinese fishing trawler Hailufeng 11, licensed to fish in Côte d’Ivoire, was taken by pirates on Thursday, May 14 in the Ivorian exclusive economic zone with 18 crewmembers aboard – eight Chinese, seven Ivorian and three Ghanaian. Through rapid and engaged cooperation among a number of different African states and institutions, the vessel was tracked, and the Nigerian Navy was able to interdict it 140 nautical miles south of the Lagos Fairway Buoy at about 2210 local time on the night of May 16.

When approached, the pirates refused to stop, and the Nigerian Navy’s Special Boat Service, embarked on the NNS Nguru, performed an opposed boarding while underway at 9 knots. The dramatic rescue was hugely successful, as all 18 hostages were recovered, 10 pirates were arrested, and the vessel was safely escorted into Lagos.

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Source: maritime-executive.com

Somali pirates attack UK-flagged tanker in Gulf of Aden

UKMTO and media outlets report that on May 17th, the UK-flagged Stolt Apal was attacked by suspected Somali pirates in two skiffs, in the IRTC, Gulf of Aden.

The initial UKMTO report stated that at approximately 1230UTC a MV was attacked in position 1343N 05037.4E. Follow up media reports added that Stolt-Nielsen had confirmed the incident, reporting that two skiffs with six persons on board had approached the ship at high speed.

The tanker’s armed security team fired warning shots, which the pirates ignored and fired on the vessel. The ship’s security team returned fire, apparently disabling one of the skiffs which ended the attack.

The Stolt Apal’s bridge sustained minor gunshot damage but the vessel was otherwise unharmed and no injuries were reported.

The attack comes after a long period of calm in the Indian Ocean as far as piracy is concerned. However, analysts have long warned that the economic and social conditions for piracy remain in Somalia, and these could potentially be exarcerbated  by the impact of the coronavirus both ashore and at sea in terms of maritime security provision.

It is imperative that the shipping industry avoids becoming complacent and continues to follow BMP 5 measures while transiting the region.

Iranian tankers head to Venezuela as US warships deploy to Caribbean

BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:00 A.M.) – At least five Iranian fuel tankers are on the way to Venezuela to help the South American nation with their fuel crisis.

According to reports, the first Iranian tanker, Fortune, has already entered Atlantic waters while the last tanker, Clavel, crossed the Suez Canal and entered the Mediterranean Sea. These shipments mark one of the first times in recent memory that Iran has sent such a large amount of fuel to Venezuela.

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Source: almasdarnews.com

Pirates Still Make No Demands Regarding Russians Kidnapped In Gulf Of Guinea – Moscow

Faizan Hashmi

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 15th May, 2020) No demands have yet been heard from pirates that are believed to have kidnapped several Russian nationals in the Gulf of Guinea, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

“Until now, the pirates have not got in touch and have not put forward any requirements. The Russian embassy in Cameroon is actively working with the authorities of Equatorial Guinea and the shipowner company to help establish the whereabouts of the abducted Russian citizens and secure their speedy release.

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Source: urdupoint.com

U.S. Maritime Stakeholders Launch Cyber Threat Clearinghouse

A group of American seaports and maritime stakeholders have decided to address cybersecurity threats by launching a new non-profit, the Maritime Transportation System Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MTS-ISAC).

The new organization’s objective is to promote cybersecurity information sharing throughout the maritime community. A group of leaders from seaports, shipowners and terminal operators recognized the need to improve their own cybersecurity resiliency, and since resources are limited, they realized the best approach was to work with their peers to identify, protect against, and detect cyber threats. Information sharing and analysis efforts will focus on threats to both information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems, which stakeholders can use to prevent or minimize potential cyber incidents.

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Source: maritime-executive.com