We cover piracy, armed robbery at sea, IUU fishing, maritime cyber security and maritime security issues.
Master asked about crew and cargo before armed patrol ships departed
By Gary Dixon
A US-flagged boxship has reported being surrounded by heavily armed Iranian patrol boats on Thursday in the Strait of Hormuz.
Security consultancy Ambrey said the incident took place 16 nautical miles south-east of Abu Musa at 0300 UTC.
To continue reading, please click here.
Source: tradewindsnews.com
The French Navy has suspended its Mission Corymbe off West Africa due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, and withdrawn a vessel from the area.
The patrol vessel Lieutenant de Vaisseau Le Henaff, which departed Brest on 3 March for West Africa, returned to France at the end of the month. During its return voyage it stopped in Conakry and Dakar.
To continue reading, please click here.
Source: defenceweb.co.za
The European Union is stepping up its efforts to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya, thereby contributing to the peace process in the country, through the launch of a new CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policy) military operation in the Mediterranean.
The Council today adopted a decision launching Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI.
Only political solutions and the full respect of the UN arms embargo will bring a solution to the Libyan crisis. But diplomacy cannot succeed unless it is backed by action. This operation will be essential and a clear contribution to promoting peace in our immediate neighbourhood through a permanent ceasefire.
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and President of the Council
IRINI, (Greek for “peace”), will have as its core task the implementation of the UN arms embargo through the use of aerial, satellite and maritime assets. In particular the mission will be able to carry out inspections of vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya suspected to be carrying arms or related material to and from Libya in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2292 (2016).
As secondary tasks, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI will also:
IRINI will be led by Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini as EU Operation Commander, and its headquarters will be located in Rome, Italy.
The mandate of Operation IRINI will initially last until 31 March 2021, and will be under the close scrutiny of EU Member States, that will exercise political control and strategic direction through the Political and Security Committee (PSC), under the responsibility of the Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
In parallel with the launch of Operation IRINI, the existing EUNAVFOR MED operation in the Mediterranean, SOPHIA, will permanently cease its activities.
Background
Participants at the Berlin Conference on Libya on 19 January 2020 committed in particular to fully respect and implement the arms embargo established by the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1970 (2011), 2292 (2016) and 2473 (2019).
Against this background, the Council reached a political agreement to launch a new operation in the Mediterranean, aimed at implementing the UN arms embargo on Libya by using aerial, satellite and maritime assets on 17 February 2020.
EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA was launched on 22 June 2015 as part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to migration, and will cease permanently on 31 March.
Source: consilium.europa.eu
In response to ongoing maritime security issues in the Gulf of Guinea, maritime organisations including BIMCO, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and the ICS, in conjunction with international P&I Clubs and military advisers, have created new guidance for shipping.
Best Management Practices to Enhance Maritime Security for Vessels & Mariners Operating Off the Coast of West Africa including the Gulf of Guinea (BMP WA), is a mouthful, but is essential reading for anyone transiting the region. It follows similar guidance documents for the Indian Ocean and should be considered the de facto guide for maritime security guidance in the region.
To download BMP WA, please click here.
The captain of a US aircraft carrier carrying more than 4,000 crew has called for urgent help to halt a coronavirus outbreak on his ship.
Scores of people on board the Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the infection. The carrier is currently docked in Guam.
“We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die,” Captain Brett Crozier wrote in a letter to the Pentagon.
Captain Crozier recommended quarantining almost the entire crew.
In the letter Captain Crozier said that with large numbers of sailors living in confined spaces on the carrier isolating sick individuals was impossible.
The coronavirus’ spread was now “ongoing and accelerating”, he warned, in the letter dated 30 March.
“Decisive action is needed,” he said.
“Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed US nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure. This is a necessary risk.”
It is not clear how many crew members on the Theodore Roosevelt have the coronavirus. The San Francisco Chronicle, which first reported on the letter, said at least 100 sailors were infected.
Speaking to Reuters news agency, a US Navy spokesman said the service was “moving quickly to take all necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt”.
Source: bbc.co.uk
MANAMA, BAHRAIN
03.30.2020
Courtesy Story
The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) has been practicing several safety precautions to promote the health and safety of all its members with the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
No members of the IMSC have fallen ill to COVID-19 as of current.
“The well-being of IMSC personnel is critical to our mission,” said Commodore James Parkin, commander of Combined Task Force Sentinel, headquartered in Bahrain. “However, with a pandemic such as this, our people become the mission. We must ensure good health for the sake of their families and each other.”
Personnel supporting IMSC headquarters typically work in close quarters, however, as the need for social distancing has increased, so have the rules for how the day-to-day operations are conducted.
“Our operational tempo remains constant,” said Parkin. “fortunately our ships are unaffected and their mission continues. On shore, we have rescheduled meetings for mission-critical members only, reconfigured our work stations to allow a six-foot distance, and pay particular attention to the cleanliness of work stations and personal hygiene.”
Hand sanitizer, bleach wipes, anti-viral cleaning sprays, and soap and water are readily available throughout the work area. The team breaks at least four times per day to conduct cleaning stations.
The Multi-national, British-led IMSC deploys advanced capabilities through the region as part of a surveillance and detection effort, leading to de-escalation and deterrence through transparency. The IMSC ensures freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce in international waters throughout the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Oman.
Source: dvidshub.net
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre has been alerted by Malaysian intelligence that an Abu Sayyaf kidnap for ransom group left Jolo Island in the far south of the Philippines, yesterday destined for Sabah, Malaysia.
Security consultants Ambrey suggest the target area is understood to be around Felda Sahabat and Tambisan.
To continue reading, please click here.
Source: splash247.com
Nigeria’s Department of Petroleum Resources has instructed oil and gas firms to reduce the workforce on offshore platforms. The measure is part of the government’s plans to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in the country.
The restrictions come after the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) announced six workers on the Siem Marlin offshore rig were diagnosed with Covid-19 late last week, according to Reuters.
To continue reading, please click here.
Source: offshore-technology.com
Liberia-flagged containership MV Lana escaped pirate attack on Friday while sailing south of Bonny Island, Nigeria.
A skiff with six people on board attacked the ship and fired shots at the vessel, according to Dryad Global. The attack took place 99 nautical miles south off Bonny Island, and 30 nautical miles south-east from the Engine Terminal.
To continue reading, please click here.
Source: shipsandports.com.ng
HMAS Toowoomba has interdicted over 3,000 kilograms of illegal narcotics including hashish and heroin in the Gulf of Aden.
The Anzac class frigate is deployed under Operation MANITOU, Australia’s contribution to support international efforts to promote security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East Region.
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said this is the first seizure by HMAS Toowoomba since arriving in the Middle East over a month ago.
“The interdiction of these narcotics helps deny the financial pathway that terrorist organisations use to fund their criminal activities in the Middle East region,” Minister Reynolds said.
“The crew of HMAS Toowoomba can be proud of their achievements and the support they are providing to the Combined Maritime Forces.
“I also extend my thanks to the crew’s family and friends for continuing to support those on-board as they serve their nation.”
Commander Joint Task Force 633, Major General Susan Coyle, CSC, DSM commended the personnel on-board Toowoomba.
“The smugglers’ ingenuity in hiding the sizeable amount of drugs was overcome by hard work and lateral thinking from these well-trained teams,” Major General Coyle said.
“Sailors used specialised search techniques and equipment to discover the drugs which were contained inside void spaces, and all of the narcotics were subsequently destroyed at sea.”
The seizure took place on 19 March 2020 in support of the Combined Maritime Forces, an enduring multinational taskforce of 33 nations committed to disrupting terrorist organisations and illegal activities in the maritime domain.
During her deployment, HMAS Toowoomba is also working with international partners to monitor and deter destabilising activity and support the safe passage of commercial and civilian shipping under the International Maritime Security Construct.
This is the Royal Australian Navy’s 68th deployment to the Middle East Region since 1990 and the sixth mission for HMAS Toowoomba
Source: minister.defence.gov.au
Maritime Security News 