France kickstarts European mission in the Strait of Hormuz

French destroyer Chevalier Paul, via Wikipedia/Michael Davies

PARIS (Reuters) – France announced on Thursday the beginning of the European Maritime Awareness mission in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASoH), intended to ensure the freedom of navigation in the Gulf while promoting a de-escalation approach with Iran.

The French government has pushed for a European security alternative in the Strait of Hormuz after ruling out taking part in a U.S.-led coalition protecting oil tankers and cargo ships from what Washington says is a threat from Iran.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: reuters.com

UKMTO Advisory Notice 001/JAN/2020

Date: 29th January 2020
Location: 253400N,0550400E

INCIDENT TYPE: SOLAS INCIDENT (VESSEL ON FIRE)

UKMTO has received reports that a vessel is on fire in position 2534N 05504E (21NM North West of SHARJAH)

VESSELS TRANSITING THE AREA ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION This Advisory is not classified as a Maritime Security Event and has not been verified by UKMTO. This information is provided to inform maritime situational awareness for mariners operating in the region. UKMTO is not responsible for the accuracy of this reporting.

Source: ukmto.org

Navy offers Sri Lanka help in fighting drug trafficking, human smuggling

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi on Wednesday completed his five-day official visit to Sri Lanka aimed at strengthening naval ties between the two countries and offering help to the island nation in combating organised transnational crime at sea.

Admiral Abbasi, according to Pakistan Navy, during his stay in Colombo met Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary retired major general Kamal Gunaratne and three Sri Lankan services chiefs.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: dawn.com

UK takes charge of coalition Gulf mission to protect ships from Iran

Britain has taken over command from the United States of a maritime security mission in the Gulf to protect global shipping from the threat of attack by Iran.

Royal Navy Commodore James Parkin took charge of the seven-nation coalition on Thursday from US Rear Admiral Alvin Holsey at a ceremony at a US naval base in Bahrain.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: klfm967.co.uk

Philippines: Two kidnapping suspects shot dead

KOTA KINABALU: Two of the six men suspected to have kidnapped five Indonesian fishermen in Malaysian waters earlier this month have been shot dead by Philippine security forces.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Hazani Ghazali said the suspects were killed in a shootout with Philippine security forces two days ago.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: theborneopost.com

Pirates Hide In Tarkwa-Bay To Commit Crimes – Rear Admiral Daji

Ronke Idowu

Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, the Commander of Operation Awatse, says Tarkwa-bay is a hideout for sea robbers and officially it is a non-residential area.

Daji disclosed these on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television breakfast programme, Sunrise daily. Speaking concerning the eviction of Tarkwa-bay residents, Daji described this as a clearance operation code-named Operation Kuronbe (Yoruba word meaning Leave There).

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: channelstv.com

Maritime industry now a major target for computer cyber attacks

Posted by: Amilia Stone

Major advances in the rapidly changing maritime industry have made this area a top target for an increasing number of sophisticated cyber criminals. Their computer attacks are threatening vessels and ports that facilitate 95% of all UK trade – totalling around £500 billion.

Says Rick Flood, managing director of leading cybercrime firm Falanx Cyber, part of the Falanx Group: ‘We are regularly seeing reports of ransomware attacks. These are where computer systems are compromised and payments – often extortionate – demanded to unlock them’.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: directorstalkinterviews.com

Marsec News: I recommend the Cyber Security Workbook for On Board Ship Use, which I discuss here.

West African ‘pirates’ are revolutionary rebels, says freed Filipino seafarers

Raffy Ayeng

ABDUCTORS, who spread fear and terror in West African waters and are responsible for the rising cases of kidnapping in Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, among others, are mostly ex-militant members of a group who steal crude oil fromtanker ships and sell it to buyers on the black market.

In an exclusive interview by The Manila Times, the two freed Filipino seafarers said most of their abductors were former high-ranking officials of the Nigerian military who broke away from the government.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: manilatimes.net

Oil and Gas: Expert warns of risk of terrorist attack at sea

MarsecNews: Please note that this post was automatically translated from French into English and some errors may occur.

By Birama THIOR

The future major terrorist attack after 9/11 could be navy. This is an alert made on Tuesday by Gorgui Sy, coordinator of the world’s largest LNG tanker suggests the establishment of a joint patrol unit in the sub-region to defend oil and gas facilities.

This is an exit worthy of a warning. The retired commander’s on potential terrorist attacks. “There is a whole system of security to be put in place around, especially in Senegal where we do not have these boats but we do not have a very dangerous zone certainly. But the exploitation of oil and gas always elicits malicious people who will want to show up or do things that don’t match what is expected,” Mr. Sy said on Rfm, noting that Senegal can set up its own shipping company if conditions are right.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: senego.com

No ransom demand from kidnappers of 5 Indonesians, say cops

Jason Santos

LAHAD DATU: The captors of the five Indonesian workers off Tambisan waters on Jan 15 have not made any ransom demand, said Sabah police commissioner Omar Mammah.

“Until today, we have not received any demand for ransom money from the kidnappers. We are investigating to find out who the masterminds are,” he said during a visit to the Lahad Datu police headquarters today.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: freemalaysiatoday.com