West Africa: the center of maritime piracy, armed robbery and kidnap

Nearly all maritime kidnappings and hostage-takings in the nine months to the end of September this year took place in or near the Gulf of Guinea, said global maritime piracy watchdog the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

New data from the IMB shows that worldwide there have been 70 actual kidnappings of seafarers and 49 hostage-takings year to date. The West African country of Guinea alone saw 23 hostage-takings, Nigeria a further 12 and the West African country of Togo an additional seven. Cameroon and Nigeria were hot spots for kidnapping, too.

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Source: freightwaves.com

RAAF deploys P-8A Poseidon to Middle East for maritime security

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has deployed a P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the Middle East in support of a US-led internal maritime security coalition.

Australia is a member of the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), which includes the US, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UK.

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Source: airforce-technology.com

Pakistan Navy joins Trans Regional Maritime Network

Pakistan Navy joined 32-member Trans Regional Maritime Network (T-RMN), based in Italy. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi formally signed the ‘Note of Accession’ for joining the organization at Naval Headquarters, Islamabad. Ambassador of the Italian Republic Stefano Pontecorvo was also present at the occasion.

Trans Regional Maritime Network (T-RMN) was established in 2008 to facilitate exchange of maritime information at Trans Regional level amongst the participating nations. By joining T-RMN community, Pakistan Navy will have access to maritime related information which will augment the comprehensive maritime picture already being maintained at Joint Maritime Information Coordination Center (JIMCC) of Pakistan Navy at Karachi.

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Source: brecorder.com

Relatives of fishermen in fatal Corentyne piracy battling to come to terms with loss

On October 5th, 2019, four Corentyne fishermen left home to head out to sea to ply their trade with the intention of returning with an income to take care of their families.

Those families are now left to not only fend for themselves but to also mourn the loss of their loved ones as one week after leaving home, the men’s boat was found aback of Cromarty Village, Corentyne. There was no sign of the fishermen.

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Source: stabroeknews.com

Security expert seeks collaboration among littoral states

By Shulammite ‘Foyeku

Former President, Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN), Captain George Alily (rtd), has called for increased collaboration in information sharing among littoral states in the country to support the maritime security architecture being put in place by the government to secure the nation’s waterways against pirates’ attacks.

Speaking against the backdrop of the latest global piracy report released by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) for the third quarter of 2019, which showed a reduction in cases of pirates attack in the country, Alily said the development is an indication that the Government was stepping up its efforts at improving maritime security.

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Source: shipsandports.com.ng

Abu Sayyaf holds three kidnapped Indonesians in Sulu village

By: Stefyanie Myla Micheal, Zam Yusa

Kota Kinabalu: The three Indonesian fishermen kidnapped in waters off Tambisan island, Kinabatangan on Sept 23, are being held by the Abu Sayyaf group led by a sub-leader wanted by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in a village in Indanan town, Sulu, southern Philippines, Daily Express has been able to confirm.

A terrorism researcher at Jakarta-based think-tank Galatea, Ulta Levenia Nababan, said the kidnappers [MSN: I assume they mean the hostages] are currently being held by Salip Mura’s group.

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Source: dailyexpress.com.my

NSCDC arrests 23 suspected oil thieves in Rivers

Chukwudi Akasike

The Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested 23 suspected oil thieves and seized a vessel and 20 vehicles used in conveying stolen petroleum products.

The suspects, according to the state NSCDC Commandant, Mr Muktar Lawal, were apprehended in various parts of the state.

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Source: punchng.com

Philippines: Kidnappers Demand Ransom for British Man and Wife

The gunmen who abducted a British national and his Filipina wife have demanded 50 million pesos (almost U.S. $1 million) in exchange for their freedom, a Philippine military official said Thursday.

This came as the Philippine Coast Guard announced it had deployed its anti-terror unit and a high-speed boat to beef up the military’s search-and-rescue mission in the porous coastlines of the Zamboanga peninsula in the southern Philippines.

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Source: benarnews.org

Trawler Fined $1 Million in Ghana

A trawler has been apprehended in Ghanaian waters having caught at least 13.9 tonnes of small pelagic fish in a single day, using illegal nets.

The small-mesh nets found on board – which are illegal for an industrial trawler – indicate that the vessel was specifically targeting small pelagics. Analysis of the catch also showed that a significant proportion were undersized juveniles.

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Source: maritime-executive.com

MPA Tables Major Cybersecurity Collaboration

By Max Schwerdtfeger

The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has tabled a proposal to form and lead an initiative to increase maritime security called the ‘Port Authorities Chief Information Officer Cybersecurity Network” (PACC-Net).

The proposal was made at the 5^th Edition of the Port Authorities (PAR) 2019 and the initiative will look to enhance cybersecurity awareness in the maritime sector and facilitate early sharing of cyber-attack information to counter threats.

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Source: porttechnology.org