Saudi Boosts Arabian Gulf Security by Acquiring World’s Fastest Interceptor Speedboats

Obaid al-Suheimy

The Royal Saudi Navy reinforced its fleet with the world’s fastest speedboats and is preparing to receive a new batch of combat aircraft. The military boost is aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Arabian Gulf and protecting vital and strategic interests of Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, the Saudi Navy organized a celebration at the Ras Mashaab military port, located 236 km north of Dammam. During the event, three speedboats joined the fleet of marine vessels.

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Source: aawsat.com

S. Korea to send troops to Hormuz Strait independently to safeguard people, vessels

SEOUL, Jan. 21 (Yonhap) — South Korea will dispatch troops to the Strait of Hormuz by expanding operational areas of its anti-piracy unit deployed nearby to help protect its vessels passing through the strategic waterway, the defense ministry announced Tuesday.

The forces, however, will not join a U.S.-led coalition, but conduct independent operations, the ministry noted, apparently in consideration of relations with Tehran and Washington’s request for contribution to its campaign to secure the waters off Iran.

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Source: en.yna.co.kr

UN adopts resolution renewing authorization for Somalia anti-piracy measures

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) — United Nations Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted Resolution 2500 renewing the authorization for Somalia anti-piracy measures to December of 2020.

The United States-drafted resolution has decided to renew for 12 months the authorization for states and regional organizations cooperating with Somalia to enter into Somali territorial waters and use all necessary means for the purpose of repressing acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea.

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Source: xinhuanet.com

Navy playing Op Copper cards close to the chest – military observers not impressed

An SA Navy decision not to comment on an Operation Copper anti-piracy deployment has not improved the public image or perception of the maritime service of the national defence force, with experts cautioning this is a step backwards in terms of transparency.

When defenceWeb earlier this month requested some detail on an apparent upcoming deployment to the Mozambique Channel the official SA Navy response was: “This is an operational matter and we cannot comment on it”.

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Source: defenceweb.co.za

Indian Navy steps up anti-piracy patrol

Dinakar Peri

In an expansion of its Mission Based Deployments (MBD) in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Navy deployed its P-8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft for anti-piracy sorties from Salalah in Oman to patrol the Gulf of Aden.

“Long-range maritime reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft P-8I undertakes anti-piracy patrol sorties from Salalah in the Gulf of Aden and other piracy prone areas in keeping with our MBD philosophy, to keep IOR safe and secure for all,” Navy spokesperson Captain D.K. Sharma said in a tweet on Saturday.

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Source: thehindu.com

Anti-piracy patrol targets Yemen fishermen

BySAEED AL-BATATI, QUSAYIR, YEMEN

A global anti-piracy task force deployed in the Arabian Sea to protect shipping lanes has engaged in invasive and violent searches and seizures of small Yemeni fishing vessels with apparent impunity, fishermen told Asia Times.

Multiple fishermen from Yemen’s southeastern province of Hadramout say international warships, most recently from the Indian navy, have targeted them in deep water and sometimes even in Yemen’s territorial waters. The perceived harassment has spread panic in fishing communities along the Yemeni coast, compelling many to shorten their voyages and others to abandon the profession entirely – some even taking up arms in the war.

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Source: asiatimes.com

Anti-piracy firm ARX Maritime cheers overseas growth

HANNAH BURLEY

Anti-piracy equipment developer ARX Maritime has unveiled a four-fold rise in revenues after enjoying rapid international growth.

Sales at the Edinburgh-based firm, which develops self-install anti-piracy barriers to protect seafaring vessels, have risen by 300 per cent year-on-year since the business was formed in 2016.

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Source: scotsman.com

Iranian Navy sends 61st flotilla to Bab-el-Mandeb Strait

The Iranian Navy has dispatched its 61st flotilla to Bab-el-Mandab Strait to safeguard maritime routes used by Iranian vessels, Commander of the Iranian Navy’s Southern Fleet Rear Admiral Afshin Tashk said on Sunday.

The navy chief added that the fleet, which consists of Sabalan destroyer and a logistic warship named Bandar Abbas, set off on Saturday for the international waters to safeguard maritime routes used by Iranian vessels, especially in the strategic strait of Bab-el-Mandab, which links the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea.

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Source: en.mehrnews.com

Gov’t to carry out counter-piracy drill

SEOUL, March 14 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s ocean ministry said Thursday it will carry out a joint counter-piracy drill with the Navy and shipping companies to prepare for various contingencies.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the training will be conducted on Friday in waters off the southern coast with the Navy’s Cheonghae Unit, which was created around a decade ago for anti-piracy operations off the Somali coast, taking part.

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Source: en.yna.co.kr