We cover piracy, armed robbery at sea, IUU fishing, maritime cyber security and maritime security issues.
By Uchenna Eletuo
Lagos – Mr Bayo Oyekan, a ship captain, on Monday appealed to stakeholders to support the Nigerian Navy to check the incidence of piracy on the nation’s waters.
Oyekan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the lukewarm attitude of other agencies that were supposed to support the Navy in checking piracy had made the incidence to rise in the Gulf of Guinea.
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Source: sundiatapost.com
Reports state that a passenger boat was attacked by armed men around 30nm South of Calabar, Nigeria at 0600 LT. Seven armed robbers in one skiff approached the passenger/ro-ro ship and boarded her. They robbed passengers before making off with a reported five hostages.
I have additional details but am waiting for an official incident report before.
The 13th Governing Council Meeting of the ReCAAP ISC was held on 19 to 22 March 2019 in Singapore, hosted by the Singapore Government. The Council reviewed the activities of ReCAAP ISC in FY2018 and deliberated on its activities for FY2019 and beyond. On 22 March 2019, the Open Session was held with External Participants comprising representatives from three countries and 13 organisations.
The Council commended ReCAAP ISC on producing positive results in respect to its activities in FY2018 under the three pillars of its mission, i.e., information sharing, capacity building and cooperative arrangement.
The Council reviewed the progress of the implementation of the Roadmap for the Future of ReCAAP ISC and appreciated the continued progress as well as new initiatives ReCAAP ISC has made under the Roadmap as a Centre of Excellence for information sharing.
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Source: seanews.co.uk
By Odita Sunday, Jesutomi Akomolafe (Lagos), Kanayo Umeh, Sodiq Omolaoye (Abuja) and Ayodele Afolabi (Ado-Ekiti)
The Nigerian Navy (NN) is seeking better collaboration and understanding with maritime stakeholders for effective prosecution of pirates and sea robbers.
It said that lack of collaboration among relevant government agencies had been the reason why suspects are granted bail in court.
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Source: guardian.ng
Economic development in coastal communities will help stem the flow of illegal behavior.
By Jay Benson
Maritime insecurity in the Sulu and Celebes Seas is a persistent challenge. These waterways have recently been used to conduct incursions into Lahad Datu, orchestrate kidnap for ransom activities by militant groups such as Abu Sayyaf, and facilitate illegal wildlife trafficking. Governments in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia have responded with increased maritime enforcement capacity and presence, as well as enhanced international coordination. Although these are important efforts that need to be maintained, an exclusive focus on enforcement capacity risks ignoring an equally important facet of maritime insecurity: economic exclusion and inequality in coastal communities.
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Source: thediplomat.com
by Radhica De Silva
Cedros fishermen are calling for more patrols, saying Venezuelan pirates are attacking local fishermen in territorial waters.
A day after Minister of National Security Stuart Young visited Cedros, pirates accosted a group of fishermen off the Bonasse jetty and stole their nets. During an interview at Fullarton Beach on Monday, fisherman Raesh Ramdass said it was becoming impossible to fish in local waters because the Venezuelan pirates were operating openly at nights under the noses of the T&T Coast Guard. He said the pirates have moved out of the Venezuelan rivers and were looking for easy targets on the open seas.
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Source: guardian.co.tt
(Trinidad Guardian) Desperate to escape Venezuelan pirates, two kidnapped fishermen jumped off their abductors’ boat on Monday night and took their chances in the sea. Unfortunately, only one of them managed to make it home safely.
Bruised and traumatised Keyon Alexander, 29, of La Union Road, Erin, arrived home around 3 pm yesterday, less than 24 hours after he was kidnapped. He had spent the night swimming desperately and screaming for help from passing boats.
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Source: stabroeknews.com
By Chinweisu Amuta
Globally, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre, based in Singapore, recorded 201 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery in 2018, up from 180 in 2017. The Gulf of Guinea remained increasingly dangerous for seafarers as reports of attacks in waters between the Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo more than doubled in 2018.
The expansion of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea poses a dire threat to local economies, potentially undermining what little stability currently exists in the region. Oil revenue, which many countries in the region rely upon, is seriously threatened by pirate activity; seven per cent of Nigeria’s oil wealth is believed lost due to such criminality.
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Source: guardian.ng
SOUTH CHINA SEA – U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) conducted a maritime cooperative activity with Philippine Navy (PN) vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF 16), March 19.
Following Blue Ridge’s port visit to Manila in which 7th Fleet-Philippine Navy staff talks were held, the routine drills strengthened both navies’ ability to communicate, maneuver and operate together. The U.S. and Philippine navies routinely conduct engagements, exercises and port visits like this and have done so for decades.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the relationships we’ve built with our allies in the Philippines,” said Capt. Eric Anduze, commanding officer of USS Blue Ridge. “Having the opportunity to work closely with them at sea only strengthens our crew’s ability to operate in the Indo-Pacific.”
Exercises like MTA Sama Sama, Balikatan, SEACAT and RIMPAC enhance maritime cooperation between both navies, while annual missions like Pacific Partnership bolster humanitarian assistance disaster relief (HADR) capabilities.
Blue Ridge recently completed a nearly 2-year extended dry-dock selected restricted availability period and numerous certifications, to ensure she remains ready to provide security in the Indo-Pacific region. Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. Eric Anduze and serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force.
Source: dvidshub.net
By YUSUF BABALOLA
Nigerian importers have paid about $2.74 billion (N987.77 billion at prevailing rate of N360/$) in three years following the categorisation of Nigerian waters as a war risk, a development that spiked insurance premiums slammed on vessels and cargoes destined for Nigeria.
LEADERSHIP recalls that foreign shipping companies slammed war surcharge premium, a supplementary carrier charge that is only applied when insurance underwriters designate specific zones as war risks.
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Source: leadership.ng
Maritime Security News 