Israeli Strikes Target Iranian Oil Bound for Syria

Campaign against ships, using mines, shows an expansion of hostilities in the Mideast

By Gordon Lubold, Benoit Faucon and Felicia Schwartz

WASHINGTON—Israel has targeted at least a dozen vessels bound for Syria and mostly carrying Iranian oil out of concern that petroleum profits are funding extremism in the Middle East, U.S. and regional officials say, in a new front in the conflict between Israel and Iran.

Since late 2019, Israel has used weaponry including water mines to strike Iranian vessels or those carrying Iranian cargo as they navigate toward Syria in the Red Sea and in other areas of the region.

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Source: wsj.com

Oil theft: Navy begins Exercise Cold Waters

From Femi Folaranmi

The Nigerian Navy as part of efforts to assess the combat readiness of the its’ men towards tackling maritime insecurity, especially crude oil theft and piracy within the Central Naval Command (CNC) Area of Operations (AOR), has flagged off exercise COLD WATERS (EX AMI JIJI).

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) CNC, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, who flagged off the exercise, yesterday ,disclosed that the overall objective is to work towards fulfilling the CNC mandate of securing the nation’s maritime space.

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Source: sunnewsonline.com

15 crew abducted from chemical tanker by pirates off Benin

Jason Jiang

A 2016-built chemical tanker have been boarded by pirates off Cotonou, Benin on Thursday and the 15 crew members onboard the ship have been kidnapped.

According to maritime safety consultancy Dryad Global, the 2016-built 19,800 dwt tanker Davide B, operated by Dutch company De Poli Shipmanagement, has been boarded by nine armed men.

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Source: splash247.com

NIMASA, Navy tackling insecurity, says Jamoh

By Muyiwa Lucas

The Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have strengthened maritime security with the deployment of hitech assets for vessel protection.

Both organisations are intensifying efforts to protect, interdict, and deter threats around vessels anchored in the Secure Anchorage Area (SAA), off the coast of Lagos.

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Source: thenationonlineng.net

PMSA seizes huge quantity of drugs, arrests five Iranian nationals

KARACHI – The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) in a joint operation with Pakistan Customs recovered huge quantity of narcotics and arrested five accused people. Addressing a news conference at PMSA headquarters, PMSA Deputy Director General Commander Faisal Sadiq said that PMSA and Customs Intelligence on a tip off conducted a joint operation in open sea recovering 2040 kilograms of hashish and arrested five Iranian nationals.

He said that the drugs were tactfully concealed in hidden captivity of a boat. The approximated value of the seized drugs was Rs816 million, he said.

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Source: nation.com.pk

ReCAAP issues alert regarding possible Abu Sayyaf Group kidnap efforts

The ReCAAP ISC has received information from the Philippine Coast Guard (ReCAAP Focal Point) about an incident involving a bulk carrier, Akij Pearl off Sibutu Island, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines on 3 March 2021 at about 1045 hrs. While the bulk carrier was underway, an unidentified speed boat with three perpetrators on board attempted to board the ship. The master reported the incident to the Philippine Navy Littoral Monitoring Station (LMS). There was no mention if the perpetrators were armed. Refer to map below on approximate location of incident.

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Source: recaap.org

Malaysia extends curfew in Sabah’s ESSZone until March 1

The curfew in the waters off seven districts in Malaysia’s Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) has been extended until March 1.

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The curfew in the waters off seven districts in Malaysia’s Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) has been extended until March 1.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said the curfew covers the waters off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.

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Source: en.vietnamplus.vn

Nigerian Navy deploys 14 warships to fight piracy

By Philip Nwosu

The Nigerian Navy has deployed 14 warships and two helicopters to tackle the rising cases of pirates attacks in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

Intelligence from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) had indicated an increase in sea crime around the GoG. The force reaffirmed its commitment to urgently restore normalcy in the nation’s maritime zone and emplace a conducive environment for maritime business to flourish.

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Source: sunnewsonline.com

Winston S. Churchill Seizes Illicit Weapons from Two Dhows off Somalia

INDIAN OCEAN – The guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) seized illicit shipments of weapons and weapons components from two stateless dhows during a maritime security operation in international waters off the coast of Somalia, Feb. 11-12.

Churchill’s Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) team and embarked joint service Advanced Interdiction Team (AIT) discovered the illicit cargo during a flag verification boarding conducted in accordance with international law and in international waters.

The cache of weapons consisted of thousands of AK-47 assault rifles, light machine guns, heavy sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and crew served weapons. Other weapon components included barrels, stocks, optical scopes and weapon systems.

The original source of the weapons has not yet been identified. Churchill located the dhows and provided more than 40 hours of over watch and security for the ship and its boarding teams throughout the two-day operation.

The dhow crews were provided food and water before being released.

“We are proud of the combined efforts of the AIT and Churchill crew members for executing dynamic and demanding boardings,” said Lt. Travis Dopp, Assistant AIT Leader aboard Churchill. “We are proud to have a positive impact on the safety and security of coalition forces by interdicting shipments of lethal aid.”

The seizure of the illicit weapons by Churchill was conducted as part of the U.S. Navy’s regular maritime security operations in the region. These routine patrols are performed to ensure the free flow of commerce for legitimate traffic and to disrupt the transport of illicit cargo that often funds terrorism and unlawful activity.

“This joint team [Army, Navy and Coast Guard] on board Churchill came together to successfully execute this operation over the course of two days in the Indian Ocean. These operations prevent nefarious actors from illegally spreading their lethal aid,” said Cdr. Timothy Shanley, commanding officer of Churchill.

Winston S. Churchill departed Norfolk, Virginia, Aug. 10 for a regularly-scheduled deployment to maintain maritime security and ensure the freedom of navigation in critical waterways.

U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, conducts joint and naval operations in order to support regional allies and partners and U.S. national security interests in the Middle East.

Source: navy.mil

HMS Montrose Seizes Over $15 Million Worth of Narcotics in Arabian Sea

The Royal Navy has intercepted over 5300 lbs (2400 kg) of illicit drugs as a result of back-to-back successful interdictions in the Arabian Sea.

The boarding team from HMS Montrose, operating under the command of CMF Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) found the drugs – with a combined estimated wholesale value of over $15 million (£10.9m) – following searches of suspicious vessels whilst undertaking a counter-narcotics patrol.

In the most recent operation, which lasted over ten hours, over 4700 lbs (2145 kg) of hashish, heroin, and methamphetamine were seized. This came just two days after a separate bust in which 606 lbs (275 kg) of heroin was seized in the same area.

Commander Ollie Hucker, HMS Montrose Commanding Officer said; “These interdictions have prevented significant amounts of illicit substances being sold on the streets, whilst denying criminal groups an income source often associated with the funding of terrorism.”

CTF-150 operates to disrupt the activity of criminal organisations, in particular narcotics and weapons smuggling. After taking command of the task force in late January 2021, The Royal Canadian Navy has already overseen multiple significant successful interdictions, of which these two are the latest.

“As Commander of Combined Task Force 150, my team is resolute in our objective to promote security, stability and prosperity in an area which comprises some of the world’s most important shipping routes,” said Commodore Dan Charlebois, Commander of CTF-150.

“This interdiction was a direct result of the collaborative effort between Task Force staff and HMS Montrose, to whose crew I send my personal thanks for their skill, determination and professionalism in a challenging environment. I look forward to future successes as we continue to work together as close partners towards our common goals.”

HMS Montrose is the Royal Navy’s Forward Deployed Frigate and has been in the region since early 2019. The UK actively supports several operations and multi-national task forces in the Middle East in order to protect international and British interests.

Source: combinedmaritimeforces.com