Saudi Arabia Impounding Aid Ships Bound for Yemen: Report

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Saudi Arabia has prevented 13 ships carrying energy derivatives and food for Yemenis from entering Yemen’s port of Hudaydah for over 40 days amid a humanitarian catastrophe in the Arab country, a report said.

According to Yemen’s Arabic-language al-Masirah television network, 13 ships destined for the impoverished Arab country have been impounded by the kingdom and diverted to the port of Jizan in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

The report added that the vessels had undergone inspection by the United Nations and obtained the relevant papers. So far, only one of the vessels has been allowed to leave the port of Jizan.

Back on November 23, the Yemeni minister of public health and population said it is estimated that every 10 minutes a child under the age of five dies from extreme hunger in the country, warning that the ongoing Saudi-led blockade is also taking a heavy toll on newborn babies.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its allies launched a devastating campaign against Yemen, with the goal of bringing the government of former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to power and eliminating the Houthi Ansarullah movement, whose fighters have been helping the Yemeni army significantly in defending the country against invaders since the onset of war.

The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, estimates that the war has so far claimed more than 100,000 lives.

The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy toll on Yemen’s infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories. According to the United Nations, more than 24 million people are in dire need of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme levels of hunger.

Source: tasnimnews.com

MarsecNews: For the sake of clarity, this information comes from an Iranian media outlet. Iran backs the Houthi rebels in the country. I know maritime security companies who assist the World Food Programme and they have not reported any difficulties (other than those normally expected in Yemen) in disembarking aid goods at ports such as Hodeidah.

Iran invites Qatar navy to attend IONS war game in Indian Ocean

Iranian Navy ships in Velayat-90 military exercise, by Mohammad Sadegh Heydari via Wikipedia

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Khanzadi invited Qatari army to participate in Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) military exercise in the Indian Ocean.

He made the remarks in his meeting with his Qatari counterpart in Doha late on Thu. after meeting with senior military commanders of Pakistan’s army.

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Source: en.mehrnews.com

Iran Unveils New Naval Drone

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Navy unveiled a homegrown combat drone on Saturday.

The unmanned aerial vehicle, dubbed Simorgh, was unveiled at a ceremony in the southeastern coastal city of Konarak, attended by Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi.

With a flight endurance of 24 hours, the drone can be used for combat, reconnaissance, and tactical operations, and electronic warfare.

Simorgh has a range of 1,500 kilometers and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet. It is the naval version of Shahed-129, a powerful combat drone that was mass-produced in 2013.

Shahed-129 is now in service in the fight against drug-traffickers and terrorists, patrol and reconnaissance missions along the territorial and sea borders, environmental operations, and for taking aerial images.

The combat version of Shahed-129 can carry a payload of 8 bombs or smart missiles and is designed to hit both fixed and mobile targets.

Source: tasnimnews.com

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

Iranian navy announces enhanced presence in Red Sea to protect navigation

Iran’s Navy commander, Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, said on Wednesday that the presence of his country’s troops in the Red Sea would be reinforced to protect navigation routes.

Khanzadi indicated, in a press statement issued by Fars News Agency today, that “the Red Sea’s maritime security has been undermined, as several oil tankers have been targeted in recent months, which requires further strengthening the presence of our troops in this zone.”

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Source: middleeastmonitor.com

Iran plans to raise Hormuz peace initiative at IMO summit in London

The managing director of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization, has said that the Iranian delegation plans to put forward the Hormuz peace initiative at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) summit in London.

In an interview with the IRIB on Monday, Mohammad Rastad said that security in the region must be maintained by the regional countries.

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Source: hellenicshippingnews.com

Mysteries of the Middle East Gulf: proxies, drones and spoofing

by Craig Jallal

Naval Dome S-Model cyber protection introduced

By Baibhav Mishra

To facilitate shipowner demand for an immediate cyber security solution for critical systems, Naval Dome has introduced a new software-based cyber protection that can be easily installed on all ship, port, or offshore OT systems, including navigational equipment, machinery control systems and cargo handling equipment.

S-Marine Dome and S-Port Dome are aimed at those ship, offshore energy and terminal operators requiring instant protection without having to go through lengthy type approval processes or can no longer afford to wait for suppliers to upgrade or replace critical systems.

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Source: seanews.co.uk

“Most spectacular fraud in shipping history”

by Craig Jallal

Ince Gordon Dadds partner Carrie Radford and senior associate Lucy Espley comment on the extraordinary Brillante Virtuoso case

In 2011, the 1992-built Suezmax tanker Brillante Virtuoso was within Yemeni waters waiting for a security team. A small boat approached carrying seven armed persons. The master allowed them to board, apparently believing they were the security team. The ‘security team’ hijacked the ship and within hours set the vessel on fire. The ship was abandoned, the crew was rescued by a passing ship and Brillante Virtuoso was later sold for scrap.

The vessel’s owner, Suez Fortune Investments Limited, and mortgagee bank, Piraeus Bank AE, brought a claim on the vessel’s war risks policy for a constructive total loss, totalling US$77M, claiming that the loss of the vessel was caused by piracy or hijacking.

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Source: rivieramm.com

Face-to-face with ruthless pirates who rule high seas

Ishaq Jumbe

In 2010, the Indian Ocean waters were a no go zone for merchant ships. Pirates ruled the waves and often, ships plying the lucrative and historic trade route would find themselves in the wrong hands.

But as the lawlessness went on, one group of pirates found themselves on the wrong end of the gun barrel one night in September 2012. On this day, their seawater-beaten Kalashnikovs met their match and by the time dawn broke, most of them lay dead, with others scattered in the high seas.

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Source: standardmedia.co.ke