We cover piracy, armed robbery at sea, IUU fishing, maritime cyber security and maritime security issues.
By Monday Ijeh
Abuja – Troops of Sector II Operation “DELTA SAFE” have arrested three sea robbers and killed one suspect in a gun battle in Bayelsa.
Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operation disclosed this during a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja. He said the notorious sea robbery gang encountered by the troops on April 3, had been on the wanted list of the troops.
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Source: sundiatapost.com
KOTA KINABALU, April 5 — The curfew in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) which ends 6 pm today has been extended until April 20.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Zaini Jas said with the extension of the curfew, people living in the area were required to stay indoors and would not be allowed to be in the waters there between 6 pm and 6 am during the period.
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Source: malaymail.com
Evidence suggests that Iran has deployed an array of anti-ship missiles and large rockets overlooking Strait of Hormuz. The Strait is vital for the supply of oil from the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The waterway is being patrolled by U.S. Navy and its allies to protect vessels from Iranian action.
Multiple amateur videos and photos of the weapons lined up on overlooking the beach began surfacing on social media on April 4. Geospatial analysis has confirmed that the location of one of the batteries is on Qeshm Island.
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Source: forbes.com
The Defence Headquarters on Tuesday said that the Nigerian Navy has located two illegal refineries around Opumami in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State. This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Brigadier-General Benard Onyeuko.
It stated that the sites were located by the Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA patrol teams which conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft (COT)/anti-illegal bunkering operations in its Area of Operation during the week.
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Source: tribuneonlineng.com
Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry said the drugs had an estimated street value in Colombo of about 12,500 million rupees ($65 million), making it the country’s biggest single seizure of drugs.
COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Navy intercepted a vessel carrying a large consignment of narcotics, which is estimated to be worth USD 65 million and arrested nine Pakistani nationals in an operation on Wednesday. According to a statement issued by the Sri Lankan Navy, the seized vessel was carrying USD 65 million worth of crystal methamphetamine and ketamine in the country’s biggest drugs bust.
Acting on a tip-off, authorities raided a flagless vessel in the country’s southern waters and arrested nine Pakistani men suspected of smuggling the drugs.
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Source: zeenews.india.com
Three members of Yemen’s Houthi rebel group were killed Wednesday in a naval operation by the pro-government Yemeni naval forces in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, a Yemeni military official said.
“A unit of the fifth naval zone carried out a successful operation deep in the Houthi-controlled areas in the northern parts of Hodeidah,” the official said on condition of anonymity. He said that the operation resulted in the killing of three Houthi members as well as seizing a boat along with its driver.
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Source: yemenonline.info
Gareth Jennings, London
The US military has trialled the use of the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter in the maritime anti-surface warfare (ASuW) role in the Middle East.
The US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) announced on 2 April that it has conducted joint naval and air integration operations with US Army AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters assigned to US Army Central Command’s (USARCENT) Task Force Saber.
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Source: janes.com
Master asked about crew and cargo before armed patrol ships departed
By Gary Dixon
A US-flagged boxship has reported being surrounded by heavily armed Iranian patrol boats on Thursday in the Strait of Hormuz.
Security consultancy Ambrey said the incident took place 16 nautical miles south-east of Abu Musa at 0300 UTC.
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Source: tradewindsnews.com
The French Navy has suspended its Mission Corymbe off West Africa due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, and withdrawn a vessel from the area.
The patrol vessel Lieutenant de Vaisseau Le Henaff, which departed Brest on 3 March for West Africa, returned to France at the end of the month. During its return voyage it stopped in Conakry and Dakar.
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Source: defenceweb.co.za
In response to ongoing maritime security issues in the Gulf of Guinea, maritime organisations including BIMCO, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and the ICS, in conjunction with international P&I Clubs and military advisers, have created new guidance for shipping.
Best Management Practices to Enhance Maritime Security for Vessels & Mariners Operating Off the Coast of West Africa including the Gulf of Guinea (BMP WA), is a mouthful, but is essential reading for anyone transiting the region. It follows similar guidance documents for the Indian Ocean and should be considered the de facto guide for maritime security guidance in the region.
To download BMP WA, please click here.
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