Iranian Navy to send 62nd Fleet in the Gulf of Aden to int’l waters

The Iranian Navy plans to dispatch the 62nd flotilla of warships to free waters in the next few days to protect the country’s cargo ships and oil tankers against pirate attacks. The 62nd fleet includes Bayandor destroyer and Lavan and Bushehr logistic warships.

The 61st flotilla of the Iranian Navy had set off for the high seas to safeguard maritime routes used by Iranian vessels in international waters, especially in the Gulf of Aden, in March.

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Source: navyrecognition.com

GCC navies begin security patrols in Arabian Gulf amid US-Iran tensions

Saudi Arabian foreign ministry reiterates that it does not want war with Iran, but is prepared for one if need be, as GCC navies step up Arabian Gulf patrols.

GCC countries have begun “enhanced security patrols” in the international waters of the Arabian Gulf, according to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

GCC members were “specifically increasing communication and co-ordination with each other in support of regional naval co-operation and maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf”, the Bahrain-based fleet said in a statement.

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Source: logisticsmiddleeast.com

UAE added to insurers Joint War Committee risk list following tanker attacks

Following the 12 May sabotage attacks on four tankers off Fujairah the LMA Joint War Commission (JWC) has added the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to its listed areas for Hull War, Piracy, Terrorism and Related Perils.

The decision by the JWC was taken on Friday, following a meeting earlier in the week where it had deferred a decision on amending its list of war risk areas.

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Source: seatrade-maritime.com

Tanker attacks near UAE expose weaknesses in Gulf Arab security

By Stephen Kalin, Alexander Cornwell and Dahlia Nehme

RIYADH/DUBAI (Reuters) – Attacks on Saudi tankers and other vessels off the coast of the United Arab Emirates this week expose vulnerabilities in the security of a key oil-shipping route amid rising tensions between the United States, Iran and Gulf Arab states.

The operation near the Strait of Hormuz appeared designed to test the resolve of the United States and its Sunni Muslim allies without triggering a war, after Washington tightened sanctions on Iran and beefed up its military presence nearby.

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Source: euronews.com

UK War Risks Club says investigating Fujairah ship sabotage incident

The UK War Risks Club, which provides specialist insurance for ships, is investigating the incidents of sabotage of vessels in Fujairah port over the weekend and has not decided on additional premiums for the region, a company executive said Monday.

The club, managed by insurance provider Thomas Miller, is one of the providers of marine Protection and Indemnity or P&I insurance, including additional war risks insurance for incidents like civil war, piracy or other disturbances.

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Source: hellenicshippingnews.com

Image shows damage done to Andrea Victory.

Yemen warring parties hold fresh talks as Houthis withdraw from Hodeidah

ADEN (Reuters) – Yemen’s warring parties started fresh U.N.-sponsored talks in Jordan on Monday, Yemeni officials said, two days after Houthi forces began withdrawing from the ports of Hodeidah, breaking a six month stalemate.

The talks will focus on sharing out revenues from Hodeidah’s three Red Sea ports to help relieve an urgent humanitarian crisis, they said.

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Source: reuters.com

Exclusive: U.S. commander says he could send carrier into Strait of Hormuz despite Iran tensions

Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The commander overseeing U.S. naval forces in the Middle East told Reuters on Thursday that American intelligence showing a threat from Iran will not prevent him from sending an aircraft carrier through the vital Strait of Hormuz, if needed.

Vice Admiral Jim Malloy, commander of the U.S. Navy’s Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet, did not say whether he would send the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group into the strategic waterway off Iran, through which passes a fifth of oil consumed globally.

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Source: reuters.com

Saudi Arabia assists Iranian oil tanker in Red Sea, no injuries

RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s coast guard assisted an Iranian oil tanker with engine trouble off the coast of Jeddah in the Red Sea after Riyadh received a request for help from Iran, the state news agency SPA said on Thursday.

Iran, which confirmed that its vessel had broken down in the area, and Saudi Arabia are arch-adversaries in the Middle East, backing opposite sides in several regional wars.

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Source: reuters.com

Iran, Oman to stage joint military drill: envoy

Speaking at a meeting with 120 representatives from Iranian trade and economic sectors held in Muscat, ambassador Nouri Shahroudi said the two countries will be staging a joint military drill in the coming days.

“Currently, our joint military committee is present in Oman, and we will hold a joint maneuver in the coming days,” he said.

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Source: en.mehrnews.com

Claims of British commandos shot on secret missions in Yemen dismissed

Lucy Fisher, Defence Correspondent

Senior defence sources today dismissed reports that five British special forces commandos were wounded in gun battles while on secret missions in Yemen.

Members of the Special Boat Service (SBS) were shot while fighting in the Saadah area in the north of the country, according to the Mail on Sunday.

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Source: thetimes.co.uk