We cover piracy, armed robbery at sea, IUU fishing, maritime cyber security and maritime security issues.
Gunman kidnapped three oil workers from Canada, Scotland and Nigeria at a rig in Nigeria’s Delta region on Saturday, officials said — the second abduction in the area in less than a week.
The attackers raided the rig owned by Niger Delta Petroleum Resources in Ogbele, Rivers State at around 8 a.m. local time, said military spokesperson Maj. Ibrahim Abubakar.
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Source: cbc.ca
The menace of piracy in Nigeria’s territorial waters could be brought to an end if the National Assembly expedites action on the bill before it on piracy, the Nigerian Navy has said.
This remark was made in Calabar by Com Olukoya Bamidele, a guest lecturer and representative of the Nigerian Navy during an inter-agency corporation seminar organised by the Naval War College, Nigeria to discuss the Harmonized Standard Operating Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution of Vessels &Persons in Nigeria Maritime Environment (HSOP-AD&P).
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Source: blueprint.ng
Ada Wodu, Calabar
The Nigerian Navy has urged the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the anti-piracy bill into law in a bid to end the menace which is sabotaging the country’s economy.
The Navy made the call at an Inter-Agency corporation seminar organised by the Naval War College, Nigeria to discuss the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution of Vessels & Persons in Nigeria Maritime Environment with the theme: ‘Combating smuggling through inter-agency cooperation.’
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Source: punchng.com
Product tanker APECUS attacked by 6 persons at Bonny Outer Anchorage, Nigeria at 1330 UTC Apr 19, 6 crew kidnapped, according to IMB report. Tanker was moved to Bonny inner anchorage. According to AIS records, tanker during recent months traded between Tema Ghana, Lome Togo, and Lagos, she arrived at Bonny anchorage from Lagos on Apr 20 or earlier. AIS records history is sketchy – tanker was trading in dangerous waters, probably having to switch off AIS for security reasons.
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Source: maritimebulletin.net
The Nigerian Navy may have unwittingly sparked a diplomatic row with the United States of America with the arrest this week of nine people including one American for possession of firearms.
The arrested suspects were said to be part of a maritime security team supposedly providing anti-piracy services in the Gulf of Guinea region. A spokesperson for the maritime security firm, confirmed as U.S.-based Trident Group, said the team was located well into international waters when their vessel was boarded and the weapons found were all licensed and permitted.
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Source: shipsandports.com.ng
Four persons in a speed boat armed with automatic weapons approached an anchored product tanker at 2020 UTC in position 04:28.1N – 007:10.1E, Bonny River Inner Anchorage, Nigeria. Two persons managed to board the tanker and open fire towards the accommodation. The onboard Nigerian naval guards returned fire resulting in the persons retreating into their boat and escaping. Alarm raised, PA announcement made and crew mustered in the citadel. Bonny Signal Station and Nigerian Navy notified. One guard was injured during the shooting and was given first aid by the crew. Two security boats responded and approached the tanker. The injured guard was transferred to a security boat and taken ashore for medical assistance. Remaining crew reported safe. Reported (IMB) 15 Apr.
Via: OCEANUSLive.org
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) and their United States (US) counterparts have arrested 10 suspected pirates within the Nigerian end of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
The suspects, comprising three Greece, two Americans and five [others], were arrested onboard a logistic boat allegedly belonging to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Sunday evening, by the crew that was on-board Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) CENTENARY for a joint operation codenamed ‘Junction Rain’.
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Source: thenationonlineng.net
Maritime Security News:
An interesting mix of nationalities in terms of a ‘pirate’ gang operating off Nigeria. The article notes that several Benelli rifles were recovered rather than the more standard and cheaper AK-47 and variants. Call me a skeptic, but I think these are gamekeepers rather than poachers…
By Nurudeen Oyewole
The New Nigeria Foundation (NNF), a civil environmental group focusing on crude oil theft in Niger/Delta, has raised the alarm that the rising crude theft in the region is massively depleting the country’s revenue base and crippling the environment.
NFF Senior Programmes Manager Mrs. Olayide Adesanya told newsmen in Lagos that crude theft had become a hydra-headed monster crippling the socio-economic, environment and economy of the country.
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Source: dailytrust.com.ng
Piracy attacks off Nigeria’s coast fell to 14 in the first quarter from 22 a year ago after the navy improved its response to incidents, the International Maritime Bureau said.
“These results confirm the Nigerian navy’s increased efforts to actively respond to reported incidents by dispatching patrol boats,” the London-based body that tracks attacks on sea vessels said. “Despite these efforts, Nigerian waters remain risky for vessels, especially the port of Lagos where four incidents have been reported.”
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Source: bloomberg.com
The Deputy Zonal Head of the Uyo Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Alex Ebbah, on April 8, 2019, led a team of operatives to the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, to take over of a large wooden boat used in conveying 501 drums of petroleum products suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil, AGO.
At the time of arrest, eight crew members were onboard the wooden engine boat along with the 300 litre in 501drums, which were used in conveying the product.
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Source: thenewsnigeria.com.ng
Maritime Security News 