Ports to remain open as Buhari imposes curfew on Lagos, Abuja, Ogun

Lagos

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday imposed 14-day curfew on Lagos and Ogun States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, with effect from 11pm on Monday (today).

The President, however, said that “all seaports in Lagos shall remain operational in accordance with the guidelines I issued earlier”

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Source: shipsandports.com.ng

Bulk carrier attacked, looted, crew probably safe

DRYAD Global reported pirates attack at Conakry Anchorage Guinea, at 0230 UTC Mar 27. Pirates managed to board the ship, broke into superstructure and looted living quarters and service compartments, stealing cash and valuables. No other information available presently, with regards to crew and situation after attack, hopefully nobody was injured/kidnapped. Bulk carrier is anchored since Mar 21, on arrival from Abijan, Ivory Coast.

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Source: maritimebulletin.net

Lithuania Joins the International Maritime Security Construct

Persian Gulf/SoH

MANAMA, BAHRAIN

03.26.2020

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet

MANAMA, Bahrain – The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) welcomes Lithuania’s participation in the multinational efforts aimed at enhancing maritime security throughout key waterways in the Middle East.

Lithuania is the eighth member nation to join the IMSC since it formed in November 2019. Other members include Albania, Australia, Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.

The IMSC is enabling nations to work cooperatively to promote the free flow of commerce, deter threats to shipping, and enhance maritime domain awareness and surveillance in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hurmuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Oman.

British Royal Navy Commodore James Parkin, the Commander of IMSC, expressed his appreciation to the Lithuanians for taking a leading role in regional security matters.

“As the eighth member of the IMSC, Lithuania joins us to ensure the safety of all our shipping in the Gulf region and we look forward to other nations joining our operation,” said Parkin. “Threats to the free flow of commerce are an international problem, and we are honoured that Lithuania is now part of the team assisting in upholding the principles of freedom of navigation.”

Source: dvidshub.net

COVID-19 And Embarked Security Teams: Security At What Cost?

The outbreak of COVID-19, and the increasingly draconian measures taken by states to control the spread of the virus has led to the widespread disruption of global supply chains. The knock-on impact of restricting the placement of embarked security teams in the Indian Ocean has been keenly felt in the global shipping and security markets. The decision to embark security personnel requires operators to balance commercial considerations with the risks faced. In a world where the logistics of embarking security personnel has become increasingly complex, many of Dryad Global’s clients are considering their options and exploring alternatives.

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Source: hellenicshippingnews.com

Two persons feared killed by military stray bullets in Bayelsa community

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

Two persons have been feared killed by strayed bullets in Ezetu Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa following an alleged military invasion of the community.

According to community sources, the soldiers reportedly stormed the community based on intelligence reports that some unidentified armed suspects, who attacked and burnt a military houseboat at Azagbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area, were taking refuge in the community.

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Source: vanguardngr.com

Trio kidnapped from ro-ro as pirates strike off Gabon

By Gary Dixon

Three people have been abducted from a ro-ro ferry off Gabon. Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) had issued an advisory notice for a hijacking off Port-Gentil.

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Source: tradewindsnews.com

Marsec News Note: This article would appear to refer to the following incident, reported by Maritime Bulletin:

Coastal ro-ro passenger ship ELOBEY 6 was attacked and hijacked by pirates in the morning Mar 21, some 22 nm off Port Gentil, Gabon, while en route from Port Bata to Annobon island, Equatorial Guinea. Pirates forced the crew to sail to Nigerian waters, but fled when ELOBEY 6 was approached by Nigerian Navy.

Oil Theft : Navy Accused Of Illegal Sales Of Seized Product

The men and Officers of the Nigerian Naval ship, NNS Delta, in Warri, have been indicted over an alleged involvement in the sales of seized stolen AGO otherwise known as Diesel to marketers without court authorization to buy such product.

It was gathered that the Navy had intercepted a vessel belonging to Julius Berger being used for illegal bunkering activities along the Delta waterways sometimes last year and impounded it with alongside with the stole AGO product.

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Source: nigerianobservernews.com

Reinforcing Zero Tolerance for Maritime Illegalities

Chiemelie Ezeobi and Chinecherem Ojiako write that the recently concluded Exercise Treasure Guard 11 by the Nigerian Navy was targeted at among other things, reinforcing zero tolerance for maritime illegalities in the country’s territorial domain and the Gulf of Guinea waters

The Gulf of Guinea (GoG) coastline currently faces one of the world’s most severe maritime security challenges, which includes terrorism, resource theft, and sabotage of supporting infrastructure, piracy and sea robbery, crude oil theft, Illegal, Irregular and Unregulated Fishing (IIUF), human trafficking, narcotics, arms and smuggling.

It was in its constant bid to find lasting solutions to the myriad challenges bedeviling the GoG, that the Nigerian Navy (NN) organised Exercise Treasure Guard, especially with the successes recorded in the first phase. The exercise saw the navy deploy six vessels and two helicopters for the three-day exercise which covered about fifteen nautical miles within the GoG waters.

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Source: thisdaylive.com

HMAS Toowoomba, FS Guépratte exercise in Gulf of Aden

HMAS Toowoomba, via Wikipedia

By: Sandy Milne

HMAS Toowoomba has exercised with French frigate FS Guépratte in the Gulf of Aden as part of the Australian warship’s support to Combined Task Force 150.

The CTF 150 mission is to stabilise the region by disrupting piracy operations, as well as seeking to counter weapon and narcotic smugglers. During the exercise, Toowoomba and Guépratte conducted ship handling training including Officer of the Watch manoeuvres and replenishment at sea (RAS) approaches, which form core components of a CTF deployment.

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Source: defenceconnect.com.au

Ship fends off pirate attack, takes refuge in Nigeria

Bermuda-flagged oil/chemical tanker Stena Important, operated by Concordia Maritime, was approached by a suspicious vessel at Doula Anchorage, Cameroon on March 19, 2020 in what has been recorded as an attempted pirate attack.

“The alarm was raised by the Officer of the Watch (OOW) and the crew mustered to their respective stations.

”Following a failed attempt to board via ladder, the suspicious vessel and its crew departed the scene after a few minutes.”

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Source: shipsandports.com.ng