Alert for pirates in the Gulf of Mexico

Five intrusions have been registered in the month of April; an one more in March. Cloaked men have been boarding boats and oil platforms; in the zone of Cantarell III, of the shores of Campeche and Tabasco. Between April 8 and 16, one attack has been recorded every other day.

Armed men, wearing masks are boarding boats linked to oil production in the middle of the night. They also climb metal structure bases until they reach personnel areas on oil platforms, to strip workers from their belongings at gun point: These men are modern pirates operating in the Gulf of Mexico in the XXI Century.

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Source: theyucatantimes.com

Sabah on alert for Abu Sayyaf after deadly clashes in Mindanao

Durie Rainer Fong

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah security forces have another threat to deal with besides Covid-19 with a potential spillover of Abu Sayyaf members into the state following deadly clashes with the Philippine army.

It is likely the Philippine army will retaliate against the group after 11 of its soldiers were killed and 14 others wounded following an hour-long battle with the terrorist cell in southern Philippines on Saturday.

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Source: freemalaysiatoday.com

ReCAAP ISC Weekly Report 14-20 April 2020

During 14-20 Apr 20, four incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia were reported to the ReCAAP ISC. Of the four incidents, one was a piracy incident (CAT 41) that occurred on board a VLCC while underway in the South China Sea.

The three incidents of armed robbery against ships were a CAT 32 incident that occurred on board a container ship while anchored at Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) Breakwater, Philippines, two CAT 4 incidents that occurred on board, a bulk carrier while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait and an oil tanker while anchored off Alang Anchorage, India.

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Source: recaap.org

To download the report, please click here.

Curfew in ESSZone extended to May 5

KOTA KINABALU, April 21 — The curfew in waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) that was ended at 6pm yesterday has been extended until May 5, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Zaini Jas.

He said during the curfew, which covered the waters off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran, people living in the areas were required to stay indoors and were not allowed to be in the waters between 6pm and 6am.

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Source: malaymail.com

Covid-19: Indian Navy remains ‘combat ready’ despite spread of coronavirus

The Indian Navy (IN) has emphasised that it remains “combat-ready, mission-capable, and in full readiness”, after 26 of its personnel were quarantined after testing positive for Covid-19 coronavirus.

“All missions for coastal and offshore security continue as before. Operational units are being maintained in readiness by following a 14-day quarantine routine to meet immediate contingencies, including assistance to civil authorities and friendly maritime neighbours, said India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) on 18 April. “Our naval assets continue to be mission-deployed in three dimensions, with all the networks and space assets functioning optimally,” it added.

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Source: janes.com

Philippines Kills Suspected Abu Sayyaf Bomb Expert, Vows ‘Relentless’ Operations against Militants

The Philippine government vowed Monday to pursue Abu Sayyaf militants relentlessly after the military said it killed a suspected senior member of the group in the wake of a Friday clash that left 11 soldiers dead in southern Sulu province.

Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group would continue without letup after last week’s gunfight on Sulu’s Jolo Island in which 14 other army members were wounded.

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Source: benarnews.org

MMEA beefs up patrol at hotspots

By IMRAN HILMY

LANGKAWI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has deployed more of its assets at sea and air to beef up patrols and increase enforcement during the movement control order (MCO) period nationwide.

Kedah and Perlis MMEA deputy operations director Kapt Zulinda Ramly said the increase of the assets was meant to prevent cross-border criminal activities, which include human trafficking, contraband smuggling, piracy and encroachment of foreign fishermen, especially at hotspots in the maritime zone along the Straits of Malacca, South China Sea and Sulu Sea.

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Source: thestar.com.my

Iran will give a decisive response to any “mistake” by the U.S. in the Gulf- Revolutionary Guards navy

Iran will give a decisive response to any mistake by the United States in the Gulf, the Revolutionary Guards navy said in a statement published on the Guards’ news site Sepah News.

The U.S. military said on Wednesday that 11 vessels from the Revolutionary Guards navy had come dangerously close to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Gulf, calling the moves “dangerous and provocative”.

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Source: yahoo.com

Offshore Accommodation Unit Attacked in Mexico. Crew Member Injured

Bartolomej Tomic, Editor

Offshore vessel provider Telford Offshore’s offshore accommodation and hook-up unit Telford 28 was attacked earlier this week while anchored in Mexico. One crew member was injured.

In an email sent to Offshore Engineer, Telford Offshore said: “We can confirm that the Telford 28 came under attack while anchored at Cuidad Del Carmen, Mexico on the evening of 14^th April.”

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Source: oedigital.com

ReCAAP ISC: Piracy and Sea Robbery Incidents Tripled in Asia During First Quarter of 2020

A total of 29 incidents of armed robbery against ships (comprising 28 actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported in Asia during January-March 2020 compared to 10 incidents (comprising nine actual incidents and one attempted incident) during January-March 2019. This accounts for a three-fold increase in the total number of incidents reported during January-March 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. All incidents reported during January-March 2020 were armed robbery against ships. No piracy incident was reported.

The increase of incidents during January- March 2020 occurred in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore Strait. Three incidents were reported in Bangladesh during January-March 2020 compared to no incident during January-March 2019. Six incidents were reported in India during January-March 2020 compared to no incident during the same period in 2019. In Indonesia, six incidents were reported during January-March 2020 compared to three incidents during the same period in 2019. In the Philippines, four incidents were reported during January-March 2020 compared to two incidents during the same period in 2019.

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Source: recaap.org/

To download the ReCAAP 2020 Q1 Report, please click here.