Military ‘deactivates’ 160,000 illegal products in N/Delta

The military, Thursday, said aggressive operations against economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, had resulted in the “deactivation” of 150,000 litres of illegally refined automatuve gas oil (AGO), as well as 943.47 barrels of crude oil.
It noted that the operations that culminated in the feat, were conducted between August 13 and 19 respectively.

The coordinator, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General John Enenche, made the disclosure at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, during the regular briefing to provide updates on ongoing military operations across the country.
While expressing satisfaction with troops’ exploits in the various theatres of operations, Enenche vowed the readiness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to sustain the momentum of operations, to rid the country of crime and criminality.

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Source: newtelegraphng.com

Maritime Security: Group Petitions Navy, NSCDC Over Illegal Activities Of UK Firms

By ANAYO ONUKWUGHA

A group, Vanguard Against Corruption (VAC) has petitioned the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Mohammadu, accusing some companies based in the United Kingdom, of of operating illegally on Nigerian water ways.

It alleged that the companies… [names of companies redacted due to potential libel issues] were providing security escort operations to foreign cargo vessels and Tankers entering Nigerian waters, without Naval and NSCDC approvals, and payment of requisite taxes to the Federal inland revenue services.

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Source: leadership.ng

Iran Summons UAE Envoy over Shooting Incident

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The chargé d’affaires of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry over the UAE coast guard’s move to shoot at a number of Iranian fishing boats and the seizure of one of them in the Persian Gulf on August 17, 2020.

Right after the incident in which two fishermen were also killed, relevant Iranian officials put on their agenda an immediate investigation into the tragic event. After the situation on the ground was carefully examined, the UAE diplomat was summoned to the ministry in the early hours of the following days by the director of the International Legal Affairs Department of the ministry.

At the ministry, the Iranian official condemned the UAE vessels’ harassment of the Iranian fishing boats, saying the responsibility for this illegal and out-of-norm move rests with the UAE government.

He stressed that those arrested as well as the fishing boats seized must be released, and bodies of those killed must be handed over to Iran. The Iranian official also demanded compensation for the damage inflicted and called on the UAE to take the necessary measures to prevent such events from happening again in the future.

The UAE charge daffaires, for his part, expressed regret over the incident, and underlined that he will inform Abu Dhabi of the developments accordingly.

In less than 24 hours, another meeting was also held between the UAE diplomat and the Iranian official to follow up on the outcome of the previous talks.

Following these developments in Tehran and thanks to efforts by the Iranian embassy in the UAE, the Abu Dhabi government sent an official note yesterday expressing deep sorrow over the incident and expressed its readiness to make up for all the damage inflicted.

Also, through the coordination of both countries’ border guards, the seized fishing boat and its crew were released. The legal procedure for delivering the bodies of those killed is underway.

Moreover, on the same day (August 17, 2020) a UAE vessel was intercepted and its crew arrested by Iranian border guard boats for illegally entering Iranian waters. Legal procedure is underway to look into the situation of the vessel.

The Foreign Ministry deems it necessary to once again announce to all countries in the Persian Gulf that the Islamic Republic of Iran brooks no encroachment upon its interests and no harassment of its nationals in the Persian Gulf, and will adopt all necessary measures to support its vessels and nationals.

Source: tasnimnews.com

Iranian hostages held by Somali pirates since 2015 freed: Adviser

The men are the last of the crew of Iranian fishing vessel FV Siraj, captured by the pirates on March 22, 2015.

Three Iranian hostages held by Somali pirates since 2015 have been freed, a senior maritime crime adviser told the Reuters news agency on Thursday.

The men are the last of the crew of the Iranian fishing vessel FV Siraj, which was captured by pirates on March 22, 2015.

The fourth member of the crew was freed last year as he needed urgent medical care.

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Source: aljazeera.com

Pirates hijack Panama-flagged ship off Somalia coast

MarsecNews: This report has now been classified as not being a maritime security incident and EU NAVFOR has released a statement, which can be found by clicking here.

Pirates have hijacked a Panama-flagged ship that was travelling from the United Arab Emirates to Mogadishu port.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia had reduced significantly in recent years, in part because of extensive international military patrols.

This is the first attack for several years.

The ship was attacked at night when the crew was sleeping, Anadolu news agency quotes a security official in Somalia’s autonomous Puntland region as saying.

Six pirates were involved in the attack, according to the governor of Gardafu region in Puntland Musse Salah, who is quoted by Reuters news agency.

The authorities of the Bari region where the incident happened say the ship had developed mechanical problems.

Source: bbc.co.uk

France Hands Over Command of CTF 150 to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Captain Riviere of the French Marine Nationale handed over Command of CTF 150 to Rear Admiral Alfaqeeh of the Saudi Royal Naval Force in a virtual ceremony.

The CTF 150 (Combined Task Force 150) mission is to disrupt criminal and terrorist organisations and their mandated related illicit activities by restricting their freedom of manoeuvre in the maritime domain. The task force’s activities deny criminal and terrorist organisations a method of conducting operations or moving personnel, weapons or income-generating narcotics and charcoal.

Speaking via video link at the conference, Captain Riviere said, “I was very fortunate to be able to draw the CTF 150 team from not only France, but also the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, building a combined, diverse and effective staff made up of professionals from three very capable nations.”

“To my team, I thank you for your committed support, your hard work, and determination in making these four months a success.”

This was the eleventh occasion that the French Marine Nationale has Commanded the task force to support CMF’s maritime security mission in the region, continuing to support 17 ships and operations at sea throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic.

After four months of leading CTF 150, Captain Riviere passed the baton onto Rear Admiral Alfaqeeh of the Saudi Royal Naval Force, who has an accomplished military record spanning almost thirty years. He has commanded ships and squadrons, and has served tours in the West Fleet, as well as experience commanding in a coalition.

Rear Admiral Alfaqeeh said: “It is such a great opportunity to work and represent my country with such a professional and enthusiastic team. Our team members come from Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

“We will all do our best to execute and accomplish the Task Force’s mission in collaboration with a coalition of ships from multiple countries.”

During the virtual ceremony, Vice Admiral Malloy, Commander of Combined Maritime Forces, congratulated Captain Riviere and his team: “Captain Riviere, you and everyone under your leadership should be proud of your lasting contribution to global security.

“As the eleventh French Officer to lead this CTF, you represented your country with operational excellence, dedication and integrity, and we are grateful for your leadership and your wisdom.”

He went on to welcome the Saudi-led task force: “Admiral, under your leadership, I have no doubt that CTF 150 will maintain a high level of vigilance and excellence required to set the watch, assuring the merchant community of our unblinking commitment while deterring illicit activity in our area of operations.”

France is handing over its eleventh Command of CTF 150. This will be the Saudi Royal Naval Force’s second Command of the Task Force.

Source: combinedmaritimeforces.com

Coast Guard, not concession, solution to insecurity of nation’s waters — Borha

By Godfrey Bivbere MARITIME Consultant and former general manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Christopher Borha, has said only the establishment of a Coast Guard is the permanent solution to the problem of piracy on the nation’s waters. Borha said that several attempts made in the past to curb the problem of piracy and armed robbery on the nations had failed because the Federal Government is taking the wrong approach.

In an exclusive chat with Vanguard Maritime Report, Borha who is also Head Analyst of C.A. Borha Management and Economic Services, stressed that the personnel for the Maritime Coast Guard should be drawn from the Nigerian Navy, the Marine Command of the Nigerian Police and other government agencies with security responsibilities.

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Source: vanguardngr.com

Oil rig workers defenseless in face of pirate attacks: ‘We fear for our lives’

The navy’s response time is slow so pirates have lots of time to make a getaway

Working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico is not for the faint-hearted.

Frequent attacks by modern day pirates on Pemex oil platforms have left some workers scared that they could be killed while working and living offshore.

“We fear for our lives,” said Martín Gómez, who has worked on state oil company rigs for almost three decades.

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Source: mexiconewsdaily.com

Report: Philippines nab Abu Sayyaf leader linked to cross-border abductions in Sabah

BY BEN TAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 — Notorious Abu Sayyaf sub-commander “Idang” Susukan who is wanted by both Malaysia and the Philippines has been arrested in Davao City on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

Philippines police caught Idang yesterday at the house of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari, The Star reported.

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Source: malaymail.com

NIMASA indicates turnaround in maritime security

By Cynthia Alo The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has described the conviction of three persons in connection with vessel hijack on the Gulf of Guinea, as a signal that Nigeria is on the right path in the war against piracy and other crimes on the nation’s waterways.

The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had, two days ago, convicted the persons who were accused of involvement in the hijack of an Equatorial Guinean flagged vessel named, MV ELOBEY VI, off Equatorial Guinea’s coast on March 21, 2020.

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Source: vanguardngr.com