China deploys new missile destroyer, frigate in its anti-piracy fleet

One of the country’s new generation of self-developed Type-052C guided missile destroyers, Xi’an, which entered into service in February 2015, possesses over-the-horizon strike capability at sea, the report said.

BEIJING: China has deployed its latest guided missile destroyer and frigate in the fleet of naval ships participating in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and Somalian coast in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, a media report said Thursday.

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Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

The United Kingdom lowers the European flag on Northwood

Maritime Security News note: This article has been automatically translated into English by Google. As such, errors may remain.

(B2) The European Union flag will be lowered at Northwood HQ. The United Kingdom loses control of the EU’s anti-piracy operation, which it has been commanding since the beginning, a good decade ago in December 2008. At issue: Brexit.

It will be effective March 29, 2019. And there, there is no postponement. Everything has already been decided and endorsed for several months already. The command returning to the Spaniards, with the French in support. Which is just a return of things. Since without Paris and Madrid, this operation would never have seen the day (Read: France and Spain decided to act on maritime piracy).

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Source: bruxelles2.eu

Angolan navy tracks pirate boats

ANGOLA, March 26 – The commander of the “Ngola Kiluanje P200” ship belonging to Angolan War Navy (MGA), Luís da Silva, said on Monday that the vessel is equipped with technology to track pirate boats illegally operating in the country’s maritime coast.,

The ship is part of the fleet patrolling the Angolan coast under the Operation transparency launched on Monday.

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Source: einpresswire.com

Seafarers not involved in piracy attacks — Union

By Godfrey Bivbere & Cynthia Alo T

The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, NMNOWTSSA, has denied reports linking piracy attacks on the nation’s waterways to seafarers.

The Union explained that the report that was recently carried in some sections of the media is a mere move by unscrupulous individuals to tarnish the image of seafarers noting that no qualified seafarer will be involved in such illegal act.

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Source: vanguardngr.com

Expanding collaborative efforts to promote maritime security

Members of three key regional maritime security agreements*, which IMO has helped to establish, are undergoing training tackling maritime crime in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (10 – 28 March 2019).

Thirty participants from 24 countries** are learning theoretical and practical skills to deal with piracy/robbery against ships, drug trafficking, marine terrorism, weapons smuggling, human trafficking and more.

The course is organized by IMO and Saudi Arabia under the auspices of the Jeddah Amendment to Djibouti Code of Conduct and conducted by experts from the Saudi Arabia Border Guard, UNODC, INTERPOL and IMO.

The training is taking place at the Mohammed Bin Naif Academy for Maritime Science and Security Studies and is the first of three training workshops to be organized by IMO and the Saudi Border Guard in Jeddah during 2019 – with financial assistance from Saudi Arabia.

The series of workshops will enable participants from different regions to share ideas and best practices in order to promote maritime security.

* The Djibouti Code of Conduct; the West and Central Africa Code of conduct; and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP)

** Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, the Sudan, Cape Verde, Sri Lanka, United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen.

Source: IMO.org

Navy seeks better pact with maritime stakeholders for effective prosecution

By Odita Sunday, Jesutomi Akomolafe (Lagos), Kanayo Umeh, Sodiq Omolaoye (Abuja) and Ayodele Afolabi (Ado-Ekiti)

The Nigerian Navy (NN) is seeking better collaboration and understanding with maritime stakeholders for effective prosecution of pirates and sea robbers.

It said that lack of collaboration among relevant government agencies had been the reason why suspects are granted bail in court.

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Source: guardian.ng

Anti-piracy firm ARX Maritime cheers overseas growth

HANNAH BURLEY

Anti-piracy equipment developer ARX Maritime has unveiled a four-fold rise in revenues after enjoying rapid international growth.

Sales at the Edinburgh-based firm, which develops self-install anti-piracy barriers to protect seafaring vessels, have risen by 300 per cent year-on-year since the business was formed in 2016.

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Source: scotsman.com

Nigerian Waters Are Safe for Merchant Shipping – Shippers’ Council Boss

By Godwin Oritse

The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive, Nigerian Shippers ‘Council, NSC, Hassan Bello, has said that the imposition of surcharges on Nigerian bound cargo due to imaginary security concerns along the Gulf of Guinea region is a misconception of foreign shipping lines.

He lambasted foreign shipping firms for miscategorization and exaggeration of the security situation in the country to justify surcharges they unjustly levied on cargo destined to Nigeria.

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Source: allafrica.com

China-Somalia Fishing Deal Could Create a Surge in Pirate Attacks

Fish stocks are an important policy issue in China. The most recent five-year plan regarding fishing policy called for improving the quality of catches to improve profitability. However, environmental degradation and overfishing have reduced the quality and quantity of China’s fish stocks. While China works on dealing with its environmental and fishing management policies, it has decided to go elsewhere to secure quality fish: Somalia.

China signed a deal with the Somali central government for licenses to fish. If you know about marine life off the coast of Somalia, the deal seems like a good idea. Somalia has abundant fish stocks that contain tuna, lobster, and swordfish. With the exception of coastal communities, Somalis largely don’t eat fish, so competition is limited. If the deal seems too good to be true, it’s because it is.

If you know anything about Somali politics, you should know that this deal is a horrible idea.

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Source: international.thenewslens.com

Famous Somali pirate killed in Mudug region

SOMALIA-A famous Somali pirate was killed in Golfula district, Mudug region.

The pirate named, Ahmed Mohamud used to be a high profile leader in piracy. Sources reveal that the pirate was killed two days ago. Mohamud left Hubyo division for Galkaayo before he was assassinated in Gofula district.

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Source: somaliaffairs.com