We cover piracy, armed robbery at sea, IUU fishing, maritime cyber security and maritime security issues.
Philip Nwosu
Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has called for transnational efforts towards fighting maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
The minister, who spoke at the closing ceremonies for the 2019 edition of Exercise Obangame Express, said maritime illegalities had become transnational and evolved beyond the scope and capability of one country to combat.
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Source: sunnewsonline.com
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
by Radhica De Silva
Cedros fishermen are calling for more patrols, saying Venezuelan pirates are attacking local fishermen in territorial waters.
A day after Minister of National Security Stuart Young visited Cedros, pirates accosted a group of fishermen off the Bonasse jetty and stole their nets. During an interview at Fullarton Beach on Monday, fisherman Raesh Ramdass said it was becoming impossible to fish in local waters because the Venezuelan pirates were operating openly at nights under the noses of the T&T Coast Guard. He said the pirates have moved out of the Venezuelan rivers and were looking for easy targets on the open seas.
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Source: guardian.co.tt
By Chinweisu Amuta
Globally, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre, based in Singapore, recorded 201 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery in 2018, up from 180 in 2017. The Gulf of Guinea remained increasingly dangerous for seafarers as reports of attacks in waters between the Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo more than doubled in 2018.
The expansion of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea poses a dire threat to local economies, potentially undermining what little stability currently exists in the region. Oil revenue, which many countries in the region rely upon, is seriously threatened by pirate activity; seven per cent of Nigeria’s oil wealth is believed lost due to such criminality.
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Source: guardian.ng
In late February, the Bourbon Offshore PSV Bourbon Explorer 502 escaped an attempted pirate attack that bore remarkable similarity to the boarding and kidnapping that occurred off Nigeria on March 10.
On the morning of February 28, as the Bourbon Explorer 502 was operating about 30 nm southwest of Bonny Island in the Gulf of Guinea, she was approached by 16 armed pirates in two speedboats. In response, her bridge crew increased speed and started evasive maneuvers. All non-essential personnel mustered in the vessel’s citadel.
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Source: maritime-executive.com
By YUSUF BABALOLA
Nigerian importers have paid about $2.74 billion (N987.77 billion at prevailing rate of N360/$) in three years following the categorisation of Nigerian waters as a war risk, a development that spiked insurance premiums slammed on vessels and cargoes destined for Nigeria.
LEADERSHIP recalls that foreign shipping companies slammed war surcharge premium, a supplementary carrier charge that is only applied when insurance underwriters designate specific zones as war risks.
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Source: leadership.ng
Raicoast people will now have a sea ambulance that will also cater for sea emergencies in the Raicoast waters.
MP Peter Sapia made the announcement last week following the attack and robbery of 13 people from Astrolabe Bay local level government. Sapia said the district development authority planned to buy a sea ambulance.
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Source: thenational.com.pg
SEOUL, March 14 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s ocean ministry said Thursday it will carry out a joint counter-piracy drill with the Navy and shipping companies to prepare for various contingencies.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the training will be conducted on Friday in waters off the southern coast with the Navy’s Cheonghae Unit, which was created around a decade ago for anti-piracy operations off the Somali coast, taking part.
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Source: en.yna.co.kr
Pirates armed with machine guns in two speed boats approached an underway offshore support vessel at 1115 UTC in position 03:57.2N – 006:39E, around 32nm SE of Brass, Nigeria. Captain immediately notified the naval escort security boat which manoeuvred to engage the attackers. One speed boat closed in from port side of the vessel and crossed the bow, while the other speed boat exchanged fire with the security boat. Alarm raised, crew proceeded to the engine room and all power was shut down. The pirates boarded the vessel with the aid of an elongated ladder. They broke into the accommodation, vandalised the cabins and took crew belongings and vessel properties. The pirates then proceeded to the engine room, kidnapped five men and escaped. Remaining crew sailed the OSV under escort to a safe anchorage. One Nigerian Navy armed guard reported killed in the exchange of fire between the naval security boat and the pirates. Investigations ongoing. Reported (MDAT/IMB) 9 Mar. Via OCEANUSLive.org.
Globally, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre, based in Singapore, recorded 201 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery in 2018, up from 180 in 2017. The Gulf of Guinea remained increasingly dangerous for seafarers as reports of attacks in waters between the Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo more than doubled in 2018.
The expansion of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea poses a dire threat to local economies, potentially undermining what little stability currently exists in the region. Oil revenue, which many countries in the region rely upon, is seriously threatened by pirate activity; 7 per cent of Nigeria’s oil wealth is believed lost due to such criminality.
To continue reading, please click here.
Source: vanguardngr.com
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