We cover piracy, armed robbery at sea, IUU fishing, maritime cyber security and maritime security issues.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday sentenced 15 oil thieves to three years imprisonment and ordered the forfeiture of two vessels along with 868.5 metric tonnes of crude oil to the Nigerian Government.
Justice Rilwan Aikawa found them guilty on all three counts and sentenced them to one-year in prison on each count, which will take effect from the day of their arrest.
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Source: saharareporters.com
Ali Rabee
The Yemeni government has reiterated its warnings against possible disastrous consequences of the explosion or spill at Safer offshore oil platform, which floats off Hodeidah’s northern Red Sea coast.
Information Minister Muammar al-Eryani has listed in a series of tweets the most disastrous consequences.
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Source: aawsat.com
SINGAPORE: Three people were arrested after they attempted to rob a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier in the Singapore Strait on Monday (Mar 16), said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in a media release.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) Port Operations Control Centre received a report at around 5am that robbers had boarded the ship Sam Jaguar.
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Source: channelnewsasia.com
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Ten Abu Sayyaf bandits have surrendered in Sulu.
Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. of the Joint Task Force Sulu and 11th Army Division said a group of bandits surrendered to the 1102nd Brigade under Col. Ignatius Patrimonio on March 6 and turned over their Garand rifles.
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Source: philstar.com
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The Nigerian Navy and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said that it would strengthen its bond in order to put an end to movement of hard drugs and other related substances on the waterways.
The Director of Seaports Operations, (NDLEA) Mrs. Omolade Faboyede made this known when the agency visited the Western Naval Command (WNC). She said that findings had shown that a large volume of drugs coming into the country was through the sea, saying drug issues were not only a communal threat but a national threat.
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Source: leadership.ng
Somalia has sought assistance from the global anti-piracy forces to help it capture 43 boats from Pakistan and Iran that are conducting illegal fishing operations in the Horn of African nation’s waters.
The Somali Federal Government has accused the two countries of continuing illegal fishing in Somalia waters, warning the boats will be pursued and will be liable to pay heavy fines upon their capture.
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Source: somaliaffairs.com
Bethel Toby & Gift Tasie
An expert in the maritime industry, chief Ikechukwu Ollawa, has expressed worry over the increasing activities of sea pirates and robbery on the nation’s waterway.
Speaking with The Tide yesterday in Port Harcourt, Ollawa said most of the attacks were aimed at fishing trawlers, cargo vessels, oil tankers and service boats as well as passenger speed boats.
He noted with dismay that during such operations, lives and properties of law abiding citizens were lost, while businesses were truncated due to possible attack on trades and their goods.
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Source: thetidenewsonline.com
Today, Rear Admiral lgnacio Villanueva Serrano was appointed as new force commander for the EU naval operation Atalanta. His mandate will start on 17 March.
He will exercise command and control of all military forces in the Area of Operations during the 34th rotation, and will be responsible for the planning, orchestration and execution of tactical military activities.
Rear Admiral Villanueva Serrano, a Spanish national, will take command from Commodore José Vizinha Mirones. He previously held senior positions within the Spanish Maritime Forces (SPMAFOR), and was Commanding Officer of the Spanish Navy Air Wing. He also served at the headquarters of NATO’s Allied Command Operations as capability requirements and force planning officer, and in Pristina, Kosovo, working as peace observer and liaison officer between the NATO and UN missions in Kosovo.
The decision on Rear Admiral Villanueva Serrano’s appointment was adopted by the Council’s Political and Security Committee.
EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta, contributes to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast. The operation is part of the EU’s comprehensive approach for a peaceful, stable and democratic Somalia.
The operation also protects vessels of the World Food Programme and other vulnerable shipping, monitors fishing activities off the coast of Somalia and supports other EU missions and programmes in the region.
The EU’s comprehensive approach to Somalia comprises diplomatic efforts, development support, humanitarian aid as well as engagement in the field of rule of law and law enforcement. It includes three complementary missions under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy: EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta, EUCAP Somalia, enhancing Somalia’s maritime civilian law enforcement capacity and EUTM Somalia, providing political and strategic level military advice to the Somali authorities and contributing to the development of the Somali National Army (SNA)’s own training capacity.
Source: consilium.europa.eu
Embassy of Ukraine in Greece and shipping company held negotiations, after which the hostages were released
Ukrainian diplomats and a shipping company have returned sailor Dmytro Holianenko, who was captured by pirates along with the crew of the ship Alpine Penelope off the coast of Nigeria, to Ukraine. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced this on his Twitter page.
“The Embassy of Ukraine in the Hellenic Republic and the shipping company have worked. After the negotiations were held, the crew was released. Our Dmytro Holianenko is already in Ukraine with his family. I congratulate you on your return!“, Kuleba wrote.
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Source: 112.international
By Chioma Onuegbu
The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, FOB, Ibaka, in Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom State, has intercepted 316 drums of illegally refined diesel also known as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The Commanding Officer of FOB, Captain Peter Yilme who spoke on Thursday in Ibaka while handing over the product to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), disclosed that the seized drums which contained 300 litres of AGO each were intercepted last Sunday, during a routine patrol by Navy gunboats en route Republic of Cameroon.
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Source: vanguardngr.com
Maritime Security News 