Piracy attacks off Nigeria rise

Sam Chambers

Piracy attacks off West Africa over the past week have escalated, reaching extraordinarily dangerous proportions where bullets were fired at a moving LNG carrier.

Not for the first time, the BW Group-owned LNG Lokoja was attacked on Saturday morning while en route to Bonny in southern Nigeria. The vessel is understood to have come under attack from a single speedboat with 10 armed men onboard. The pirates are understood to have opened fire on the vessel. Security firm Dryad Global reported the gas carrier conducted evasive maneuvers causing the attack to fail.

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Source: splash247.com

Maritime terrorism a threat, say experts amid rising piracy attacks

Fabian Koh

The increase in piracy attempts in the Singapore Strait is a cause for concern as terrorists could exploit the same loopholes to wreak havoc, say security experts.

Government officials have called for greater collaboration with regional neighbours to address the threat.

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Source: straitstimes.com

Iranian Commander Says More Joint Drills on Agenda

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – After conclusion of a joint naval war game of Iran, Russia and China, a ranking Iranian military commander said the Islamic Republic will continue to stage joint military exercises with other countries in the coming years.

Commander of the Naval Operations Department of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces General Mohammad Ebrahim Dehqani said on Sunday that joint military drills will definitely continue in the coming years.

According to the commander, the joint exercises in future will include other regional countries as well.

He also stressed that the naval exercise of Iran, Russia and China has given the enemies a clear message that any mistake would draw a crushing response from the Iranian Armed Forces.

“Our friends receive an assurance that the region’s maritime security would be ensured by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its allies, and there is no need for alien forces in the region, particularly the Americans,” he said.

Denouncing the presence of American forces as a main factor behind regional insecurity, Dehqani said the US decision to transfer its military forces from the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman to the northern parts of the Indian Ocean reveals that “Americans are even incapable of ensuring their own security.”

Iranian, Russian, and Chinese naval units on Sunday wrapped up the joint exercise after three days.

On the final day of the joint drill, the naval forces of the three countries exercised tactics to fight piracy and extinguish vessel fires in the international waters south of Iran.

The war game came amid US efforts to woo countries into a maritime coalition for patrols in the Persian Gulf, which have received lukewarm welcome from its allies.

Source: tasnimnews.com

Iran Navy Chief: US Must Leave Region

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – There is no place for American forces in the region anymore, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said.

“Today, the era of American free action in the region is over, and they (US forces) must leave the region gradually,” Rear Admiral Khanzadi told reporters on Sunday on the sidelines of a joint naval exercise of Iran, Russia and China, which is underway in the Sea of Oman and the northern parts of the Indian Ocean.

“We believe that regional security does not require the presence of those (foreign) countries, and that regional countries themselves can ensure security together,” he added.

The Iranian Navy commander also expressed hope that more regional states would join Iran in the efforts to ensure security.

“We believe that maritime security definitely needs collective action,” Khanzadi added.

He went on to say that friends of Iran and those favoring regional security have welcomed the joint naval drill, while the US and its proxies who seek to impose inappropriate security arrangements on the region would receive “significant messages” from the war game.

Iran, Russia and China are holding a four-day joint naval exercise, dubbed Marine Security Belt, in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman.

The war game comes amid US efforts to woo countries into a maritime coalition for patrols in the Persian Gulf, which have received lukewarm welcome from its allies.

Source: tasnimnews.com

Japan green-lights MSDF dispatch to Middle East amid tensions

Persian Gulf/SoH

TOKYO, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) — The Japanese Cabinet on Friday approved the dispatch of Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) personnel to the Middle East amid tensions in the region, despite public opposition and post-war military constraints restricting the nation’s military activities constitutionally.

The planned deployment, backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition ally, Komeito, is to purportedly conduct information-gathering operations and others related to enhancing the safety of commercial shipping in the region.

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Source: xinhuanet.com

Another vessel targeted by pirates in Singapore Strait

Lee Hong Liang

Yet another ship was involved in a piracy incident on Wednesday in the Singapore Strait following five vessels already attacked by pirates earlier on 20 and 23 December, according to an update by ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC).

On 25 December, an incident occurred to tanker Stena Immortal while underway in the eastbound lane of Singapore Strait when six unarmed perpetrators were sighted in the engine room of the ship.

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Source: seatrade-maritime.com

Officials establish contact with 20 Indian sailors abducted off Benin

The Indian High Commission to Nigeria says contact has been established with pirates who kidnapped 20 Indian seafarers from a tanker off Benin Republic with all crew members reportedly safe.

An official of the Commission in Abuja said efforts are underway to seek the early release of the abducted seafarers whose location remains unknown.

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Source: shipsandports.com.ng

Crew of Pacific Warden Released

Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) has confirmed the release of the seven crew members of the Pacific Warden abducted offshore the coast of Equatorial Guinea on November 20, 2019.

On their release, after 31 days in captivity, the crew were met by senior representatives from SPO. Immediate medical checks and other necessary arrangements were organized, and all have now returned to their homes.

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Source: maritime-executive.com

IRGC Navy Urges Iranian Fishermen Not to Respond to Foreign Vessels

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy called on Iranian fishermen not to respond to foreign warships passing through the Persian Gulf waters, saying they have no right to question Iranian sailors.

In a statement addressed to all Iranian fishermen on Monday, the IRGC Navy said neither the US’ vessels nor those of other countries have the right to inspect, seize or question any of Iranian fishing boats, particularly in Iran’s territorial waters.

The statement further described any move by foreign ships to question Iranian vessels as being “against the national interests and in violation of international law”.

The IRGC Navy also called on all Iranian fishermen not to cooperate with foreign vessels and immediately inform IRGC patrols via Channel 16 VHF if they are questioned by them.

Earlier this month, Commander of the IRGC Navy Rear Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri highlighted his forces’ powerful presence in the Persian Gulf and said all foreign vessels passing through the waters are closely monitored by the IRGC Navy.

“The IRGC Navy checks and monitors foreign vessels entering the Persian Gulf and questions them about their nationality, the type of the vessels, and their destination,” Rear Admiral Tangsiri told Tasnim.

All foreign vessels, including those belonging to the United States, have always been answerable to the IRGC Navy, the commander added.

He further emphasized that the monitoring of foreign vessels in the Persian Gulf is “an inalienable right” of the Islamic Republic.

“The Persian Gulf belongs to Iran and other littoral states and we have the right to question the vessels because the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz is located in Iran’s territorial waters,” Rear Admiral Tangsiri stated.

Source: tasnimnews.com

Navy nabs six oil thieves

The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Igbokoda, has arrested six oil thieves operating in two boats laden with drums of adulterated diesel on Ondo coastline.

Commodore Danjuma Ndanusa, the Commanding Officer, FOB, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday at Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State that the suspects and the seizures would be handed over to the appropriate security agency for prosecution.

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Source: thenationonlineng.net