Tag: maritime security

Need to safeguard and expand its maritime interests The recent annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) - two of the most important political events in China - demonstrated the country's elite's aspiration and resolve to safeguard China's interests in the East Asian seas. At the same time, Premier Wen Jiabao, in his report to the NPC, vowed to give priority to improving relations with neighbouring countries in China's foreign affairs.Experiences in recent years indicate that these two sets of policy objectives may not be mutually reconcilable and is extremely difficult to maintain a balance between the two.Proposals for tighter maritime policiesChina's elite seized the opportunity during the political congresses to demand for more effective protection of Chinese maritime interests. Wang Zhuwen, president of Dalian Ocean University and also a deputy to the NPC, pointed out that the lack of maritime awareness has constrained the development of China's maritime cause. Hence, he proposed that maritime education should be included in the primary and middle school curriculum.At the NPC session Liu Cigui, Director of the State Oceanic Administration, indicated that China is serious about carrying out law enforcement activities in the seas. ...

West Africa: ECCAS, ECOWAS More than 250 representatives from more than 20 African nations attended the official opening ceremony of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Maritime Safety and Security Conference held on March 28, 2012.Top military officials, distinguished diplomats, and civilian ministers of agencies with maritime security authorities from ECCAS and ECOWAS attended the opening ceremony, which began with the host nation of Benin's military band playing their national anthem. Other guests representing the United Nations, the African Union, Europe and the United States were also in attendance. The event concluded with ECOWAS and ECCAS signing a communiqué agreeing on the submission of the draft Memorandum of Understanding and Operational Agreement to the respective Regional Economic Community Secretariats.The U.S. Africa Command and Africa Center for Strategic Studies organized and facilitated the seminar.The seminar was held to charter a way for cooperation between both African communities to provide regional maritime security in the central and western African regions and among member states to combat piracy, robbery at sea, and other illicit activities at sea in the Gulf of Guinea."This is a meeting of technical experts from West and Central Africa ...

Efforts to combat maritime piracy Efforts to combat maritime piracy have led to a big rise in the number of security companies here in the Unite Kingdom.The maritime security sector has an estimated turnover of more than $400million dollars this yea with nearly 85 per cent of the firms now doing business that did not exist four years ago. But an increase in hijacks on the high seas has changed this lucrative profession.

Red flags are raised over West African piracy Another red flag was raised over the worsening maritime security situation in West Africa last week when seafarers became eligible for danger money in the area.Employers and unions in the International Bargaining Forum (IBF) agreed the territorial waters of Nigeria and Benin have become dangerous enough to justify doubling seafarers' pay from next month. The IBF has a similar "danger money" agreement covering the high-risk area where attacks by Somali pirates are likely.The West African area had already been added to the list maintained by Lloyd's Joint War Committee (JWC). Hull insurers deemed the Gulf of Guinea a high-risk area following a spate of incidents last year that saw ships being hijacked and cargoes of gasoil stolen. Higher insurance costs have been blamed for a 70% fall in the number of vessels using Benin's port of Cotonou, vital not just to the economy of one of the poorest countries in the world but to its landlocked neighbours that are also dependent on the port.The decisions by the IBF and JWC reveal that, although the risks to shipping in the region have been recognised for some time, success in suppressing attacks has been ...

With an aim to step up exploration for oil and gas In the thick of maritime disputes with several of its neighbours, China on Tuesday said it is mapping South China Sea (SCS) with an aim to step up exploration for oil and gas and to reinforce its territorial claims.China may step up its exploration of South China Sea to reinforce its territorial claims following announcement that geographical surveys of the area are underway, state-run 'Global Times' reported."The majority of the disputed waters used to be beyond our reach because we seldom put our claims into action," Zhang Yunling, director of the Institute for International Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the daily."By drawing a map, the country can reinforce its jurisdiction claim in the South China Sea, and further actions may follow, such as exploiting resources near the Nansha Islands," Zhang said.Located south of China's coast, SCS is connected with narrow straits with Pacific Ocean and covers 3.5 million sq km of the ocean.China claims the entire SCS as its own. Its claim however, has been contested by Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan which assert it is part their maritime waters.Much to China's chagrin, the ...

Anti-piracy measures The South African Navy is to establish to two Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Centres. One centre will based at Silvermine in Cape Town to cover the west coast whilst the other will be located in Durban to cover the east coast.They are being created as a direct result of the increased threat to shipping along the southern African coast by pirates.Rear Admiral Bernhard Teuteberg, Chief Director Maritime Strategy, speaking to reporters at the State of the Navy presentation held at Simon's Town, Cape Town last week, said that "the Somalian piracy threat is in fact, from week to week, moving into a southerly direction".Teuteberg said that the piracy threat was also moving towards India and had already affected the Seychelles to such an extent that their GDP has dropped by 30% due to the threat to their fishermen.As a result, the Navy is proposing Maritime Zone and Regional MDA Centres, which would be linked to other SADC MDA Centres in order to exchange information. Numerous sources would be used to determine what was happening in these areas of interest, such as mobile shore radars, Automatic Identification System (AIS) fitted aboard all international voyaging ships, coastal radars, RadarSat, etc."We ...

Jebel Ali Port Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works and Chairman of the Higher Committee, the Higher Committee for UAE Civil Seaports and Airports Security, has recognised DP World, UAE Region with two prestigious awards for its commitment to security at its port facilities.The premier regional port operator won the "Distinctive Management in Seaports Sector" and "Excellence in Seaports Sector Training" awards at the Higher Committee's annual awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi.HE Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak presented the awards to Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, and Mahmood Amin, Chief Executive Officer, World Security, the specialist turnkey security solutions provider of Dubai World.The award cited Jebel Ali Port for its committed adherence to the highest levels of security requirements, which include implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code to enhance security of ships and port facilities, and providing specialist training to security teams.Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, said:"Ensuring security at our facilities is part of DP World's commitment to safeguarding the national interests of the UAE as well as the interests of ...

EU foreign ministers will discuss the idea at a meeting on 23 March The European Union is considering sending security experts to Niger to help combat a growing threat from al Qaeda and regional instability after the rebellion that toppled the Libyan government, EU diplomats said.EU foreign ministers will discuss the idea at a meeting on 23 March, diplomats said. If the plan is approved, it could see a small mission deployed to train local police and security officials in the coming months."Our objective is to support local governments in the region in ensuring better security," said one diplomat. "The aim is to get something operational this year."Western concerns over instability in the southern Sahara have grown in recent months, with a spate of kidnappings of Westerners by al Qaeda's North African wing, and expectations of deepening food shortages later this year.Since the end of the Libyan rebellion which ousted Muammar Gaddafi, an influx of arms and nomadic ex-fighters into the region has raised concern that Islamist groups may exploit lawlessness and expand their influence.Security experts say international support in counter-terrorism is urgently needed in a remote region that has long been a safe haven for smugglers and rebels, and ...

Rules based on transparency and diplomacy should be used to resolve maritime issues Russia is supporting the Philippines' stand that rules based on transparency and diplomacy should be used to resolve maritime issues.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov aired his government's support during his bilateral meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario in Moscow on March 13, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday.The 2 officials tackled regional and international issues, including maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region."They agreed that the threats faced in this area should be approached using a rules-based regime based on transparency and diplomacy. They affirmed their commitment to ensure safety of navigation and other security issues in the Asia-Pacific region," the DFA said.The Philippines earlier asked China to end the disputes in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea by validating the 2 countries' territorial claims under the United Nations on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing declined to make a commitment on the issue but said Beijing is not ignoring the UNCLOS as a way to resolve territorial disputes.Del Rosario and Lavrov also discussed Syrian crisis and the Arab Spring phenomena in their bilateral talks, according to ...

On vessels within Egyptian waters The West of England P&I Club has been advised by Eldib Pandi, Alexandria of a further change in the requirements governing the carriage of weapons, ammunition and armed guards on vessels within Egyptian waters.Following a recent Egyptian Ministry of Defence conference to discuss this issue, agents are now required to make a declaration 48 hours prior to arrival in the case of vessels which are due to call at Egyptian ports or transit the Suez Canal and have weapons, ammunition or armed guards on board. The agents are required to provide the Port Police, Military Intelligence, Coast Guard and Customs with a copy of the declaration. Also the Suez Canal Authority or the Port Authority, as applicable. The declaration shall include the following information:Details of the weapons / ammunition on board including the number of weapons, their calibre and serial numbers as well as the quantity of ammunitionThe nationalities of security personnel (armed guards)Confirmation that the weapons and ammunition will be placed in a sealed boxIf a vessel does not have weapons, ammunition and armed guards on board, the agent may require the Master to sign and stamp a form or statement to this effect.The ...