Tag: maritime security

Deteriorating security in the Gulf of Guinea Deteriorating security in the drought-hit Sahel and an uptick in piracy in the Gulf of Guinea topped the agenda at a West African regional meeting that opened in Nigeria's capital on Thursday.Leaders from the 15 nations that make up the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are also scheduled to pick a new body chairman, replacing Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan whose mandate is expiring.The summit comes amid heightened insecurity in the Sahel region, where Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger face renewed threats from Al-Qaeda's north Africa branch, known as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Mahgreb (AQIM).Mali has also been forced to combat an offensive launched last month by Tuareg rebels, who have attacked several northern towns since January 17, part of a long-running struggle to secure autonomy for their nomadic desert tribes.France this week offered its first suggestion of a link between AQIM and a key Tuareg rebel group.The unrest in Mali has sparked widespread internal displacement and a surge in refugees fleeing the country. Niger and Burkina Faso, both ECOWAS members, have seen the arrival of thousands of Malian refugees, as has Mauritania, which is not a member of the bloc.The Red ...

Security concession Operators in the maritime industry have warned that the nation risk sanction by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) should it continue with the concession of the nation's maritime domain.The operators made their position known at a one day talk shop put together by the Maritime Reporters' Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Lagos, noted that there is no where in the world were the security of any nation's maritime domain is handled by a private film as it is being done by the Nigerian government represented by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).The agency recently signed a contract for the Strategic Concessioning Partnership between it and a private firm, Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited (GWVSNL) to provide platform for Tracking Ships and Cargoes, Enforce Regulatory Compliance and Surveillance of the Entire Nigerian Maritime Domain.National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, condemned the concession. He asked when the project was advertised and further demanded "must everything be in secrecy? He stressed that the outsourcing cannot fly.He wondered why the maritime industry is the attraction of all sorts of experimentation, apparently because NIMASA is one of the richest government organizations, explaining ...

Iranian officials recently threatened to close the channel The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln passed through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping lane Iran threatened to close, on Tuesday, officials said.An Iranian patrol boat at one point passed within 2 miles of the carrier, which was protected by a U.S. cruiser and a destroyer, the BBC reported.Iranian officials recently threatened to close the channel, through which 20 percent of the world's oil exports moves, in retaliation for more recently enacted sanctions against the Islamic republic over its nuclear program.Western leaders say they fear Tehran's nuclear activities are aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Tehran maintains its program is for peaceful purposes.It was the second pass through the Strait in recent weeks by the Abraham Lincoln, officials said.Source: UPI

Regarding armed guards onboard The bill to combat piracy in the sea-going ships, adopted at the cabinet meeting yesterday, under Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos.The bill sets out the main lines and procedures for a license to be given in order armed groups to embark on ships and also set outs the rights of seafarers, the use of weapons, bans on Greece and penalties.According to the bill, authorization for the use of armed guards onboard should be given after request of the ship owner. Guards should have the appropriate certification, to be above 21 years old, to have no convictions and not be crew members.In case there is no compliance with the necessary requirements, the decision may be revoked by the chief of the Coast Guard and is valid for six and twelve months, with the charges of a special fee and the right for an extension.The armed group is under the authority of the master, who will have access to arms onboard.The use of weapons and arms may be prohibited if there is an official decision, mandated by the Headquarters of the Coast Guard - Coast Guard Greek or Greek or any other military authority.Any crew member does not ...

The U.S. Navy able to prevent from blocking the Strait of Hormuz Iran has built up its naval forces in the Gulf and prepared boats that could be used in suicide attacks, but the U.S. Navy can prevent it from blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the commander of U.S. naval forces in the region said on Sunday.Iran has made a series of threats in recent weeks to disrupt shipping in the Gulf or strike U.S. forces in retaliation if its oil trade is shut down by sanctions, or if its disputed nuclear program comes under attack."They have increased the number of submarines ... they increased the number of fast attack craft," Vice Admiral Mark Fox told reporters. "Some of the small boats have been outfitted with a large warhead that could be used as a suicide explosive device. The Iranians have a large mine inventory.""We have watched with interest their development of long range rockets and short, medium and long range ballistic missiles and of course ... the development of their nuclear program," Fox, who heads the U.S. Fifth Fleet, said at a briefing on the fleet's base in the Gulf state of Bahrain.Iran now has 10 small submarines, he ...

Capturing pirates in the high seas have become an extremely difficult task Maritime Piracy is a threat to all nations and is a crime subject to universal jurisdiction. States are called upon to favourably consider the prosecution of suspected and imprisonment of convicted pirates, consistent with applicable International Human Rights Law and United Nations Security Council Resolutions.Pirates are considered by International Law as common enemies of all mankind. The world naturally has an interest in the punishment of offenders and is justified in adopting international measures for the application of universal rules regarding the control of terrorism. The common understanding between States has been that pirates should be lawfully captured from the high seas.Capturing pirates in the high seas have become an extremely difficult task due to the vastness of the area and lack of resources. Despite attempts to concerted acts of nations and the United Nations to combat piracy they freely engage in disturbing the world peace by attacking the economy by blocking and harming the sea routes. The only way the goods and especially oil and gas are transported via high sea. Most ships are unarmed. Even though they are armed in the high seas pirates can be ...

Fifth Peace Palace Library Lecture about Piracy in Somalia The meeting's central theme was the international community's efforts in combating and prosecuting pirates.Commodore Michiel Hijmans discussed the operational aspects of military operations to combat piracy, focusing on NATO's counter-piracy operations.Commodore Michiel Hijmans was Commanding Officer of the Standing NATO Maritime Group, conducting the sixth months operation 'Ocean Shield´ (counter piracy), 'Operation Active Endeavour´ (counter terrorism) and other operations. Marten Zwanenburg discussed the legal aspects of such operations. Marten Zwanenburg is Senior Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands.He holds a doctorate in international law from the University of Leiden. Henny Baan discussed the prosecution of the arrested pirates

Held in Kota Kinabalu,Sabah Malaysia from 8 to 10 February 2012 The second ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts' Working Group (EWG) on Maritime Security was held in Kota Kinabalu,Sabah Malaysia from 8 to 10 February 2012.The Meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Suriani Ahmad, Undersecretary Policy and Strategic Planning, Ministry of Defence, Malaysia and CDRE Vince Di Pietro, Director General Navy Capability, Plans and Engagement of Australia. The meeting was attended by representatives of all ASEAN Member States and the Plus Countries, except for Myanmar and India. Brunei Darussalam was represented by 290 Lieutenant Colonel (L) Abang Abas bin Abang Haji Omarzuki from the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and two Research Officers from the Directorate of Defence Policy, Ministry of Defence.The Second EWG on Maritime Security Meeting was built on discussions arising from the inaugural EWG meeting on Maritime Security held in Perth, Australia in July last year. The meeting is to further deepen the specific initiatives for defence and military practical cooperation to help enhance capacity building on maritime security for member states. During the Meeting, Malaysia presented a proposal concept paper titled ADMM-Plus Expert Working Group on Maritime Security Future Development for ADMM-Plus member states to consider. It ...

To increase shipping efficiency and maritime security Union Shipping Minister Sh. Vasan has dedicated the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) for the Gulf of Kachchh to the nation, at Kandla Port in Gujarat today. The concept, design and implementation of the entire scheme were done by the Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (DGLL) team, under the Ministry of Shipping. VTS is a co-ordinated measure and services of a number of sensors like Radars, Automatic Identification System (AIS), etc. and they all are integrated to develop an overall scenario by which appropriate advice can be given to the Master of the vessel. This will help in improving waterways and harbour management, increase shipping efficiency and above all help the regulatory authorities and security agencies in detecting unlawful activities and anti national activities.Sh. Vasan said in his inaugural speech that establishment of a VTS for the Gulf of Kachchh had been a long felt need though the completion was delayed due to difficult terrain and logistical challenges. The scheme has been implemented at a cost of about Rs.165 crore, with 50 per cent contribution from DGLL, 25 per cent from Gujarat State Maritime Board and 25 per cent from Kandla Port Trust.The ...

The course is designed to help the expanding international shipping industry tackle threats The world's first MSc in Maritime Security has been launched by the University of Greenwich. The course is designed to help the expanding international shipping industry tackle threats such as piracy and terrorism on the high seas. It will also deal with new issues affecting environmental and energy security, and aims to equip graduates, security personnel, serving and former members of the armed services with the professional skills they need to succeed in senior management roles in this growing professional sector.The university's Greenwich Maritime Institute (GMI) has teamed up with its School of Engineering and Natural Resources Institute (NRI), with Marine Insurance and Maritime Crime Consultants and with the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI), to develop the course. It draws on the institute's established strengths in maritime management, policy and history as well as the university's wider expertise in engineering, technology, energy, environmental science and the Law of the Sea.SAMI, which provides an independent regulatory forum for the maritime security industry, has contributed its professional knowledge of the sector.The career development opportunities offered by this new qualification are expected to attract interest from people currently ...