Tag: security measures

Let your Yacht take the ferry Let your Yacht take the ferry - when considering a passage through the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and western Indian Ocean, north of 10 degrees south and west of 78 degrees east.Somali pirates operating in this area are looking for merchant ships, yet the past has shown that pirates will attack large and even smaller yachts passing their way. Larger yachts with more people onboard or a group of yachts could be seen as a valuable and easy target for the pirates.The risk is higher than everSuccessful disruptions by naval forces over the past few months, complemented by merchant ships masters' adherence and implementation of advice in Best Management Practices, have significantly reduced the pirates' ability to capture merchant vessels. However pirates still constitute a considerable threat. Being less successful in hijackings of merchant ships they will continue to develop new operational tactics, which could include yachts.A sum-up of facts- the number of attacks remains as high as ever,- pirates are less successful in hijackings of merchant ships,- a yacht or a group of yachts are an easy target,- the pirates have shown both willingness and ability to attack even smaller yachts.This should ...

Measures taken for better security of the seafarers The government is drafting a policy aimed at providing better security to Indian sailors and other seafarers in the wake of several incidents of hijacking of ships by pirates off the Somali Coast."The ministry is drafting measures for security of the seafarers, but we cannot disclose any other information now as the proposal at a preliminary stage," a Shipping Ministry official said.Around 500 Indian seafarers have been held hostage by Somali pirates off the Caribbean Coast in the past four years.Some of the hostages were crew members of the ships -- MV Iceberg-I, MV Rak Afrikana, MV Suez, MV Asphalt Venture, MV Savina Caylyn, and MV Sinin -- which were hijacked by the pirates in 2011.Meanwhile, as per the latest report on pirate activities released by the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) in March this year, Somali pirates around the Horn of Africa are holding 236 crew members as hostage from eight vessels.According to EU NAVFOR, of the 236 sailors now held hostage by the pirates in the region, 32 are from Indian and include seven members from the ship Asphalt Venture'. The ship was, however, released.Asphalt Venture was hijacked on ...

To ensure the safety and security of the Indian Ocean Embarking on her 10-day farewell tour to Seychelles and South Africa, President Pratibha Patil on Sunday expressed the hope that it would help improve economic and strategic relations with these two nations.Ms. Patil said the Presidents of both the countries had visited India and she was "reciprocating." On her visit to Seychelles, the President said it was of strategic importance as India and Seychelles were bound together by the waters of the Indian Ocean."We are committed to working together closely in order to ensure the safety and security of the Indian Ocean region in the face of threats of piracy and terrorism. We are determined to continue to work with the government of Seychelles to ensure a secure environment for the mutual benefit of our peoples."She said Seychelles was also in proximity to lanes from where global trade took place. Since there was the menace of piracy and terror, India was cooperating with it in tackling them. A business delegation is accompanying the President to promote trade with the island nation.President of Seychelles James Alix Michel will be receiving Ms. Patil, who is scheduled to attend a meeting of the ...

Security measures to protect yourself from pirates attack Depending on the source, piracy in the Gulf of Aden/Horn of Africa (GOA/HOA) region is estimated to be costing the world economy between $5 and $10 billion every year. As average consumers none of us want to see this cost absorbed by price increases on the goods we buy every day. As merchant mariners, shipping companies, and industry organizations, it is much more personal. While keeping the pirates, thieves or terrorists off the ship is the ultimate goal, we need to ensure that we are protected before, during and after the attack.Rules of EngagementWebster's Dictionary defines Rules of Engagement (ROE) in part as, "Directives issued by competent military authority, which specify the circumstances and limitations under which forces will initiate and/or continue combat engagement with other forces encountered." Typical ROE will include everything from presence as the minimal force applied to lethal force. Increasing the levels of force to achieve the desired result is the Escalation Of Force (EOF).Rules of engagement exist for BOTH the vessel's protection and the protection of those operating in the vicinity - including "suspicious" vessels.International Maritime Organization (IMO) Gets InvolvedFor years, the implied stance of the International ...

Urgent need to formulate international guidelines to tackle piracy

Crew told weapons were being carried as self-defence against pirates Three shotguns and ammunition have been seized from the crew of an an oil tanker which docked in Milford Haven.Officers from the Border Force boarded the Panamanian-registered ship for a routine search.Members of the Chinese and South Korean crew told them the weapons were being carried as self-defence against pirates in the Indian Ocean.But the Border Force is warning all ships entering UK waters they must declare any firearms on board.The weapons were seized as the crew had failed to do so and because they had not been stored properly.Alex Lawther, assistant director for Border Force in Wales, said: "Even if crews are carrying firearms for legitimate reasons, they must declare them to our officers when they arrive in UK waters and they must store them properly on board ship."As well as seizing drugs and illegally-smuggled weapons, our officers also make sure ships' crews are complying with regulations around transporting firearms and other dangerous items."Source: BBC News

Seychelles coast guard by itself cannot make the waters safe As naval forces tighten the noose around Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, the idyllic Seychelles archipelago has been overrun with convicted brigands and is calling for international support.The small island state, with its crystal waters and pristine beaches, lies in an area of the Indian Ocean notorious for piracy and the coast guard has been working flat out to protect ships which are coming under attack."The Seychelles coast guard by itself cannot make the waters safe, we need to combine forces. If we manage to bring everybody on board I think our fight against piracy will be simpler," coast guard chief Georges Adeline told AFP."We really need our international partners to help out," he said.At a conference on Somalia in London last month, world leaders said they wanted to end the practice of pirates being captured and then released, but the Seychelles have been shouldering the burden of prosecuting and imprisoning them."It's such a small state, it's really punching above its weight in the fight on piracy," said Matthew Forbes, the British high commissioner to the Seychelles."The UK and other international navies are helping scour the area for pirates, ...

Information by the North of England P&I Club As a result of the escalation of events between the Argentine and UK governments regarding ownership of the Falkland Islands, the Argentine Confederation of Transport Workers (CATT) has introduced measures to delay the provision of tug services to vessels arriving or departing from Argentinean ports.We have received the following information from our local correspondents regarding the measures introduced by CATT:The local stevedores union (SOMU), under the umbrella of the Argentine Confederation of Transport Workers (CATT), has announced that it will stall the loading and unloading of British flagged ships, in response to renewed tensions between the UK and Argentina over the ownership of the Falklands. Recently, a bulk carrier, a chemical and a container ship suffered delays of up to 6 hours on both arrival and departure in local ports.Unfortunately, the boycott does not seem to be limited to British flagged ships, with CATT delaying entry of a bulk carrier with a Panamanian flag, a chemical tanker with a Singapore flag (but owned by a Norwegian Owner) and a container ship operated by a Danish owner.According to the head of SOMU, the objective is to force the UK to negotiate with Argentina ...

he vast majority of cargo containers entering the U.S. go unchecked It's been more than a decade since Islamic terrorists attacked the U.S., yet the agency created to protect the nation from another strike is asleep at the wheel, failing to adequately screen the monstrous amounts of cargo that enter the country each day, according to a government report issued this week."Cargo containers that are part of the global supply chain-- the flow of goods from manufacturers to retailers -- are vulnerable to threats from terrorists ," state thegovernment analysts whoassembled data forthe new report.Itmay seem unbelievable to most Americans that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that more than ten years after the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history, the vast majority of cargo containers entering the U.S. go unchecked. Incredibly, it's true and the alarming details are outlined in the GAO report published this week by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress.The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002 and the Security and Accountability For Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006 required the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take actions to improve maritime transportation security.Also, the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 ...

Security planning for the London Olympics Royal Marines from 539 Assault Squadron (539 ASRM) have been exercising with the Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit (MPU) on the River Thames near Woolwich Arsenal Pier as part of Olympic safety and security planning for the London Olympics.Almost one hundred Royal Marines have been honing their tactics, with a variety of marine craft including Offshore Raiding Craft and Landing Craft. During the exercise a Royal Navy Lynx and the Patrol Boat HMS Blazer have been in support.The series of familiarisation exercises taking place are helping to develop the safety and security operation for the River Thames. They have been designed to make sure that everyone has the same level of knowledge about the how the River operates and how the military and MPU tactics work together.Source: Advance