Tag: security measures

New anti-piracy project - the MASE (Maritime Security) project Eastern and southern Africa, and Indian Ocean region countries have initiated a new anti-piracy project with a startup grant of $2 million from the European Union.The MASE (Maritime Security) project, which has been under development since May 2010, was signed last week by regional economic blocs including Comesa, EAC, Igad and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) in Mauritius.This is a major development for countries affected by piracy, especially Kenya. In October, the IOC set up Anti-Paracy Unite in Seychelles. The MASE project is meant to develop national and regional capacities at three levels.First, it will support legal and legislative capabilities to countries willing to prosecute pirates; second, it will assist the region address economic impact of piracy among them the impact of money laundering; and, thirdly, will enable exchange of information to promote maritime security.The first regional ministerial conference on maritime piracy was held in Seychelles in May 2010. Since then, Mariani Alexandrio, the head of EU delegation in Mauritius, who is in charge of Indian Ocean Islands argues, the region has gone a long way.So far, estimated ransom payments in 2011 amount to $138.5 million for the 29 vessels and ...

Kenya prepares to increase its earnings from tourism improved security Two berths at the Mombasa port will be rehabilitated to accommodate cruise ships as Kenya prepares to increase its earnings from the lucrative tourism segment following improved security off the Somali coast.The plans were shelved two years ago when piracy attacks cast doubt over the future of the business.Kenya Ports Authority general manager Khamis Twalib said that Berths 1 and 2 would be rehabilitated at a cost of Sh100 million.Both berths handle conventional cargo as well as cruise ships, but lack adequate facilities for tourists. This has compromised the quality of services that adventure tourists get compared to other destinations like South Africa.The MV Silver Wind Nassau recently became the first cruise ship to sail to Mombasa this season, signalling increased confidence by the international community that the Somali coast was safer in the wake of the Kenya-driven Operation Linda Nchi, which has since been absorbed into the African Union's Amisom force."We are in discussions with four cruise ship companies who want to start operations in the region by next year," said Auni Kanji, managing director of Abercrombie and Kent, the tour operating company that is handling MV Silver Wind ...

MARAD Advisory 2011-07 MARAD releases the following advisory concerning vessel inspections being conducted by the Iranian Navy:Reports from maritime forces and commercial maritime interests indicate concern with the potential for localized disruption to shipping in conjunction with future Iranian Naval exercises. During previous exercises Iranian maritime forces conducted boarding and inspections of merchant ships, including those flagged to European nations. The possibility exists that Iran will attempt to conduct boarding and inspection during exercises between December 2011 and March 2012. The most likely location for this activity would be in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, particularly in areas closer to Iranian territorial waters.If a US-flag vessel is hailed for boarding by the Iranian Navy in international waters the ship's master should "protest but comply," if circumstances warrant.US-flag vessels are advised to report incidents to the Comusnavcent Battlewatch Captain (Maritime Operations Center) at 011-973-1785-3879, and Marlo Bahrain at 011-973-3940-1395.Source: MARAD

Discovering 69 surface-to-air missiles and 160 tonnes of explosives British-registered ship that was held in a Finnish port after authorities discovered 69 surface-to-air missiles and 160 tonnes of explosives onboard has permission to travel again, but without those materials or its captain, a port official said on Monday.The M/S Thor Liberty was headed to China and had docked in the southern Finnish port of Kotka to pick up anchor chains when police last week discovered and seized the missiles and explosive piric acid on board.The Patriot missiles were an official shipment from Germany to South Korea, while Finnish authorities said the explosives were a legitimate shipment for China. But the missiles lacked proper transit documents, and the explosives weren't safely stored, police said.The military has destroyed some of the cargo, while other pieces were being repacked in a safer manner.Official said he did not know exactly which pieces had been disposed of. The ship's Ukrainian captain and first mate were taken into custody on suspicion of violating weapons export laws, and have not been cleared to leave the country.There were 11 other crew members on the ship.Source: Gulf Today

Anticipating that the pirates will not take a break over the holiday period Anticipating that the pirates will not take a break over the holiday period, neither will the EU NAVFOR units patrolling around the Horn of Africa and in the Somali Basin.Whilst back at home in Europe the families of the deployed EU NAVFOR personnel celebrate this very special season of the year, the crews of all ships and aircraft of the entire EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA Task Force off the coast of Somalia maintain their guard at sea and continue with their duty of securing the safe transport of food to the people of Somalia. With this decision, the Naval Force underlines the commitment of the European Union to ensure the safe arrival of humanitarian aid, so desperately needed by thousands of suffering Somali people. In addition to the escorting of merchant vessels chartered by the World FoodProgramme, EU Naval Forces also continue to counter the threats imposed by Somali pirates on the international shipping community in a combined effort with other multinational Naval Forces in Indian Ocean. Currently, out of the 27 Nations contributing to the Operation, Sailors and soldiers from 13 different nations will be active ...

India has initiated several preventive/mitigating security measures to curb piracy Ministry of Defence had requested M/o Shipping to advice all Indian Shipping companies to adopt the Best Management Practices (BMPs) particularly with respect to the construction of a 'Safe House' or 'Citadel' on their ships for protecting the crew in the event of a piracy attack.M/o Shipping has advised the Shipping industry to adopt the BMPs which inter-alia include alarms, evasive manoeuvres, enhanced vigilance during watch keeping, control of access points and safe houses.Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India

The Indian Ocean is strategic area - 85% of China's oil imports and 60% of its exports are routed Little by little China is forming military links in Africa and in the Indian Ocean in order, experts say, to protect Beijing's economic interests in the region.In the past three weeks Beijing has committed to supporting Ugandan forces operating in Somalia and to helping the Seychelles fight piracy."It is very clear that the Chinese leaders recognize that military force will play a bigger role to safeguard China's overseas interests," Jonathan Holslag, of the Brussels Institute of Chinese Contemporary Studies told AFP."There is a willingness, and even a consensus, in China, that this process will take place."The Indian Ocean is strategic, Holslag said, noting that 85 percent of China's oil imports and 60 percent of its exports are routed via the Gulf of Aden.Beijing does not so far have any military base in the region: its military presence consists of three vessels in the Gulf of Aden to fight Somali pirates.But the deployment of those ships in 2009, the first of its kind for the Chinese navy, was already highly symbolic.For the moment, cooperation between China and the islands of the Indian ...

The crew is detained on board the vessel for the investigation A contingent of Department of Homeland Security agencies discovered almost 100 lbs of illicit narcotics during joint enforcement exam aboard a vessel arriving to the Port of Corpus Christi, shortly before 8 p.m. December 8.DHS law enforcement personnel found two stowaways from Colombia aboard the vessel. Also discovered were 94 lbs of cocaine and more than 5 pounds of heroin packed in two nylon bags.The Motor Vessel , an oil tanker, was arriving from Venezuela.Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations, Office of Air and Marine, and U.S. Border Patrol conducted the joint boarding. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) also participated in the joint enforcement exam."This operation is a first-rate example of the collaborative effort DHS makes in securing the nation," said CBP's Judson W. Murdock II, acting director of field operations, Houston. "We will take any opportunity to work with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to disrupt criminal activity whether it's seizing narcotics or arresting illegal immigrants."The joint boarding was planned and conducted by participating agencies based on targeting by CBP using law enforcement databases.The crew is currently detained on board the vessel. ...

It is likely to pressure n the South China Sea dispute The U.S. Navy said it would station several new coastal combat ships in Singapore and perhaps in the Philippines in coming years, moves likely to fuel China's fears of being encircled and pressured in the South China Sea dispute.Regional defense analysts said the ships were small, but agreed the symbolism of the moves, which come after Washington announced it was increasing its engagement in Asia, would upset Beijing.Last month the United States and Australia announced plans to deepen the U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, with 2,500 U.S. Marines operating out of a de facto base in Darwin in northern Australia.In coming years, the U.S. Navy will increasingly focus on the strategic "maritime crossroads" of the Asia-Pacific region, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert wrote in the December issue of Proceedings, published by the U.S. Naval Institute.He said the navy planned to "station several of our newest littoral combat ships at Singapore's naval facility," in addition to the plans announced by President Barack Obama for marines to be based in Darwin from next year."This will help the navy sustain its global forward posture with what may be ...

Second ship carrying weapons without papers Days after a mysterious Iranian vessel, loaded with automatic guns, raised suspicion after it was anchored at Lakshwadeep, another ship off Navlakhi port near Morbi has left security agencies in a state of panic.Customs officials have recovered self-loading rifles (SLRs) and live cartridges from the ship, M V Genco Province, which has come from Indonesia carrying coal for Hindustan Zinc.Officials said the weapons were declared to the department earlier but those on the ship did not have papers for weapons and ammunition. The ship has 21 Ukraine nationals and two security guards of Irish nationality. On Monday, senior coast guard, Navy, and police officials visited the Navlakhi port."We recovered four SLRs, which have been procured from the Sri Lankan Naval armory, from security guards on board. As many as 392 live cartridges of foreign make have also been seized. However, the company sending the ship declared only 320 cartridges. Those on the ship don't have the required papers to keep the weapons and are now arranging the same through their embassy," said a senior customs official.Customs officials said they will write to the Sri Lankan authorities to verify the credentials of the vessel and ...