The ReCAAP ISC received information from Philippine Focal Point about the planned kidnapping by the members of Abu Sayyaf. The group will be using a blue 3-Engine Speedboat and expected to be underway to Sabah within the next 24 hours. ReCAAP ISC urged for situational awareness to mariners operating in the area.
Two Indonesian fishermen abducted by Abu Sayyaf terrorist group more than a year ago were released last Friday and were handed over from the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry to their families. The two men were kidnapped on 5 November 2016, while sailing in Malaysia’s waters of Sabah.
OEF Research cites five ways in which criminal networks exploit inadequate governance at sea. By drugs trafficking, robbing countries of their offshore oil, controlling smuggling routes, launching assaults & exploiting archipelagos, they manage to undermine political stability around the world.
The UK P&I Club informs operators that during the recent XIX Party Congress in Beijing, the local authorities in China implemented enhanced security measures at all ports.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers’ meeting, held in Clark, Philippines, this week, focused on the importance of high-level discussions of strategic defense and security matters, including North Korea, terrorism and maritime security.
As part of Australia’s and the Philippines’ cooperation, defense forces will also work together to strengthen intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in the southern Philippines, as well as enhancing maritime security engagement and maritime patrols between the two countries.
The battle occurring in the southern Philippine city of Marawi between supporters of Islamic State and the Philippine’s government, has raised many fears for piracy, kidnapping and terrorism. SQE MARINE consulting company informs about the new security transit corridors which have been set in the aforementioned areas.
Philippine troops have safely rescued a Vietnamese sailor, who was seized by Abu Sayyaf terrorists more than nine months ago, off Basilan province, a top military official announced on Monday. The sailor was kidnapped in November 2016 from the bulk carrier Royal 16, together with five more crew men, in the vicinity of Coco Island.
The North of England P&I Club draws attention to a new UKMTO notice which urges vigilance to vessels transiting Bab El Mandeb from the Gulf of Aden, following recent attacks on two vessels which fired upon with small arms and rocket propelled grenades from multiple small skiffs.
The Armed Forces of the Philippine confirmed that Abu Sayyaf group beheaded two Vietnamese sailors, who have been held as hostages for the last eight months. The victims were two of six crew members kidnapped by the ASG, after it hijacked their ship, Royal 16 bulk-carrier, off Basilan waters, in November 2016.
