Maritime Security
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Volume 1 Number 3 October 2012 IOR-ARC Newsletter A Monthly Newsletter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation IOR-ARC Newsletter Vol 1 No 3 October 2012 Contents Editor’s Note ................................................................ 2 Maritime Security ......................................................... 3 Trade and Investment Facilitation ............................... 6 Fisheries Management................................................. 8 Disaster Risk Management ......................................... 9 Science and Technology & Academic Cooperation ..... 10 Tourism ........................................................................ 11 Upcoming Events ....................................................... 13 Editor Ruchita Beri Contributors Keerthi Sampath Kumar Saurabh Mishra Babjee Pothuraju Princy Marin George Sneha Bhura Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) Members: Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Yemen Dialogue Partners: China, Egypt, France, Japan, United Kingdom Observers: IORG, IOTO Disclaimer This newsletter does not reflect the views of IDSA or IOR-ARC. IDSA is not responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of the news items. 1 IOR-ARC Newsletter Vol 1 No 3 October 2012 Editor’s Note n terms of maritime security, while the number of pirate attacks has dropped over 50 per cent in the Ifirst half of 2012, Indian Ocean continues to be a high risk area. The international task forces operating in the Indian Ocean have warned the vessels transmitting in the area to remain vigilant. Efforts in dealing with the situation are on. In this regard, an EU Naval Force delegation visited Oman and Seychelles recently. The meeting focussed on cooperation in counter-piracy operations. Meanwhile, Malaysia is the first Asian country to initiate legal trials against Somali pirates. In another interesting development, India's training ship INS Sudarshini has launched a historic voyage to commemorate the two-decade-long partnership with ASEAN member-states and to strengthen naval ties with the South East Asian nations. A number of inter-regional events were organised in India recently. At the Indian Ocean Global Forum initiative towards enhancing partnership for trade, infrastructure and resource development among the IOR-ARC member states in New Delhi, officials from Seychelles and Mauritius expressed interest in attracting Indian investments to their respective countries. Representatives from several countries within the region participated in the event. In another regional event, heads of archives of IOR-ARC member- countries met in New Delhi to discuss areas of common interest and historic heritage. During a visit to Muscat, IOR-ARC Secretary General K.V Bhagirath interacted with the Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The two sides touched upon expanding cooperation between GCC Chambers and the IOR-ARC towards building a strong regional economy. Mozambican President, Armando Guebuza, recently inaugurated the first of its kind fisheries inspection laboratory equipped for international accreditation in the country. In the field of science and technology, Indonesia is set to launch a satellite for monitoring maritime traffic and disaster mitigation. Ruchita Beri Editor 2 IOR-ARC Newsletter Vol 1 No 3 October 2012 Maritime Security Naval forces have warned Indian Ocean is still dangerous despite a drop in piracy attacks; Bangladesh prevailed upon Malaysia to seek the release of sailors; India to upgrade defence relations with Maldives; Airstrip at Indira Point soon to be in operation; INS Sudarshini to commemorate India-ASEAN relations; Malaysia offers pirates a chance to escape execution; Oman- EU Naval Force pledge cooperation against piracy; EU and Seychelles meet on counter-piracy; Seychelles’ maritime authorities to use Long-Range Identification and Tracking system; Singapore- owned oil tanker rescued from pirates off Nigerian coast; Singapore and Indonesia conduct technical discussion on maritime boundaries; Singapore and Australia conduct bilateral maritime exercise; Sweden offers Saab 340 MSA for South Africa’s maritime surveillance; Sri Lanka and Japan discuss maritime issues; US and IMO help Tanzania install a coastal surveillance system The international anti-piracy naval task forces India will upgrade its defence relations with operating in the Indian Ocean have asked shippers Maldives by posting a defence attaché in Male. to continue with their high security measures, During talks between the Indian Defence despite the over 50 per cent drop in the number Minister, A K Antony and his Maldives of pirate attacks in the first half of 2012. The forces counterpart, Col (Retd) Mohamed Nazim, India have also warned that as many as 191 crew has conveyed its support for the construction of members from up to 14 merchant vessels and the Maldivian National Defence Force building. fishing boats are still being held. The European In addition, India will position an Indian Navy Union Naval Force Somalia, NATO and team in the country for one year to help in the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) have called smooth functioning and operations of the on international navies and all merchant vessels Maldives’ fleet and train their personnel for future transiting the High Risk Area to remain vigilant maintenance operations. India will also extend the and uphold their respective responsibilities to deployment of its ALH Dhruv helicopter by two support the fight against piracy.1 more years.3 Meanwhile, efforts are on in Dhaka to seek the According to reports, India will soon operate a release of those sailors who were taken hostage strategic airstrip at Indira Point, the country’s by Somali pirates two years ago from a Malaysian southern-most point, to cope with future ship, MV Albedo, in the Indian Ocean. The developments in the Indian Ocean region. The Bangladeshi department of shipping is taking initiatives to persuade the Malaysian authorities airstrip is likely to enhance the armed forces’ assets 4 regarding this.2 outside the mainland. 1 “Naval forces warn Indian Ocean still dangerous”, Global Times, September 4, 2012, at http://www.globaltimes.cn/ content/730969.shtml 2 “Dhaka in fresh push for release of sailors”, Gulf Times, September 16, 2012 at http://www.gulf-times.com/site/ topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=531316&version=1&template_id=44&parent_id=24 3 “Indian attaché in Male to bolster defence ties”, Daily Pioneer, September 17, 2012 at http://www.dailypioneer.com/ nation/95021-indian-attache-in-male-to-bolster-defence-ties.html 4 “Strategic airstrip to come up at Indira Point soon”, Deccan Herald, September 25, 2012 at http:// www.deccanherald.com/content/281168/strategic-airstrip-come-up-indira.html 3 IOR-ARC Newsletter Vol 1 No 3 October 2012 In September, India’s training ship, INS maritime authorities in counter-piracy operations Sudarshini, set sail on a historic voyage for a period as part of Operation Atalanta, the EU mission of six months to commemorate India’s two- that aims to combat piracy off the coast of decade-long partnership with member countries Somalia.8 of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and 10 years of summit-level Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Duncan Potts, partnership between India and the ASEAN. The Operation Commander of the EU NAVFOR met ship will cover 12,000 nautical miles and visit 13 President James Michel of Seychelles on ports.5 In order to strengthen navy-to-navy ties September 18, 2012. They discussed the progress with ASEAN countries, the voyage includes made over the last three years in terms of the interactions with international trainees who will coordinated approach being used in the fight embark on-board in different legs of the voyage.6 against piracy and the reduction in the number of piracy incidents this year. They also discussed Somali pirate suspects arrested in Malaysia last the success of anti-piracy efforts and political year have been given the chance to admit to lesser progress that has taken place following the crimes in order to escape execution. Seven Somali London Conference on Somalia held in February pirates were charged with firing at the Malaysian 2012. The President reiterated Seychelles’ armed forces in the process of committing a robbery commitment concerning the prosecution of in January 2011. Malaysia is the first Asian country suspected pirates. Admiral Potts reassured the to have intercepted these pirates in legal trials in the European Union’s commitment to prevent and wake of growing countermoves to clamp down on deter piracy in the High Risk Area, which piracy around the world.7 included the Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone.9 The Force Commander of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), Rear Admiral Enrico The Seychelles Maritime and Safety Credendino, met with the Deputy Commander Administration and other local authorities dealing of the Omani Southern Naval Area and other local with maritime issues will now be able to better authorities during a visit by the EU NAVFOR track Seychelles-flagged vessels with the Long- flagship to Salalah, Oman on September 1, 2012. Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) Meetings between the two sides focused on technology. Although LRIT is not new to cooperation between EU NAVFOR and Oman’s Seychelles, it was not being used to its full potential.10 5 “Navy Chief