29 June – 5 July 2013 (Vol. 2; No.27/13)

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Feedback on the newsletter is welcomed too. Key message of cooperation and collaboration; oil theft, disasters at sea and IUU Fishing are main concerns– As piracy takes a yearly backseat, eyes turn to disasters at sea, the cause and effect of piracy relating to the matters affecting governments on land, but also the scramble for influence in piracy regions. Experts and commentators reiterate the need for information sharing and cooperation but how it can be all-inclusive remains the core issue for many. Kismayo infighting, internal wrangling in the Somali Federal Government and the “khaki envelope” demonstrates the difficulty in monitoring capacity building and is reflected in West Africa as near-replication of approach to piracy begins. Regulation of arms continues to hinder progress of maritime security despite focus on standards and responsibilities of the Master and PSCs. Oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering in Nigeria at a sufficiently worrisome level, MD for Shell Nigeria blames well-financed and highly organised criminals for running a parallel industry with $6 billion revenue lost annually; increasing cases, however, mean that the Nigerian Navy may not be able to contain the scourge. Bribery and corruption in W Africa ports challenge security along with piracy. Gambia rejects an agreement with the US on cooperation due to unequal partnership, which is likely to be repeated for West African states’ joint cooperation. Malaysia, too, calls for dialogue and negotiations to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the South China Sea. International navies conduct an operation in the southern Red Sea, BaM, western Gulf of Aden in conjunction with merchant shipping to counter piracy and terrorist threats as senior suggest concluding the successful mission in the Horn of Africa could destabilise Somalia. Oil price soars as coup in Egypt takes hold but ports and Suez Canal continue to operating normally. IUU fishing, costing $10-23 billion annual losses is the background to agreements reached and actions planned around the African coastline; Seychelles is the first African country to formally hand its document of accession to an international accord aimed at combating illegal fishing and is in talks to develop Somalia’s blue economy. 40 percent of fish caught in W Africa is illegal. The depth of the global problem sees Palau become the first Pacific nation to ban commercial fishing in its EEZ. Pirate fishing is an issue as big as the global piracy problem everyone knows. Sinking, broken, burnt and abandoned ships, missing crew, a seafarers life is not an easy one. The forcing down of Bolivian President Evo Morales's plane – denied airspace by , Spain and Portugal f or the "fugitive" Edward Snowden – was an act of air piracy and state terrorism, says the Guardian UK. Already banned in most of , US and Canada, the UK, despite advice to the contrary, bans the herbal stimulant loved by Somali pirates – khat is out of the bag.

Contents: Regional Activity; Released by Pirates; Pirates in Court; Private Security; International Response; Piracy Cost; Seafarers' Plight; And Finally...; Piracy Incidents; Situational Map

East Africa/ THE apparently accidental publication of a diplomatic letter has exposed a rift between the Somali government and Kenyan troops - supposedly allies - BBC News. The letter, verified as genuine by the BBC, accuses the Kenyan army of causing recent faction fighting that left at least 65 dead in the port of Kismayo. Kenyan troops are part of the African Union force battling Islamist militants in support of the UN-backed government. The Kenyan authorities have not yet commented on the letter in detail. Some regional diplomats say Kenya is trying to create a buffer state, known as Jubaland, inside Somalia run by local politicians it can control. Image - Kenyan forces captured Kismayo from al-Shabaab in October 2012

AN alert was issued on 26 June when the owners of a Taiwan fishing vessel, Chun Ying, reported they had lost contact with their ship at 0110 local time - OCEANUSLive. By the end of the day the report changed to one that the vessel had been destroyed by fire and abandoned by the crew. The longliner, Chun Ying, but also stated as being named Chin Yung, owned by Chyan Maan Oceanic, Taiwan, was last reported at 01:13N 055:24E, approximately 720nm east of Mogadishu, Somalia and approximately 320nm north of The Seychelles. The vessels two life rafts were reported missing. The fishing vessel was stated to be carrying a crew of 28 and a further 3 maritime security guards. The fates were unknown at the time and it was considered that they may have abandoned the vessel and embarked the two life rafts onboard. A search and rescue mission commenced which saw an EU maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, UKMTO, IMB, and the Seychelles Coast Guard involved in efforts to locate the stricken vessel. The EU MPRA reported locating a life raft with 14 persons onboard. The second life raft was yet to be sighted as at 27 June. With the adverse conditions of the Indian Ocean at this time of year, the possibility of finding the remaining crew and life raft began to fade as the search continued. A sister fishing vessel, Chun Ying 777, was directed to assist the life raft with the 14 persons. The burnt out and abandoned vessel was found following a search by CTF 150 unit. The second life raft was found 28 June with two dead bodies on board. The remaining 15 crew are still missing. THE [Seychellois] Police have reported that a fishing vessel bearing the name of Chun-Ying, which reportedly caught fire on the 19 June while fishing on high seas between Somalia and Seychelles, has been pulled into Port Victoria this morning, 5 July - OCEANUSLive. The Taiwanese boat, registered in Singapore was pulled in by Chun-Ying 777, another boat from the same company which was contacted on the 21 June to find Chun-Ying after their base had lost contact with the former. From a total of thirty one (31) crew members including the , only fourteen (14) of them were found alive and rescued from a rescue life raft; two (2) burnt bodies were later discovered on another, this time partly damaged, rescue life raft while fifteen (15) others are reported missing.

MORE than 7,000 small arms used in escorting marine vessels into the country are still under police custody, Inspector general of police David Kimaiyo has said - The Star Kenya. The assorted arms were surrendered to the police for safe custody upon arrival of vessels at the port of Mombasa. According to Kimaiyo, vessels with private escort have their security team surrender their arms before going into the main land. Most specialized private security companies providing armed maritime security escorts for vessels usually have their men alight upon arrival in Mombasa. This is to allow the offloading of cargo. They are required by the law to surrender their arms for safety and security reasons and collect them when the vessel is leaving the country. According to Mombasa County Police boss Njoroge Mbugu, the security men cannot be allowed to move around with the firearms since they go into the city where they mingle with the public. “This is a security measure since some of them even go to relax at entertainment spots. They cannot be allowed into the main land armed so they keep the firearms with us,” said Mbugu. However, IG has said most of the arms remain uncollected with some dating years back. Kimaiyo was speaking in Mombasa during the recent forum on port efficiency and trade facilitation.

SOMALIA has become the target of Iranian own logistics companies to make quick money by Establishing small logistics company in the neighbouring countries, these companies are often given UN and EU cargo shipments because they are claiming to be Somalia logistics expert- Shabelle.Net. All these companies are under the control of SIMATECH SHIPPING LLC which has been mentioned into our last article. Another regional player in the East African Market is SIMA MARINE AFRICA which is not hiding their ownership and their association with SIMATECH SHIPPING LLC, According to their website, they are Confirming that they have been handling cargo shipments for UNHRC and DANISH REFUGEE COUNCIL to Somalia. DRC is a Danish Government Agency which has been working in the region for poverty reduction and women’s issue. Most of these consignments are not advertised in a public tender because Simatech and its subsidiaries are often connected to a low level managers whom are not aware the background of these Iranian companies. These companies are often targeting conflict zones and they are in apart of Iranian network groups. which is controlled by Bandar Abas based Iranian businessmen, Their main shipping line is PERMA LINE SHIPPING which is the main partner for Simatech around the world.

WRITING in a newspaper, Mrs Tebbutt told how she learnt of her husband David’s death during a conversation with their son Ollie, 25, on a mobile phone from one of the ransom negotiators - Telegraph. She also disclosed how she was kept in filthy conditions and forced to wear robes and cover her head, which made her start to fear for her own sense of identity. She listed the torment she faced. “To be confined to a bare and filthy room, to be shouted at by angry men in an indecipherable language, to be shrouded in an alien set of clothes uncomfortable against one’s skin, to be humiliated and ridiculed, made to feel like nothing,” she said. Mr and Mrs Tebbutt, from Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, were holidaying in a luxury beach hut on an island on the Kenyan coast – 18 miles from the border of Kenya and Somalia. The were asleep when armed pirates stormed into their room in the early hours of Sept 11, 2011. She was released in March last year after an undisclosed ransom was paid to her captors. One man was charged over the kidnap but the case was dropped. Image - Courtesy of Telegraph.co.uk

WORKERS in the transport sector in Egypt said that shipping companies suspended their activities in a number of coastal cities yesterday as massive demonstrations against President Mohamed Morsi took place - Gulfship News. Mohamed Ali Twigg, director of customs clearance at Aramex transport and shipping company in Port Said, said that the transport contractors stopped the traffic of goods from the ports of West Port Said to all Egyptian governorates completely starting from the morning of 30 June, in anticipation of any violence. Twigg said in a telephone interview: "Transport companies slowed their work throughout the past 48 hours of 29 June, but it stopped working completely on the 30th in the morning." Egyptian army units intensified security procedures along the Suez Canal and the three Canal cities - Port Said, Suez and Ismailia, and the ports of Port Said east and west, yesterday. This morning [1 July] however the chairman of the Red Sea Ports Authority, Mohamed Abdel Kader Gaballah, said that work is now going on as normal in the eight authority ports. Image - Via Gulfship News

EGYPT'S military increased patrols of the Suez Canal, securing the waterway handling about 8 percent of global maritime commerce, as protests escalate against President Mohamed Mursi’s regime - Bloomberg News. Mohab Mohamed Hussien Mameesh, the chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, is coordinating a “high-alert” military response, Tarek Hassanein, a spokesman for the organization, said by phone yesterday. The army and navy stepped up patrols of the 190-kilometer (118-mile) canal linking the Red and Mediterranean seas about a week ago, he said. While conflicts halted canal traffic in the 1950s and 1960s, a stoppage is unlikely now because the waterway is too important to Egypt’s economy, Barclays Plc analysts including Helima Croft said in an e-mailed report yesterday. The army yesterday gave Mursi two days to respond to protesters, who say the president has done too little to improve their lives since taking office a year ago.

AN Egyptian security crackdown has severely disrupted smuggling to the neighbouring Gaza Strip, causing a fuel shortage, doubling the price of building materials and shutting down some construction sites in the Hamas-ruled territory - Las Vegas Sun. Egypt's military clamped down on the lawless Sinai Peninsula, which abuts Gaza, in the run-up to mass protests planned for Sunday by Egyptian opposition activists trying to force out the country's president, Mohammed Morsi. It's not clear if the Sinai lockdown is temporary or signals a tougher security regime aimed at restricting smuggling through tunnels running under the Egypt-Gaza border in the long term. That would have a devastating effect on Gaza, which has relied on smugglers since Israel imposed a border blockade following the rise to power of the Islamic militant group Hamas in 2006. The Sinai campaign began this month when Egypt's military sent troop reinforcements and set up dozens of roadblocks across the sparsely populated stretch of desert that runs from the Suez Canal to the Gaza border.

THE State Department insists it's not taking sides as Egypt's military threatens to topple the government led by President Mohamed Morsy - Foreign Policy. But at a State Department briefing on Wednesday, spokeswoman Jen Psaki specifically called out Morsy for failing to address the demands of protesters in his speech last night, while refusing to criticize the Egyptian military's violent coup threat. That's a shift in America's stance. Just a few weeks ago, U.S. diplomats did everything they could to avoid criticizing Morsy's rule -- and to play down the possibility that street protests could determine the shape of the government. Now: not so much. "It's important for President Morsy to listen to the Egyptian people and take steps to engage with all sides," Psaki told reporters. ""Unfortunately ... He didn't do that in his speech last night." When asked if she would condemn actions by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who pledged to overthrow Morsy's democratically elected regime "with our blood," she repeatedly refused to do so.

THE head of the Egyptian army has appeared live on television, announcing the suspension of the constitution - BBC News. General Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi, flanked by religious and military leaders, said the chief justice of constitutional court would take the powers of the presidency. His announcement means President Mohammed Morsi is no longer in power. Anti-Morsi protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square gave out a huge cheer in response to the speech. The move follows four days of mass street protests against Mr Morsi, and an ultimatum issued by the military which expired on Wednesday afternoon. The current whereabouts of Mr Morsi are unknown. WITH oil prices soaring across the world to 14-month highs on the back of last night’s tumultuous events in Egypt where the army ousted President Mohamed Morsi, sources across the nation’s seaboard tell Gulfship News all ports and, most importantly, the Suez Canal are operating as normal. “The army had moved to secure key infrastructure ahead of the June 30 protests against Morsi, and they have remained in place ever since,” said a source at Alexandria port. “We do not see any hiccup in our operations. Ships are calling as planned,” said an executive at the Red Sea Ports Authority. The Suez Canal Authority said in a statement that it didn't expect the 2.4m barrels of oil that transit through the canal each day to be disrupted.

AN Iranian ship laden with arms seized by Yemeni authorities in January may also have been bound for Somalia, according to a confidential U.N. report seen by Reuters on Monday - Reuters. Yemeni forces intercepted the ship, the Jihan 1, off Yemen's coast on January 23. U.S. and Yemeni officials said it was carrying a large cache of weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, being smuggled from Iran to insurgents in Yemen. The confidential U.N. report, by the U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, cited Yemeni officials as saying that it was possible diesel carried aboard the ship could have been intended for shipment to Somalia. The group, which tracks compliance with Security Council sanctions, raised concerns in the report about the flow of weapons to Islamist al-Shabaab militants since the U.N. Security Council eased an arms embargo on Somalia's fragile Western-backed government earlier this year. The report did not explicitly say that weapons on the ship were headed for Somalia, but one U.N. Security Council diplomat said that if it was true that the diesel was intended for Somalia, it could not be ruled out that other items on the ship, including weapons, might also have been intended for there. “With something that massive, and with that much windage, it’s a shit-fight,” notes Berdy. “You have to run slow, and then then next thing you know you’re getting snatched backwards.”

MITSUI O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced this morning that the fore section of the MOL Comfort has broken free from it’s towing wire while in “adverse” sea conditions - gCaptain. It’s a bit of a setback for the salvors, however considering the situation; it’s perhaps not all that unexpected. I spoke with veteran tugboat sailor Paul Berdy this morning to get a bit of perspective. He notes that, “When you make up the tow from a salvage operation, the tow points don’t actually exist, so you’re kind of shooting from the hip. It’s not like you have ABS-inspected towing bits installed on the vessel, so you’re rigging on the spot to make this happen.” MOL didn’t mention how or where the towing wire became disconnected, but Berdy brings up a valid point. The fore-part of the MOL Comfort is being pulled from it’s stern, if you can really call it that, which is really nothing more than a bulkhead that used to be inside the ship. The salvors, when they came on scene, had to find the strongest part of that bulkhead, and either cut in, or install towing padeyes on to the port and starboard side of the vessel and then rig up a towing bridle to that. It’s not like these guys were rigging up a towing bridle for a small barge, they had to tow 500 feet of containership, plus cargo, backwards through heavy seas. The gear needed for that is heavy and awkward, and had to be installed on a ship with no stern, or crane.

THE salvage team handling the stricken fore part of the MOL Comfort boxship has reattached the tow line that had become loose two days ago and the hull with some 1,500 containers onboard is now making its way to the coastline. It is expected that the hull will head for Oman - Gulfship News. “The weather in the area is still adverse,” shipowner Mitsui OSK Lines reported in its latest release today [3 Jul].

MITSUI OSK Lines has appointed London-headquartered class society Lloyd’s Register as a “technical consultant” to determine the cause of the MOL Comfort incident - Lloyd's List. MOL said it would “seek LR’s counsel about measures to determine the cause and to reinforce the safety of sister vessels”. It has already been announced that MOL, the ship’s class society ClassNK and its builder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries would investigate the cause of the casualty and the safety of six sister vessels of MOL Comfort. Meanwhile, with the salvors having reattached a line to the fore section of MOL Comfort, the difficult operation to tow the remains of the ship and its 1,700 containers to a refuge port in the Gulf continues at a speed of 2 knots. At that progress, and assuming there are no further complications, it would take the tug and forward section more than 17 days to reach Salalah in Oman, for instance.

MONEY at the Central Bank of Somalia is not used to run government institutions in the war-torn Horn of Africa country, with an average 80 percent of withdrawals made for private purposes, according to a U.N. report seen by Reuters on Monday - Trust.org. The confidential report by the U.N. Group of Experts to the Security Council's Somalia and Eritrea sanctions committee blamed a patronage system - dubbed the "khaki envelope" practice after the color of the stationery carried to the Ministry of Finance - for preventing the creation of state institutions. "In this context, the fiduciary agency managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers was reduced to a transfer agent that could not ensure accountability of funds once they reached the Somali government," the report said. "Indeed of $16.9 million transferred by PWC to the Central Bank, $12 million could not be traced," it said. "Key to these irregularities has been the current governor of the Central Bank, Abdusalam Omer." PricewaterhouseCoopers, Omer and the Somalia U.N. mission did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Omer, 59, is a dual Somali-U.S. national who left Somalia at age 16 and returned in January to become governor of the Central Bank in a country with a shattered economy and broken financial system.

THE herbal stimulant khat is to be banned by the government, against the advice of its own Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs - BBC News. In January the ACMD said khat should remain a legal substance, saying there was "insufficient evidence" it caused health problems. But Home Secretary Theresa May has decided to ban it, saying the risks posed could have been underestimated. Khat will be treated as a class C drug, like anabolic steroids and ketamine. The Home Office said the ban was intended to "protect vulnerable members of our communities" and would be brought in at the "earliest possible opportunity". Khat is already banned in most of Europe and in a number of other countries, including the US and Canada. Khat is traditionally used by members of the Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities.

West Africa THE Nigeria Navy, an integral force in federal government’s battle against the increasing cases oil theft, may not be able to contain the scourge, Sunday Trust’s investigations have revealed - AllAfrica. Reliable naval sources confided in this publication last week in Port Harcourt that efforts of the Joint Task Force, comprising the Army, Navy and paramilitary agencies, in combing the creeks to arrest oil thieves have not been rewarded with prompt prosecution of the suspects. More significant, the sources added, the barons behind the crime are wealthy, influential and untouchable Nigerians whose continued engagement in the illegal trade would always make nonsense of the efforts of the task force. “Apparently, government lacks the political will to take on the big men behind big-volume oil theft, hence, the continued perpetration of the crime. It is another aspect of monumental corruption that binds top political leaders, retired army generals and navy , and their business cronies together,” a JTF major in the Niger Delta told Sunday Trust. “They operate, as they always do on big issues of corruption, like a cult. Only themselves can undo themselves,” he declared.

MEMBERS of the Gambian National Assembly have rejected the agreement with America on cooperation against illicit transnational maritime activity - Africa Review The house rejected the agreement between the two governments saying that it was not based on equal partnership as it only talked about cooperation in Gambian maritime waters. Francis Liti Mboge, the minister of Works, Construction and Infrastructure, had tabled the agreement before parliament and urged members ratify it. He reminded the House about the difficulties of detecting, deterring and suppressing illegal activity at sea especially fisheries offences and drug trafficking. The agreement mentions the conventional international law that requires concerted international effort to prevent and suppress illicit drug trafficking, which has become rampant in maritime waters off the West African coast. It also gives regard to the urgent need for international cooperation in suppressing illicit traffic, which is captured in the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

NIGERIAN special forces discovered three illegal crude oil loading points, near Italy's Eni fields and impounded two barges being prepared to load stolen crude, a military spokesman said Tuesday - Platts. Onyema Nwachukwu said troops also destroyed nine illegal oil refineries during raids last week on five sites in Warri South-West Local Government area of southern Delta state. "Operatives of the Joint Task Force discovered three new illegal crude oil loading points, one each at Igbomotoru, Oyeregbene and Mbikiba [and] we have advised the Nigerian Agip Oil Company [ENI] to immediately carry out an assessment on the discovered illegal loading points in the area with a view to sealing the points," Nwachukwu said. "Operatives of the JTF while combing the general coastlines of Peterside and Kalaibiama communities, as well as Bonny anchorage and Onne, intercepted two self-propelled barges, MT ASKJA and MT Ibinabo around Bonny anchorage in Rivers State, without the necessary registration documents," he said. Six crew members on board the barges were being questioned, the JTF spokesman added.

THE Managing Director of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu has blamed well-financed and highly organised criminals for crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, saying they run a parallel industry with a "developed supply chain and growing sophistication - WorldStage Newsonline. Sunmonu, who spoke at the Extractive Business Dialogue on Corruption organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, in Port Harcourt, warned that crude oil theft has reached a crisis situation. He said, "I am worried about the incredible growth of oil theft and illegal refining activities over the last couple of years. I am worried as a Nigerian and you all should be worried too! Our economy loses about $6 billion annually to illegal bunkering." Sunmonu, whose speech was read by General Manager, Gas, SPDC, Mr. Ubaka Emelumadu, said Nigerians and all stakeholders should also be worried about the devastation on the environment, stressing that sabotage and oil theft accounted for around 75 percent of the oil spilled SPDC's facilities. "In 2012, they accounted for over 95 percent of the volume of oil spilled," Sunmonu added. He said sheer scale of oil theft and its consequences puts enormous strain on Shell's staff and operation teams and diverts time and resources to dealing with the menace. Besides, he noted that the fact that most neighbouring countries to Nigeria have found oil makes it imperative for urgent steps to be taken to block all oil revenue leakages and to improve accountability. Meanwhile, Sunmonu, who is the Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN), called for accountability and transparency in the management of oil revenues by producing states. He noted that there is a perception that corruption is one barrier to turning the oil revenues into benefits for the citizens. Image - Via WorldStage News Online

CRUDE oil theft has risen to such a worrisome dimension in the country that something drastic has to be done to curb it - Sun News Online. Recent statistics on the phenomenon indicate a staggering loss of revenue to oil thieves who have become a veritable threat to the nation’s economy. For instance, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) recently raised an alert on Nigeria’s loss of $6.1 billion (N965 billion) to this nefarious activity, annually. The company rightly observed that pipeline vandalism, oil theft and illegal refineries have become detrimental to the nation’s economy and environment. In the same vein, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said that Nigeria loses over 300,000 barrels of per day (bpd), which accounts for a drop of $1 billion (N160 billion) in oil revenue per month. Similarly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) revealed that the nation lost about $1.23 billion (N190 billion) in the first quarter of this year alone. This ugly development probably prompted Senate President, David Mark, to recommend death penalty for oil thieves. Mark anchored his suggestion on the premise that oil theft would devastate the economy, if not checked. Image - Via Sun News Online

POSSIBLE pirate attacks, congestion and long turnaround times are not the only things that hamper smooth port calls in West Africa - Break Bulk. Bribery and corruption, combined with ship agency-related challenges, also make West Africa an unpredictable and expensive part of the world for vessel operators. Because bribery and corruption appear to be getting out of hand in a number of ports in West Africa, it is crucial to be proactive and use even more energy in trying to keep the consequences to a minimum. During port calls a significant amount of paint, mooring robes, general stores, frozen food, cigarettes and tobacco products, soft drinks and cash are normally needed to get the vessels in and out of the ports without delay. To a certain extent the corruption is not just limited to the port authorities. Pilots, ship agents and terminal staff are unfortunately often close to the borderline of what might be considered legal and good behaviour. Even when vessels arrive with correct papers and spotless documentation, the master needs to expect that bribery will take place and thus prepare some “cheap alternatives” to be handed over to the authorities and others. Poor communication between the local ship agency and the vessel operator often prevents the flow of timely, accurate and sufficient information regarding required pre-arrival information and prospects. Fighting piracy and developing ports are often the direct responsibility of a country’s authorities. However, the local port agencies can also take part in overcoming current port related challenges in West Africa by better understanding and addressing the concerns of the vessel operators and by taking a firmer stand against bribery and corruption.

IN A bid to ensure compliance, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said it has began the process of installing what it called 'black flags' in Nigerian ports that are not International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code compliant - This Day Live. It also said it would install Nigerian flags and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) flags in ports that are ISPS Code compliant. These are part of the measures the agency has put in place to ensure it meets the ultimatum given to the Nigerian government to boost security at her maritime domain by the United Nations [States] Coast Guard.

THE Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has bemoaned the crude oil theft activities that led to the recent fire and explosion on the 28’’ Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) - PM News Nigeria. According to a statement issued on Friday by Mr Tony Okonedo, Head, Media Communications of SPDC, a joint investigation team comprising regulators, communities, independent observers and SPDC found that the incident occurred as a result of unknown persons installing a valve to steal crude oil from the line. The statement said SPDC had repaired the valve point and removed six other crude oil theft connections in its continuing efforts to maintain the integrity of the line.

THE Saipem jackup drilling rig Perro Negro 6 has sunk offshore West Africa in 40 m (131 ft) of water - Offshore Mag. Saipem says the seabed under one of the three legs collapsed, causing the rig to tilt and suffer hull damage which caused water intake. The event came during rig positioning on July 1, prior to start of drilling. As of last report, Saipem had evacuated all personnel. One person is missing and six had minor injuries. No environmental damage is reported. The rig was near the mouth of the Congo River between Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Southeast Asia

A TOTAL of 137 naval officers graduated on Saturday at an impressive ceremony held at the Naval Academy. Chief of the Naval Staff Asif Sandila was the chief guest on the occasion - The Nation. The graduating class comprised of 104 midshipmen, including 16 from allied countries, and 33 Short Service Commission officers including 10 females. Addressing the ceremony, Sandila said, “Today as a nation we are cautiously navigating through many challenges and is no exception to it. We have to be mindful of the growing maritime capability in our region. We have to be geared up and ever ready to counter piracy, terrorism and extremism in the ocean region of our interest and for maintenance of global peace on the high seas. Most importantly we must guard against the internal threat, which perhaps is the most challenging at the moment.”

MALAYSIA has emphasised that disputes in the South China Sea should be addressed via peaceful dialogue and negotiations based on the principles of international law - The Sun Daily. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman (pix) said it includes the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS). Speaking at the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit-Foreign Ministers Meeting (EAS-FMM) in Brunei Darussalam yesterday, he also expressed Malaysia’s stand on the situation in Syria and Palestine. A Foreign Affairs Ministry statement today said Anifah also suggested that ARF participants strengthen coordination and cooperation to enhance preparedness and capacity to address cyber security threats. During the ARF retreat, the foreign ministers exchanged views on security challenges including development in the South China Sea, the Middle East peace process and the situation on the Korean Peninsula and Syria. They also discussed non-traditional security threats such as natural disasters, piracy, terrorism, drug trafficking, smuggling and human trafficking and cyber security.

South America NSTR

NSTR

ABUKAR Osman Beyle sat in a federal courtroom in Norfolk on a recent summer morning, writes Tara McKelvey for BBC News, Washington. The place was quiet, except for a jingle of keys and jewellery as men and women, all potential jurors, filed through a doorway. Beyle, 22, is on trial with two other men, Ahmed Muse Salad and Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar, for piracy and murder. At one point, Beyle looked back at the potential jurors in the room. If found guilty of piracy, Beyle and the other Somalis could be sentenced to death, under piracy laws introduced in 1819. Murder is also a capital offence in Virginia. The trial is expected to last through the summer and is part of an international attempt to abolish crimes on the high seas. One of the witnesses, a convicted pirate named Jilani Abdiali, recalled mayhem on the ship - and how one of the men on trial, Salad, fired a weapon at the Adams, as well as at Macay and Riggle. "He was not shooting just one by one," said Abdiali, according to the Virginian-Pilot. "He was spraying." The defendants shot all four of the Americans to death, the prosecution claims, and their bodies were riddled with bullets. The defendants deny they fired the shots. Four Somalis also died, and the others were arrested and brought to Virginia. Most were sentenced to life in prison.The death penalty is woven into the US legal system. More than 1,300 people have been put to death in the US since 1976, the year the Supreme Court reaffirmed capital punishment. Yet the Norfolk case is the first death penalty prosecution against pirates in the US. The US, Yemen and a small number of other countries impose the death penalty for piracy. Image - Via BBC News

Italian Marines NSTR

ON 31 May a Conference was organised by the Clingendael Institute on protection against maritime piracy. It took place at the International Club in The Hague and was attended by many distinguished speakers and participants. The Clingendael report 'State or Private Protection against Maritime Piracy' and the recent announcement that the Dutch government would change the policy with respect to the use of Private Security Companies (PSCs) formed the starting point of the seminar International trends on the use of private armed security companies for the protection against maritime piracy. The seminar, which was a follow-up to the recently published Clingendael report “State or Private Protection against Maritime Piracy?” focused on the international developments concerning regulations for private security companies (PSCs) and on the experiences of several European countries in regulating this. Since the Dutch government recently announced a change in policy, moving from an absolute ban on the use of PSCs to legitimizing the use on specific vessels under specific circumstances, special focus during this seminar was on the questions concerning the responsibility of the master and the experiences with different frameworks so far, in order to identify the do’s and don’ts in regulating the use of PSCs against maritime piracy. All stakeholders in the debate were present, thereby contributing to an public platform in which pros and cons could be shared and concerns could be addressed in the discussion. The seminar was divided along two major themes: the legal questions and the practical experiences and implications of the regulations allowing the use of PSCs. The first part of the day focused on the legal aspects concerning the use of force in self-defence against maritime piracy in the High Risk Area [HRA]. Although there are only a few international regulations and laws concerning the sea (e.g. UNLCOS, SOLAS, SUA Convention) these were not drafted with the activities of private armed contractors and their interaction with the master and the crew in mind. As a result, the language in the international legal conventions is unclear with regard to the legal position of both the private security contractor (PSC), and the master. How should, for instance, a member of a PSC team be qualified? Is he a crew member, a passenger, or sui generis category? With regard to the master, there is a lack of clarity in international law on the scope of his responsibility and possible liability for the actions taken under his command. Beyond the legal questions, the special position of the master was also debated in light of the operational problems and the division of tasks between the team leader of the PSC and the master. Lack of knowledge and experience with regard to the command over a PSC team and the use of force, language issues or the different attitudes of masters during pirate attacks were all identified as issues that need to be addressed in order to avoid problems in a later stage. Image - Clingendael piracy conference Download PDF -

THE questions on the post-Atalanta operation have arisen. Speaking at the SecDef13, Eric Dupont, Deputy Commander of EUNAVFOR Atalanta, looks back on the success of the mission, but also suggested that a conclusion too early in the operation could begin to destabilise Somalia - OCEANUSLive. "Atalanta helped stem the growth of piracy" off the Somali coast. But piracy is "not so far removed," he warned. Finishing the mission at the end of 2014 (as expected) may therefore be dangerous, he said. "Private investors in organized crime" would benefit from this abandonment "to support their activity would prove a significant windfall."

WARSHIPS from six international navies are currently operating as part of the French led (CTF 150), conducting maritime security cooperation in close coordination with coastal states and regional partners in the southern Red Sea, Bab al Mandeb strait and west of the Gulf of Aden - OCEANUSLive. This operation is part of a series of several maritime security operations conducted in the region by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). The operation has been planned to establish a routine flow of information between CTF 150 assets and their regional partners and specifically the ships and Naval Operation Centres (NOCs), to be able to coordinate a wide response to any possible terrorist threat and the subsequent use of the maritime environment in this strategic area.

SEYCHELLES is taking part in talks to help Somalia develop its fisheries sector, according to Home Affairs and Transport Minister Joël Morgan - OCEANUSLive. The aim of Seychelles’ involvement is to help rebuild the war-torn state’s economy and help address the root cause of piracy in the region. Mr Morgan made the remarks while speaking to the media recently when he signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Norwegian Minister for International Development, Heikki Holmås, to continue the collaboration between the two countries in ongoing efforts against piracy. The agreement also declared a clear intent that should any Norwegian vessels operating under anti-piracy missions capture pirates, the prisoners would be transferred to Seychelles where they would be afforded humane treatment and a fair trial. Image - Seychelles and Norway sign agreement

SOMALIA and the surrounding Gulf of Aden have been at the centre of piracy discussions for some time - Maritime UK. This is of course with good reason; the region has a prolific record of hijackings, kidnappings and robberies. This reality however is changing. Thanks in part to the implementation of Best Management Practices and the imposing presence of international task forces; pirate attacks in the region have been in steep decline and it has become increasingly difficult and costly for pirates to operate in the area. Only a few weeks ago did an EU NAVFOR vessel rescue a hijacked vessel, ensuring the safety of both vessel and crew. However we must not get complacent about tackling this maritime peril. The future success of this region stands on a knife edge, and worryingly, some 4,000 miles around the coast, a new piratical centre is emerging. Piracy in West Africa, and particularly the Gulf of Guinea, is of increasing concern to the seafaring community and industry and as such, it should be of increasing concern to Parliamentarians and Government. On 2nd July I had the opportunity to chair a discussion on this issue in conjunction with the UK chamber of shipping. The event, ‘Piracy, West Africa, and new threats to UK shipping seafarers’ saw industry leaders, politicians, and interested parties come together to discuss this threat. I was joined by two distinguished experts, Dr Grahaeme Henderson, Vice President of Maritime and Shipping at Shell, and the Director General of the UK Chamber of Shipping, Mark Brownrigg OBE, who provided extremely useful and informed insights into this emerging problem. Tackling this complex problem is of paramount importance and, as suggested by Dr Henderson, will involve a diverse range of measures. Firstly, industry and Government must work together to support data gathering and information sharing. As it stands, estimates suggest that 50-80% of attacks worldwide go unreported. We must accurately grasp the extent and depth of the problem before we can successfully counter it. Ultimately, we must work towards a situation in which the seas are free from arms, not reliant on them for protection. In the meantime, we must look beyond short term measures such as armed guards to the co-ordination of Governments, industry, navies, and international bodies. Image - Stephen Metcalfe is MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock.

MAURITIUS today lauded India‘s contribution in fighting piracy in the Indian Ocean Rim region - Business Standard. Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam said India made “significant contribution to fight against the scourge of piracy in our region.” He was speaking after inaugurating the first Economic and Business Conference of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC). The two-day conference, among others, is being attended by Indian Commerce and Industry Ministry Anand Sharma and representatives of several nations including Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bangladeshand South Africa. IOR-ARC is a grouping of 20 nations. Ramgoolam also underlined the need for focusing on concrete deliverables by the governments of the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries to improve the lives of about 2 billion people living in region.

ON 4 July 2013, whilst conducting counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, the Force Commander of the EU NAVFOR, Jorge Novo Palma, met with the Commander of the NATO counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield, Commodore Henning Amundsen - EUNAVFOR. Speaking after the meeting, Commodore Jorge Novo Palma stated that, "It is commonly understood that piracy is not over, but contained. The success, shown through a significant reduction in piracy activity, is also an indicator of the successful actions of all naval forces operating in the region. One of the reasons we are highly effective is due to the robust co-operation and co- ordination standards achieved with the other counter-piracy actors and with industry." Image - Cdr (Sg) Petter Kammerhuber, Commanding of HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen gave a tour around the Norwegian ship during the visit.

ACTING Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Tom Kelly travels to The Bahamas July 8-10 for consultations with senior officials on a wide range of political-military issues and to launch a series of information sharing and technical assistance agreements to meet shared security challenges through strengthened military and law enforcement cooperation - US State Gov. In Nassau July 9, Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly will join Bahamian officials to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding on Counter-Piracy, which will establish new cooperative mechanisms for the prosecution of suspected pirates. As the 2013 chair of The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, the United States welcomes this new agreement with The Bahamas, which is a major flag registry state, as well as a source of mariners working in the global shipping industry. Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly will also sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the Cooperative Situational Information Integration initiative. This agreement will support improved regional domain awareness and information sharing among participating Caribbean Basin Security Initiative partners and citizen security efforts against transnational threats such as illicit trafficking.

SEAFARERS have demanded a greater push for the country's shipping transport as trade via shipping routes is likely to increase substantially with the ongoing crackdown on Somalian piracy in check. Seafarers' associations have also sought training facilities in two-tier and three-tier Indian cities to expand the workforce for ships carrying merchandise - The Times of India. At a recent gathering, members of the city's shipping fraternity were upbeat about a buoyant global merchant shipping arena and a lull in Somalian piracy. Sudhir Subhedar, past president of Company of Master Mariners (CMM), said Somalian piracy is on the wane with no Indian ship or seafarer in captivity. The latest data shows that there are 22 foreign ships and 120 foreign seafarers in captivity, Subhedar said. He said about 100 ships pass through the Suez Canal everyday with more than ten ships to and from India. Subhedar said critical issues about the Indian shipping industry must be looked into. "In developed countries in Europe, shipping contributes to almost 40% of the total transportation. In India, it is a mere 3%. Of the one lakh ships globally, India has only 1,100 ships against China's 13,000. India has 7,000km of coastline with 12 major and 180 minor ports. However, political will to transform the load of transportation from road and rail to the seas is lacking," he said.

DATA from Lloyd’s List Intelligence is being used to reinforce criticism that insurance figures from Oceans Beyond Piracy’s latest report on the Human Cost of Maritime Piracy 2012 are incorrect - Shiptalk. Defining the Gulf of Guinea as Cape Lopez to Cape Palmas – a generous explanation that takes in the coastlines of nine countries – research conducted by Lloyd’s List Intelligence shows 7,606 vessels entered the region last year, far below the numbers which transit the Indian Ocean HRA. A number of insurers have moved to dismiss the huge insurance figures cited in the widely publicised report on West African piracy. They have called the statistics ”overstated” and slammed them as,”not reflecting commercial reality”. The report, The Human Cost of Maritime Piracy 2012, has been developed by the Oceans Beyond Piracy project of the One Earth Future Foundation, and has gained wide spread exposure – but the insurance industry has united in greeting the claims and the figures it quotes with scepticism.

People Smuggling/Pirate Fishing ILLEGAL fishing is a major threat to the sustainability of the world’s fisheries - PEW Environment. Some estimates are that illegal and unregulated fishing causes annual financial losses of up to $23.5 billion worldwide and accounts for up to 20 percent of all of the wild marine fish caught globally. In some parts of the world, the situation is even more dire. For example, fisheries scientists estimate that illegal fishing accounts for up to 40 percent of fish caught in West Africa. Pew seeks to dramatically reduce illegal fishing around the world by: Urging fisheries managers and States that license vessels (flag States) to require that every commercial fishing vessel 20 meters (65 feet) or more in length, and all vessels that fish outside the EEZs of their flag States, obtain an International Maritime Organization number—a unique identifier that stays with each vessel from construction to scrapping. Fisheries managers and flag States should also mandate that vessels be fitted with an automatic tracking system. These measures would ensure that industrial fishing vessels would be treated like merchant ships, making it possible to easily identify, track, and locate them anywhere in the world. Improving information sharing, enforcement, and prosecution of fisheries crimes in countries with limited resources by facilitating better engagement of authorities, use of technology, training, and intelligence gathering. Image - Courtesy of PEW Environment

NOAA Fisheries Attache Stephane Vrignaud talks on NOAA's mission to stop IUU Fishing. Listen to the comments of pirate fishing - Soundcloud U.S. Mission to EU NOAA Fisheries Attaché gives a brief description of NOAA and speaks on challenges in combating illegal fishing and the impact it has on sustainability. Emphasis on U.S and EU measures to this issue is also mentioned along with measures NOAA has put into place to fight again IUU.

PALAU is planning to ban commercial fishing in its 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) starting next year, and to become the first Pacific nation to use drones to enforce fisheries rules, reports Radio Australia - Undercurrent News. President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. announced the ban as he ran for a third term in office, and work is beginning to make this happen. Drones have been proposed for surveillance of the millions of square miles of ocean, and will be trialled in the coming months.

A TEAM from the 'Isle of Man' in the , through its Ministry of Environment, Food and Agriculture has on Tuesday 25th June 2013 made a fresh donation to the Government of Sierra Leone, as an addition to the boat donation that was made few months ago - Stop Illegal Fishing. The team donated thirty sets of Applied Satellite Technology (AST), worth thousands of British Pounds, to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources on behalf of the Government Sierra Leone at the Conference Room of the Ministry at Youyi Building in Freetown. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Mani Koroma who doubles as Chairperson of the ceremony said Isle of Man has over the years being very supportive to Sierra Leone in its bid to curtail illegal fishing in the country. He said in 2012, they donated patrol vessels to Sierra Leone and that these vessels have contributed immensely towards the minimization of the illegal fishing in the country's waters. Mr. Koroma described the donation as a milestone in the facilitation of the ministry's activities and the development of the country.

LARGE foreign trawlers are sweeping West Africa's seabed, undermining the environment, reducing fish stock and destroying the livelihoods of artisanal fishermen - Stop Illegal Fishing. Issa Diene, 39, is one of thousands of Senegalese fishermen who face tough times in competing with the giant commercial boats. For the last ten years, he has risen before dawn and set out in his 30-foot wooden pirogue to catch fish off the coast of Dakar, Senegal's capital. A few hours later he would return to sell his catch at the midday fish market. But recently, poor catches have forced him to fish in the evenings as well, or else spend all day at sea. "I used to bring in between 15,000 [African Financial Community (CFA)] francs and 20,000 CFA francs ($30 - $40) each day," Mr Diene said. "Then the big boats started coming in and taking all our fish. Now, I am lucky if I catch 5,000 CFA francs ($10) a day." Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is "a big problem in Senegal", said Cheikh Sarr, director of Senegal's Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. "Large fishing vessels often enter into our waters and scoop up all the fish. Sometimes they enter into protected zones. They don't respect the regulations," he said. "Our natural resources are being destroyed. The fish are disappearing. It is hurting our fishermen and ruining our economy."

SEYCHELLES is the first African country to formally hand its document of accession to an international accord aimed at combating illegal fishing and has urged other coastal states to follow suit - Stop Illegal Fishing. Seychelles deposited its instrument of accession to the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing to the FAO at the 38th session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) held in Rome last week. Ambassador Bernard Shamlaye, who is Seychelles' resident ambassador in Paris, represented Seychelles at this conference. He was accompanied by Antoine-Marie Moustache, special adviser in the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and National correspondent for the FAO. Ambassador Shamlaye, who is also the country's permanent representative designate to the FAO, delivered Seychelles statement to the conference, highlighting the importance of fisheries and the blue economy and the leading role played by the country in promoting responsible and sustainable exploitation of ocean resources. Calling for further cooperation between FAO and other partners and Seychelles, Ambassador Shamlaye referred to the renewed attention being given to national food production. ILLEGAL unreported, and unregulated fishing—better known as pirate fishing—is one of the biggest threats to the worlds’ fisheries - The Epoch Times. Ignoring national and international laws, pirate fishers leave marine habitats damaged and undermine sensitive coastal communities that rely on the ocean for their food security and livelihoods. “Pirate fishing operators are devastating fisheries and marine biodiversity, stealing from some of the poorest on our planet, ruining livelihoods and damaging the security of our marine environment,” said Steve Trent, Executive Director of the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) in an email. The foundation works with local communities to build up a network and effective surveillance of pirate fishing vessels, such as in the Sherbro River area of southern Sierra Leone where the foundation has worked since 2009 to document pirate fishing. ”In Africa alone, over US $ 1 billion is lost every year to pirate fishing. This is not only having a devastating effect on our oceans and marine life but also on countless vulnerable people in remote communities in developing countries whose livelihoods and food security are being severely threatened,” said Trent. Pirate fishing around the world is estimated to be worth US$10-23 billion annually. According to Trent, the foundation has also documented extreme human rights abuses on-board illegal fishing vessels, from child labour to human trafficking and even murder.

SEAFARERS' PLIGHT THE state-run National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) is compiling accounts of Filipino seafarers held captives by pirates as inputs for an action plan to address the crime, an official said - Business World Online. The output will also be shared with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the group’s anti-piracy workshop in September. Grace Marie T. Ayaso, NMP planning, research and project development division head, said the group has received assistance from the Japanese government for the project. Among those who have shared experiences were seafarers held hostage in Somalia. "Through the study, a plan of action will be crafted by NMP and concerned government agencies, including the private sector," Ms. Ayaso said. The action plan will be presented to the Department of Labour and Employment to serve as guide in providing assistance to the seafarers and their families during and after a kidnapping incident. "The initiative is NMP’s contribution to address the problem of Filipino seafarers, who comprise 28% of the global seafaring requirement," Ms. Ayaso said. TWENTY-ONE seafarers remain stuck on board a Liberian-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Suez for nearly six months due to a technical problem - The Hindu. They have sent a message to a sailors’ helpline in Chennai, saying they have run out of fuel and food and have not been paid for months. The ore-oil carrier, A. Whale, is owned by TMT group, a global shipping major based in Taiwan, which has several vessels capable of moving cargo, from oil to vehicles. Last Thursday, the group filed for bankruptcy protection in a court in Houston, the U.S., as it was unable to pay its debts. A. Whale has 14 Indian sailors on the vessel. The crew members’ SOS, sent on June 21 to sailors’ helpline in Chennai, said no help was forthcoming from any quarter. “We have run out of bunker (fuel) and our food is rotting. We have not been paid for the last six months. We are not getting repatriated. In-fighting has started among the crew. We are still at anchorage in the Suez,” said a crew member in a mail sent to the helpline.

IMO Newsletter Includes SecGen comments on piracy and welcomes the signing of Code of Conduct for West and Central Africa; Notice that IMO seeks public input on administrative burdens that may result from complliance with IMO instruments over 6-month consultation period; Draft mandatory requirements for periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats and rescue boats; Guidelines in the event of large-scale trade disruption agreed; Guidelines on dealing with crimes on ships approved by Legal Committee; Auditing to be mandatory under STCW Convention and Code; ‘Women at the helm’ film launched by IMO.

Aid Workers' Plight THE deadly assault by Islamists in Mogadishu last month, killing three Denel Mechem staff members, has highlighted the dangers of the United Nations (UN) humanitarian programme, says the company’s CEO, Stephan Burger - BDLive. Two South Africans and a Somali citizen serving in the UN compound died during the attack on June 20 threatening the security gains in that country that had allowed a slow trickle of foreign aid workers and diplomats to return to the beleaguered city. The attack happened hardly a month after the kidnapping of its 12 demining staff members in Senegal in May. The UN and Senegalese government are still battling to secure the freedom of nine employees who were taken hostage. Early last month the rebel group agreed to release three women. "The tragedy of having our staff kidnapped or killed indicates some of the extremely dangerous situations that our dedicated personnel face in the fields. "This is besides the fact that they are already out there to work with very unstable anti-personnel land mines possibly hidden in the ground for more than 15 years," he said. Mr Burger said children were more vulnerable to land mines because they liked to explore fields and to play. "I’m humbled by the dedication, sacrifices and loyalty of our personnel despite the harsh conditions in which they operate — some parts of Africa are very hot." He said it was part of policy to send a small specialised team to a host country and then hire locals and extensively train them in various related skills, including dog handling and demining. Mr Burger said on Thursday that Mechem had been actively involved in demining services as the only African company to be accredited with the UN for more than a decade.

IMAGINE the aircraft of the president of France being forced down in Latin America on "suspicion" that it was carrying a political refugee to safety – and not just any refugee but someone who has provided the people of the world with proof of criminal activity on an epic scale - Guardian UK. Imagine the response from Paris, let alone the "international community", as the governments of the west call themselves. To a chorus of baying indignation from Whitehall to Washington, Brussels to Madrid, heroic special forces would be dispatched to rescue their leader and, as sport, smash up the source of such flagrant international gangsterism. Editorials would cheer them on, perhaps reminding readers that this kind of piracy was exhibited by the German Reich in the 1930s. The forcing down of Bolivian President Evo Morales's plane – denied airspace by France, Spain and Portugal, followed by his 14-hour confinement while Austrian officials demanded to "inspect" his aircraft for the "fugitive" Edward Snowden – was an act of air piracy and state terrorism. It was a metaphor for the gangsterism that now rules the world and the cowardice and hypocrisy of bystanders who dare not speak its name.

Hijacks:

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Unsuccessful Attacks/Robberies (All regions):  SE Asia - LATE Report | [Attempted Boarding] Alert crew on board an anchored chemical tanker spotted a wooden boat with three robbers armed with knives at 1220 LT in position 06:01.2S –106:53.9E, Jakarta, Indonesia. The alarm was sounded and fire hoses activated resulting in the boarding attempt being made unsuccessful. All crew safe. Reported (via IMB) 27 Jun.  SE Asia - LATE Report | Three to four robbers in a boat boarded an anchored bulk carrier at 0400 LT in position 22:58.75N - 070:14.00, Kandla Inner Anchorage, India. Duty Officer noticed the boarding and immediately raised the alarm. On hearing the alarm the robbers escaped in their waiting boat. Upon investigation it was discovered that ship stores were stolen. Port control informed. Reported (via IMB) 30 Jun.  SE Asia - Three robbers in a boat boarded an anchored bulk carrier near the forward part of the vessel at 1945 LT in position 03:40.8S-114:25.3E, Taboneo Anchorage, Indonesia. Alert duty crew spotted the robbers and raised the alarm resulting in the robbers escaping empty handed. Port authorities informed. All crew safe. Reported (via IMB) 4 Jul  S Red Sea - MV reported being closed to four cables by suspected pirates in two skiffs at 0950 UTC in position 12:59.6N - 043:06.7E, Red Sea/BAM. Eight pirates armed with machine guns were sighted. Ship’s AST fired warning shots and the skiffs moved away. Pirate Action Group may still be operating in the area. Reported 4 Jul.

Suspicious Activity

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VESSEL and hostage numbers - IMB (as at 15 June). Worldwide Incidents 2013: 120 reported incidents including four hijackings. Somali related incidents 2013: Seven reported Incidents including one hijacking. Current crew / vessels held by Somali pirates: hostages - 68 / vessels - 4 Nigeria related incidents 2013: 22 reported incidents including one hijacking. NATO & EUNAVFOR state Vessels: 2 and Hostages: 54. UKMTO - 7 vessels (including dhows & FVs), 72 hostages (iaw 7 Jun Report).

VESSELS are reminded that the coalition forces' warships may not be in the vicinity of a pirate attack, subsequently, it is emphasised that seafarers can greatly reduce their chances of being pirated if they follow precautions as recommended in the Best Management Practices, increasing speed and carrying out evasive manoeuvres is a proven deterrent to piracy attacks. BMP version 4 is available at the link above; a high resolution version can be downloaded here.

VESSELS are advised to exercise extreme caution when navigating in the vicinity of any reported positions of attacks and maintain maximum CPA with any ship acting suspiciously. Additionally, registration of vessel movement with MSC(HOA) prior to transiting the region is recommended.

A change of regional map in light of the increase in pirate activity off West Africa over Horn of Africa. An interactive version of this situational map is available through registration of verified access to OCEANUSLive

Reported incidents in the Horn of Africa/IOR HRA. OCEANUSLive.org permits the reproduction of this image providing source and link are published (Map ToU)

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