22 - 28 February 2014 (Vol. 3; No.9/14)

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Suez Canal plotters sentenced to death; 'Land' pirates kidnap Kenyans; Africa, global hub for transnational organisational crime and terrorism?; Italian Marines no longer facing anti- charges - Twenty-six people are sentenced to death by Egyptian court, in absentia, for plotting to attack ships passing through the Suez Canal as a major General reveals that residents of rural areas and Bedouin tribes in Suez cooperated with the Armed Forces to secure the southern entrance to the Suez Canal. Africa moves towards a global hub for transnational organised crime and violent terrorism is becoming one of this decade’s key security concerns for international actors, says UNODC, particularly as drugs trafficking from Central and South America, the Caribbean into Africa and Europe demonstrates the importance of strengthening international cooperation on sea and on land. U.S. border security tightens resulting in drug smugglers are increasingly turning to the high seas as US Coast Guard suffers from budget cuts. Two Kenyans working for a construction company in Mogadishu, , have been abducted by suspected pirates who are now demanding a ransom of Sh80 million ($1m). Iranian navy confronts several skiff attack on an MV in the Red Sea; as reports of suspicious activity in the Gulf of Oman appear on the increase, a Bangladeshi vessel, MV Crystal Gold, reportedly evades an attack of the Pakistan coast. Unlike most regional states, Tanzania is yet to sign the protocol against piracy. UN Security Council resolution to protect Yemen from threats to peace, security or stability. Suicide bombing continues to afflict Somalia's government. MOWCA looks to information sharing centre to improve maritime security in West Africa. Dallaire Initiative draws attention to the issue of child maritime piracy. A coastal radar network is being set up across the Indian coast to safeguard it's fishermen. India withdrew stringent anti-piracy charges against two Italian marines, however, they still be tried in India, under Indian law. 'An outrage'; Seaman Guard Ohio crew are being subjected to inhumane conditions in an Indian prison, says MM&P. Meanwhile, US and European Union officials praise India for its role in the global fight against piracy. Police autopsy reports into the cause of death of two US security officers found dead on the Maersk Alabama concluded that they died of respiratory failure, with suspicion of heart attack as more details and speculation arises. Former UK Minister urges the creation of a seagoing police force to bring order to the "wild west" free-for-all on the high seas. MV Albedo Captain relates how Somali pirates hijacked his ship. ReCAAP issues video series warning of the necessity for 'vigilance' and 'the need to report' piracy/armed robbery at sea in Asia. Drone or crewless ships; take away the crew and controls to steer the ship, what is there for pirates to hijack?

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/Indian Ocean

EARLY MORNING on Feb. 22, seven pirate boats tried to take over an Iranian merchant ship in Red Sea, but were confronted by Islamic Republic's 29th naval fleet, Iran's Fars news agency reported on Feb. 22 - Trend AZ. Iran's 29th naval fleet was in the area, doing special exercises, when the pirates tried to capture a merchant ship floating nearby, Iran's Deputy Navy Commander Rear Admiral Siavush Jarreh said. The commander went on to add that the shoot out with the pirates lasted for several hours, after which the attackers had to flee. Jarreh noted that the merchant ship received some damage as a result of the clash with the pirates, thus the fleet's repairmen took care of the damages, and the ship was escorted by the fleet.

BANGLADESH FLAG carrier MV Crystal Gold has staged a nail-biting getaway from the clutches of pirates in the Arabian Sea - BDNews 24. Somali pirates had chased the ship while it was heading for Iran’s Bandar Abbas after offloading goods at the Kadla port, in Gujarat, India, said Jasim Uddin Sarkar, Chief Nautical Surveyor of Bangladesh Shipping Department. The crew got wind of the pirates at around 4:30pm on Friday, about 40 km off Pakistan’s Karachi, when they spotted a big boat and a smaller vessel coming at them. MV Golden Crystal did a sharp turnaround and headed, full throttle, for the Pakistan coast. The pirates gave up as Bangladeshi ship reached the Pakistani coast at around 7pm. Jasim Uddin said, “The crew of the Crystal Gold had, in accordance with the law, sought the help of the Pakistani navy. We have been informed that they are now safe.” Captain Zakir Hossain has been in charge of the 28-year old ship that has a capacity of carrying 16,000 tonnes of goods. The ship's owners said there were 23 Bangladeshis on the ship.

TWO KENYANS working for a construction company in Mogadishu, Somalia have been abducted by suspected pirates who are now demanding a ransom of Sh80 million - Capital News Kenya. The two engineers were kidnapped by armed gunmen in Hodan District before they were transferred to Harardhere 700 kilometers North of Mogadishu, according to the Seafarers Union of Kenya. “We are yet to contact the families but we have confirmed that Somali gunmen are holding the two Kenyan engineers,” the union’s Secretary General Andrew Mwangura told reporters in Mombasa, adding “Reports indicate that the two are safe and the gunmen are demanding ransom to release them.” He said the militia group from Habargidir region has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, after asking for the ransom. According to Mwangura, the incident was first reported at the Malaysia piracy reporting center, but families of those abducted have not been informed.

THE TWO Kenyan engineers abducted by suspected Somali pirates last month in Mogadishu are close family members from Nairobi’s Rongai area, the Seafarers Union of Kenya has revealed - Daily Nation Kenya. The union’s secretary-general Andrew Mwangura said families of the two, who are cousins, were expected home two days before their abduction after completing their contract in Mogadishu. They were kidnapped on January 12 in Hodan District within the Somali capital Mogadishu.

TANZANIA IS yet to sign the protocol against piracy endorsed by the other East African and Indian Ocean littoral states, it has been learnt - IPP Media. Speaking in Dar es Salaam recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Bernard Membe clarified that Tanzania has yet to meet the international standards set by the European Union. The country was urged to sign the protocol some two years ago. Under the protocol each country has to ensure that it has prepared to international standards the environment to facilitate prosecution of cases, accommodation of the prisoners and investigation departments. Membe said Tanzania’s lack of experience in investigating and handling pirate cases, a new phenomenon in the Indian Ocean, led to the delay in signing the protocol.

AN EGYPTIAN court sentenced 26 people to death on Wednesday for plotting attacks on ships passing through the Suez Canal, judicial source said - Reuters. The defendants were tried in absentia. An Islamist insurgency has gained momentum since the army overthrew president Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in July.

THE U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution authorising sanctions against individuals and organisations threatening peace, security or stability in Yemen -AP News. The resolution adopted Wednesday does not name any individuals or entities that should face an asset freeze and travel ban. Instead, it establishes a committee to decide who should face sanctions and to monitor their implementation, and a panel of experts to assist with investigations.

SOMALIA CABINET had extraordinary meeting on Saturday afternoon to discuss the current security situation in the capital, Mogadishu and the countrywide as whole following Al Shabab’s surprise attack on Villa Somalia on Friday, RBC Radio reports - RBC Radio. The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has been very tough for security and defense ministers after the Prime Minister raised very critical inquiring to the details of how the well-planned Al Shabaab attack targeted at the presidential house came on Friday.

A SUICIDE car bomb has exploded in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing at least 12 people and wounding eight others near the security service headquarters - BBC News Africa. The bomber targeted a security vehicle. Three members of the security forces were among the dead, witnesses said. The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab group said it carried out the attack. The group is waging an insurgency in Somalia against the UN-backed government. "A suicide car bomb targeted a national security car passing along these tea shops," police official Abdullahi Hassan told Reuters news agency. He added that several civilians had been killed.

PIRACY OFF the Horn of Africa coast has declined since 2012, thanks to a strategy adopted by the security arm of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African trade bloc, along with contributions from international naval forces - Turkish Press. "Our strategy approached the problem from early activities inland, where pirates prepare their activities and where piracy money circulates," Commander Abebe Muluneh, head of the IGAD Security Sector Program (ISSP), told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview. Muluneh attributed the decrease to frequent patrols of the area by the European Union Naval Force. He stresses that his outfit contributes to fighting piracy inland. "Our bureau has made key contributions through a strategy devised in 2010 to approach the problem from a different perspective, that is to try and dry up the root causes of piracy," Muluneh said.

IN RECENT years, international shippers taking the Red Sea route have been primarily concerned with attacks by Somali pirates - CIMSEC. Those attacks went down from 237 in 2011 to 15 in 2013 due to the Somali governments’ increased ability to fight and deter piracy, among other causes. However, another threat to international shipping in the Gulf of Aden looms. Yemen’s southern coastline is on the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb which links the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, a critical maritime choke point where roughly 8.2% of global oil supply passed through in 2009. Its oil exports, accounting for 70% of Yemeni government revenue, make the country highly dependent on its declining reserves. Yemen is an Al Qaeda stronghold, second only to Pakistan (and possibly Syria more recently). It was a target of the U.S. “drone campaign,” with 94 strikes between 2002 and 2013 (Pakistan: 368).

QATAR PLANS to place big orders for defence equipment, naval ships and submarines at the upcoming Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2014) to upgrade maritime security, said the Assistant Minister of State for Defence Financial Affairs H E Brigadier Dr Thani A Rahman Al Kuwari - The Peninsula. “We have plans to put orders for defence equipment as we intend to have more (equipment and naval ships) than what we have. We also have plans to acquire submarines and lots of naval ships,” he told The Peninsula on the sidelines of a press conference to announce details of the fourth edition of DIMDEX 2014 from March 25 to 27.

GUIDED-MISSILE cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) provided humanitarian assistance to three Iranian mariners on an adrift dhow in the Gulf of Oman, Feb. 16 - Naval Today. Gettysburg stopped to render assistance at approximately 7:30 a.m. after being signaled by the mariners aboard the vessel, approximately 45 miles north of Muscat, Oman. According to the mariners, they had run out of food and drinking water, and had an inoperable engine. Gettysburg Sailors initially provided food and water for the mariners using a rigid-hull inflatable boat. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the mariners were transferred to Gettysburg and seen by medical professionals to ensure their health and safety. The mariners were assessed as being dehydrated and given food and water. They were also provided facilities to shower and were given fresh clothing. Capt. Brad Cooper, USS Gettysburg commanding officer, led the on-scene assistance efforts The mariners will remain on Gettysburg overnight while arrangements for their safe return ashore are being made.

West Africa

PRESIDENT JONATHAN risks panic among investors after he suspends Central Bank Governor Sanusi in a personal political battle - Africa Confidential Plain speaking, combative and ubiquitous, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Sanusi Lamido Aminu Sanusi was never going to work well with the taciturn and cautious President Goodluck Jonathan. After months of cold war between the two men over reports of billions of missing oil revenue, President Jonathan suspended Sanusi from the CBN on 20 February. That will escalate the political battle and rattle investors a year before general elections. Jonathan acted against Sanusi after the outspoken Governor had warned the Senate on 13 February of the dangers of deepening corruption in the oil and gas industry and submitted a report detailing the failure of the state oil company to transfer some US$20 billion to the federation (national) accounts. Those revelations and the failure of Oil Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke, a close ally of Jonathan’s, to give a credible response to accusations of gross mismanagement and illegality, sent investors into a spin. For example, it was confirmed in the Senate hearings that in 2009, the previous government had banned state subsidies on kerosene yet Allison-Madueke had maintained a system of state subsidy for kerosene costing over $1 bn. a year. The reason Allison-Madueke gave for this was that it would benefit ordinary Nigerians (kerosene is widely used for cooking as well as jet fuel) and that the law was unclear. Yet Allison-Madueke had no response when Sanusi showed the senators a series of unequivocal directives ordering the end of kerosene subsidies. Then Sanusi went further to show that Nigerian consumers received no benefit from the claimed subsidy as they paid international market prices for their kerosene. Instead, the beneficiaries were a select small group of fuel traders who shared between them profits of around $100 million a month from the subsidy racket.

AN OIL tanker hijacked for a week off Angola in January has been returned to the country's authorities, a board member at state oil firm Sonangol said on Tuesday, adding that the hijackers had stolen diesel worth $8 million from the ship - Reuters. The Liberian-flagged MT Kerala was under a time charter contract for Sonangol when it vanished off the coast of the capital Luanda on January 18 before being intercepted by the Nigerian navy a week later. The incident raised concerns that piracy is spreading south from the Gulf of Guinea, near Africa's biggest oil producer Nigeria, where most hijacking gangs originate. Angola is the continent's second-biggest crude operator and almost all of its production is offshore. The incident sparked a row between the Angolan government, which accused the crew of disabling the ship's communications to fake a pirate attack, and the vessel's Greek owners, who said pirates hijacked the vessel and stole a large quantity of cargo. "The MT Kerala was found in Nigerian waters, but as the coast there did not offer security it was taken to Ghanaian waters and then recovered with help from both countries' authorities and brought to Luanda," Sonangol board member Anabela Fonseca told a news conference. "It is now with Angola government authorities ... We (Sonangol) managed to recover around 78 percent of the cargo, but they managed to transfer about 12,000 tonnes of diesel, so that is what we lost," she added, without commenting on who was responsible for the theft.

THERE WAS pandemonium in President Goodluck Jonathan home community of Otuoke in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, yesterday, following the invasion of the town and abduction of the 70-year-old foster father of the president, Chief Inengite Nitabai, by armed men - Leadership Nigeria. The invasion, according to security personnel, was launched about 7:30pm on Sunday night and carried out by about 10 gunmen. According to sources in Otuoke, the abducted chief is the traditional head of Jonathan’s clan and his residence is a few metres away from the heavily guarded palatial residence of the president. Nitabai, a cousin of President Jonathan, was kidnapped from his compound located before Otuoke Bridge, off Otu-Okpoti-Ogbia road. The bandits were said to have isolated their target without firing a gunshot. Nitabai has been acting like a father to the president since Jonathan’s biological father died, sources from the family said.

MARITIME ORGANIZATION of West Africa and Central Africa (MOWCA) launched on Friday at its headquarters in Abidjan, the centre’s activities Information and communication (CINFOCOM) for the networking of maritime administrations its Member States and the database to better combat piracy - Abidjan.net [in French]. Ivorian Minister of Transport, Gaoussou Touré stressed that “at the time of the new information technologies and communication,” the Centre ” is no doubt, an asset for the 25 member countries of MOWCA. ” So, he has requested that the CINFOCOM “is used wisely for the benefit of Member States MOWCA and it is an essential element in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. ” This centre allows all members to have access to a server countries and to exchange “information on the situation sea ”so that each country is better informed and better equipped in its” strategy against piracy and other armed robbery, terrorism and acts of sabotage, “said the Secretary of MOWCA, Alain Michel Luvambano. Explaining the operation of the Centre, Mr. Luvambano stated that “when a ship is attacked, the information is posted in the system … information becomes immediately visible in all states connected to the network, even to them organize the required response according to the location of the ship. “ According to him, “ultimately, the information posted in the system will be accompanied by satellite images including facial recognition.” This option will return fairly expensive to organization, which is why a round table of donors will be held in November to raise the sum of “800 billion FCFA” MOWCA that will “make available to Member States in the form of repayable loans from National Maritime Fund, “added the Secretary-General of the organization.

AFRICA'S STEADY creep towards being the global hub for transnational organised crime and violent terrorism is becoming one of this decade’s key security concerns for international actors. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that 13 percent of global cocaine traffic moves through West Africa, meaning that in the past several years the region has become a crucial transit route for drug trafficking from the Americas - DefenceIQ. David M. Luna, Senior Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, spoke at the AFSEC 14 conference, which is focusing on the importance of strengthening international cooperation on sea and on land to effectively disrupt and dismantle transnational organised crime, illicit flows, and terrorism across Africa. “We must recognise that trans-regional illicit trafficking of drugs, arms, humans, and other illicit trade goods and services, are fuelling greater insecurity and instability across Africa, and in other parts of the world,” said Luna. While West Africa is the focus of and location for the conference, the content of the presentations were all fixed within a global context. Luna made it clear that no one region is isolated from the security challenges of another that facilitates organised crime. “Today’s reality is one in which we live in a world where there is no region, no country and no people who remain untouched by the destabilising effects and corruptive influence of transnational organised crime and violent terrorism. “The United States, China, France, and other countries must work more closely with the international community to better coordinate efforts and resources, build Africa’s sustainable future and work together to combat the threats that undermine the capital and investments that are necessary to sustain economic prosperity throughout Africa.”

Southeast Asia A CHINESE vessel has fired a water cannon at Filipino fishermen near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, a top Philippine official says - BBC News Asia. Military chief Gen Emmanuel Bautista said the incident happened at the Scarborough Shoal on 27 January. Chinese officials did not comment on the incident when questioned during a routine briefing, but re-asserted China's claim to the waters. It is just the latest dispute over an area believed to be rich in resources. China claims ownership of large parts of the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, which lie off the coast of the Philippines. Aside from the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also have competing claims with China over various islands, reefs and shoals in the region.

JAPAN'S RULING party wants to loosen self-imposed rules banning arms exports in a bid to boost the country’s defence influence, a report said on Wednesday, a move that would mark a major shift from its pacifism and could irritate China - Channel News Asia. A draft document that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants approved by his cabinet next month would allow Tokyo to supply weaponry to nations that sit along important sea lanes to help them fight piracy, Kyodo News said, an important step for a country like Japan which depends so heavily on mineral imports. This would mean nations such as Indonesia, but could also include others around the South China Sea — through which fossil fuels pass — such as the Philippines, for example, which has a territorial dispute with Beijing. China and Japan are at loggerheads over the ownership of a string of islands in the East China Sea, while Beijing is also in dispute with several nations over territory in the South China Sea, which it claims almost entirely. Beijing resists attempts to multi-lateralise its disputes, while Manila has sought to make common cause with other countries at odds with China. Japan already supplies equipment to the Philippines’ coast guard, an organisation that is increasingly on the front line in the row with Beijing.

THE ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre has made a series of videos to highlight the fact that acts of robbery, theft and piracy against vessels in Asia continues. The videos promote the requirement for greater vigilance and enhanced reporting of all incidents and attempted incidents. The videos are 'Vigilance' and 'The need to report'. This effort has been initiated to better enable shore-based authorities to respond when a threat to merchant ships exists, as well as to enable the same authorities to initiate investigations aimed at apprehending the perpetrators of these crimes.

South America/Caribbean

A DRUG runners' boat burns at sea thanks to British civilian sailors who spotted the tiny vessel off the Jamaican coats before helping to seize the 170 kilos of cocaine worth £8.5 million it was carrying -Daily Mail. Naval support ship Wave Knight detected the drug runners' small vessel operating off the coast of Jamaica where they had been on routine patrol. They then provided vital back-up as a team swooped in by helicopter firing warning shots as the two-man crew attempted to jettison their cargo. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship's latest success comes hot on the heels of its role in a 1,250kg cocaine bust last month south of the Dominican Republic. It is deployed as part of Operation Martillo, a 15-nation joint effort to disrupt drug trafficking from Central and South America into the Caribbean and onwards to the UK.

EDITOR, THERE are reasons to believe that powerful, well-connected persons are behind the attacks on poor, honest fishermen, particularly in the Berbice region. The attacks are carried out at the behest of ‘big ones’ in the fishing industry, by other fishermen turned pirates who are familiar with the area. Let me elaborate, writes a reader of Stabroeknews. Most recently, on February 17, 2014, five armed men aboard a boat attacked fishermen on another boat named ‘Sharmila’ on the Corentyne River. The attackers robbed the fishermen of their entire catch, fish-glue and equipment, and abducted the captain of the Sharmila. This occurred in Suriname waters. Four of the five attackers were captured by Guyanese authorities and confessed to the crime. After the confession, the owner of the boat offered $1 million to the owner of the Sharmila to drop the charges and settle the matter. It must be noted that the owner of the boat with the attackers is a former official of the #66 Fishing Complex which is part of the Upper Corentyne Fisherman’s Co-op Society.

Other

WHILE SECURITY has tightened at the U.S. border, drug smugglers are increasingly turning to the high seas - AP News. The area where boats were seized off California and the northwest coast of Mexico tripled to a size comparable to the state of Montana during the 2013 fiscal year, which ended in September. Off South America, traffickers over the years have been traversing territory so big the continental United States could be dropped inside of it. Meanwhile, budget cuts have hit one of the lead U.S. law enforcement agencies on international waters — the Coast Guard, the only U.S. military service able to make drug arrests hundreds of miles offshore. To meet automatic federal budget cuts, it reduced its operating costs by 25 percent in 2013. It also lost help from U.S. Navy ships on drug missions off Latin America that were decommissioned and not replaced because of cutbacks, or sent elsewhere because of Washington's new military focus. As such, only a third of suspected drug boats or aircraft out of South America that were tracked by U.S. intelligence in cocaine-trafficking corridors in the Pacific and Caribbean were stopped last year, the Coast Guard's top officer, Adm. Robert Papp, told The Associated Press. Image - The lead federal agency with extensive law enforcement powers is the Coast Guard, a military service roughly the size of the New York Police Department. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

DEFENCE MINISTER A K Antony on Sunday said that international maritime organisations have been asked to take all precautions to ensure safety of Indian fishermen while merchant ships pass through the Indian coast - The New Indian Express. “Due to safety-related issues while in international waters, many ships pass through the Indian coast. Since there are thousands of fishing vessels operating in this area, international agencies have been asked to alert vessels. They have been informed that the region is piracy-free. Measures are on to exclude the region from the list of ‘high risk area’ for piracy,” he told reporters here. As part of ensuring security, the coastal radar network is being set up across the Indian coast. A total of 48 coastal radars have been set up in the first phase, and 38 would be set up in the second phase. Of the total, there are 34 in the mainland, six in the Lakshadweep islands and four in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. To a query, Antony said India had entered into defence tie-ups with 48 countries, including those in the West Asia, ASEAN, Africa and Europe. These countries are keen to have close cooperation with India, he said. On the recent mishaps, including the one onboard INS Sindhurakshak, the Defence Minister said “the incidents are being taken seriously. Measures are being taken and a court of inquiry has been ordered.”

KENYA'S SECURITY chiefs on Tuesday ordered that defences be boosted around the capital's airport, including against possible missile attack amid "increased threats of radicalisation" from homegrown Islamist extremists - AFP. The country's top defence body, the National Security Council (NSC), demanded extra protection around Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Kenya has suffered a string of attacks blamed on Islamist insurgents, including the September massacre in Nairobi's Westgate mall in which at least 67 people were killed.

COMMANDER OF the Third Field Army, Major General Osama Askar said Monday that residents of rural areas and Bedouin tribes in Suez cooperated with the Armed Forces to secure the southern entrance to the Suez Canal - The Cairo Post. In a statement, Askar added that the army continues to build fences near the southern entrance in order to secure the canal and protect passing ships.

A PIRATE leader has pledged the release of four Thai hostages which have been held for three years - Horseed Media. The hostages were part of the MV Albedo crew, a Malaysian-flagged container ship which was hijacked by the pirates in November 2010 when adrift. Last year, the vessel sunk in a rough sea whilst still in pirate hands. gang who named himself Abdi Hassan said they would release soon the hostages without any payment or Ransom. But he declined to give out further details on their current situation. "We will release them so soon, so that they can reunite with their families. We cannot take care of their lives any more. we are running out of capital,’’ said the Pirate gang. The Government of Thailand had refused to negotiate with the pirates on release of its nationalities while the owner of the Ship went disappearing after the ship sunk. [OL Note: No record of Thai crew onboard Albedo has been found. Crew may be from Naham 3 or FV Prantalay 12 - 4 Thai crew held over from release of other crew members]

PIRATES IN COURT NSTR

Italian Marines

AS EXPECTED, Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal has told the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that charges under the stringent Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Maritime Navigation Act (SUA), 2002, against two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012 should be dropped - Indian Express. Sources said when the apex court resumes hearing of the matter on Monday, Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati would inform the court about the Law Minister’s latest opinion. However, it remains unclear how the MHA would explain the U-turns by it, especially in the light of an earlier agreement where Vahanvati, disregarding strong objections from the MHA, had advised the government to retain all charges, including those under SUA, except the one which provides for death sentence. At a meeting called by Vahanvati, the MHA had opposed complete dilution of charges under SUA. The government will also have to explain how, if all charges under SUA are dropped, the NIA can continue to investigate the case since it would lose legal competence to do so.

THE CENTRE today withdrew stringent anti-piracy charges against two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen in 2012, sparing them possible death penalty -NDTV India. But the government argued in the Supreme Court that the National Investigation Agency or NIA should continue to investigate the case. Italy had approached the Supreme Court on January 15 apprehending that the NIA would prosecute the marines under anti-terror laws, which carry the death penalty. The marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, claim they mistook the fishermen for pirates while guarding a cargo ship in 2012 off the coast of Kerala, sparking a diplomatic row between the two nations. Rome has expressed its disappointment over the slow pace of trial. Last week, Italy recalled its ambassador to India to register its protest.

TWO ITALIAN marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen will still be tried in India, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday, a day after the government dropped a plan to prosecute the men under a tough anti-piracy law - Hindustan Times. The decision underscored that the two-year-old case that has frayed ties between the two countries was far from over -- despite Monday's move to drop the more serious charges. "They will still be tried in India, under Indian law," foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin told Reuters. "It is not a bilateral issue. It is about trying to ensure that those who are charged with crimes against Indian nationals will be held accountable under Indian law." Charges have yet to be filed in the case, not unusual in India's notoriously slow legal system, which spurred Italy to approach the Supreme Court last month demanding a ruling for the marines to return home. Italy also recalled its ambassador to New Delhi last week in protest at the delays.

Seaman Guard Ohio Crew THE INTERNATIONAL Organisation of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P), says 35 U.S. anti- piracy ship crew members are being treated unfairly, following the arrest of their ship, ‘Seaman Guard Ohio’, describing it as ‘an outrage’ that they are being subjected to inhumane conditions in an Indian prison - MarineLink. MM&P inform that officials are withholding proper medical treatment, bathing facilities and adequate food and, additionally, the courts have denied bail three times since the men were arrested four months ago on charges of illegally carrying weapons and straying into domestic waters. A new bail application may be heard later this week. According to court documents, on October 12, 2013, an Indian Coast Guard cutter intercepted the ‘Ohio,’ after it allegedly, unlawfully obtained 10 barrels of diesel fuel in, what the government contends, was a clandestine manner. Indian authorities say the fuel was loaded on a fishing boat and taken out to sea to the Seaman Guard Ohio. Once in the port, 25 officials from eight different law enforcement agencies converged on the vessel; confined all crew members and guards; and falsely claimed that the ship was intercepted, according to the vessel’s owners AdvanFort.

AN EX-Navy SEAL from Fallbrook was one of two American security officers found dead this week on a ship made famous several years ago when it was hijacked by Somali pirates - U-T San Diego. Jeffrey Reynolds, 44, was found dead Tuesday in a cabin on the Maersk Alabama, along with colleague Mark Kennedy, also 44 and a former SEAL, according to police. Reynolds lived in Fallbrook, as does his ex-wife, child and parents. Drugs were found in the cabin where the two men’s bodies were discovered, though the cause of death remains under investigation, officials said. The ship was berthed in Port Victoria in the Indian Ocean island nation of Seychelles. On Thursday, Reynolds’ mother, Janis Reynolds, said her son was “a wonderful, wonderful man who served his country with distinction for a long time.” She said she and her family were grieving and didn’t want to talk about the deaths. “It’s already been blown out of proportion just because he was on that damn ship,” she said. The Maersk Alabama was hijacked by pirates in 2009, an event dramatized in the movie “Captain Phillips” starring Tom Hanks.

IN THE latest press release by the Seychelles Police, the cause of death of two US Security Offices is reported to be respiratory failure, with suspicion of heart attack -OCEANUSLive. The autopsy reports into the cause of death of Jeffrey Reynolds and Mark Kennedy, two US security officers found dead on the Maersk Alabama last week, has concluded that they died of respiratory failure, with suspicion of myocardial infarction (heart attack). Samples of urine, blood, stomach contents etc, from the two men are being sent to Mauritius for forensic analysis to establish if they had consumed a substance which may have induced these events. The Police preliminary investigation report includes suspicion of drug use, as indicated by the presence of a syringe and traces of heroin which were found in the cabin.

THE HEADLINE carried by The New York Times reads, "Hired to Fight Pirates, but Doomed by Boredom". The night before their lifeless bodies were found inside a cabin on a cargo ship, Jeffrey Reynolds and Mark Kennedy enjoyed the night life here, at tourist haunts called Le Rendez Vous and the Pirates Arms. The two, both former members of the Navy SEALs working as ship guards, later visited two casinos, playing blackjack and drinking vodka and tequila with sailors from New Zealand. When the second casino shut its doors at 3 a.m., surveillance images show that the pair bumped into two women and departed with them down a dark corridor. It was in Mr. Kennedy’s cabin, more than 12 hours later, that a ship security officer discovered the two men on Feb. 18. Mr. Reynolds was slumped on the bed, and Mr. Kennedy was lying face up on the floor, a syringe in his left hand, brown heroin powder in the room, according to police reports. It was unclear how long they had been dead. The larger mystery was how two men in their 40s who had endured the grueling work of Navy SEALs — one of them surviving multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan — ended up dying together in the cramped quarters of the Maersk Alabama, a ship made famous by a 2009 pirate hijacking that was portrayed in the Oscar-nominated movie “Captain Phillips.” Photo: Antony Njuguna/Reuters

THE US and European Union officials on [week last] Friday praised India for its role in the global fight against piracy, saying there has been a remarkable drop in piracy off the notorious Somalia coast thanks largely to Indian vigilance - Domain-b. Donna Hopkins, coordinator for counter-piracy and maritime security in the US State Department, told the international media in Washington that India is a ''very important member'' of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia established in January 2009. Not only did India chair the plenary session of the body, but it has more pirates in its custody than any other country, Hopkins pointed out. The US has now handed over the chairmanship of the contact group to the European Union. Since its inception, the Contact Group has grown to an open and vital architecture of 80 nations and organisations, including the entire spectrum of stakeholders, she said in a briefing on counter piracy with François Rivasseau, deputy head of the European Union delegation to the US meet.

EUROPEAN UNION counter-piracy and EUCAP Nestor, the civilian-led Maritime Security Capacity building EU Mission, hosted two training sessions for Tanzanian Maritime Police and Navy in Dar es Salaam to share knowledge and experiences in fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region - EUNAVFOR. The practical training held on board the EU Naval Force flagship, FS Siroco, were carried out by experienced trainers and dealt with typical piracy related situations. Such trainings are regularly carried out during port visits of EUNAVFOR ships and are often embedded into trainings held by EUCAP Nestor. These trainings dealt with inspecting suspicious skiffs, detaining suspected pirates and collecting evidence for their possible prosecution. “I am very pleased to see how much EU Naval Force can rely on Tanzanian Navy and also maritime Police Forces for counter-piracy in Eastern Africa as Tanzania is a key partner for Atalanta”, the Force Commander of EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean stated. “This common view with Tanzania regarding piracy issue is really important in order to set up the conditions for a safe and secured maritime environment in the area. The new joint training involving, Tanzanian Navy and Maritime Police Forces, which was performed by FS Siroco today, shows the EUNAVFOR will reach the best cooperation level with these authorities, building up a confident partnership with Tanzania”, he added.

THE FIRST anniversary of the opening of the Seychelles Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecution and Intelligence Coordination Centre (RAPPICC) was marked Tuesday, February 25. It is located at what is now known as the National Security Campus on Bois de Rose Avenue in Seychelles - OCEANUSLive. Formerly the base of operations for the Seychelles Coast Guards, the National Security Campus also hosts the offices of the National Crime Services Division (NCSD) and the Seychelles Vessels’ Protection Department (SVPD) of the Seychelles Police. The anti-piracy centre was officially opened one year ago by President James Michel and the British Foreign Office Minister, Alistair Burt (pictured). It benefits from various international partnerships such as that of Britain, USA, Australia, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). During its first year of existence, RAPPICC has been active in the fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean and has also played a key role in some major drugs bust. Among major events which have marked the centre during the year, we have seen the visit of the European Naval Force (EU Navfor) commander Rear Admiral Duncan Potts (pictured) and that of the UNODC executive director Yury Fedotov. The UN Report on Crime was also released in Seychelles.

IN DECEMBER 2012, the Dallaire Initiative produced a first-of-its-kind report drawing attention to the constellation of challenges surrounding the issue of child maritime piracy. Therein, it was noted that there are presently no legal instruments in place to prescribe the proper handling of captured child pirates. Likewise, naval and private security personnel currently receive no formal training to prepare for interactions with children at sea. These marked gaps are contributing to the entrenchment of an unproductive “catch-and-release” strategy – a practice that likely incentivises children’s recruitment and use – as well as to children’s inappropriate incarceration alongside adults - Child Soldiers.org. Whilst conducting parallel research on the nexus between child trafficking and child soldiering, the Dallaire Initiative put forth a bold hypothesis: This is not to say that children – including child pirates – are invariably trafficked into criminality; indeed, peer pressure and socioeconomic desperation may induce a child to “voluntarily” participate in criminal acts. Yet once a child has entered the criminal sphere, the ease with which he or she might subsequently transition to an armed group may well increase. This dynamic makes intuitive sense. All of the various characteristics that render a child vulnerable to criminality – such as poverty, orphanhood, displacement, political instability and poor access to quality education – will also render him or her vulnerable to recruitment by armed forces or groups. Moreover, the skills that a child labourer, prostitute, gang member or pirate might acquire during peacetime are of profound strategic and tactical value to unscrupulous adult commanders. Indeed, as opportunity costs shift when a weak state slips into armed conflict, a child pirate could very easily be induced to become a soldier. This interplay illustrates why the Dallaire Initiative elected to continue its work on child maritime piracy, even after the DMPP’s initial research project had concluded. By providing security sector actors with the necessary tools to combat child maritime piracy during peacetime, the Dallaire Initiative is indirectly helping to eradicate the possibility of children’s recruitment during war. The Recruitment Cycle In the first quarter of 2014, the Dallaire Initiative aspires to embark upon a four-week research mission to East Africa. Its principal investigator will be tasked with collecting general intelligence concerning the status quo of the child pirate phenomenon (i.e. its prevalence, its methods, its perceived advantages/disadvantages and what relevant work is being done by which actors), as well as with the amassing of specific data pertaining to incidences of child pirates’ detention, prosecution and incarceration.

Smuggling/Pirate Fishing

THE FORMER UK foreign secretary and president of the New York-based International Rescue Committee, David Miliband, is urging the creation of a seagoing police force to bring order to the "wild west" free-for-all on the high seas that is damaging the health of the world's oceans - The Guardian. Miliband and the former Costa Rican president, José María Figueres, who together serve as co- chairs of the Global Oceans Commission, will formally unveil their ideas for ocean reform in a report next June. But the two leaders have begun to sound out international reaction to a set of proposals for protecting oceans, from a crackdown on illegal fishing to a clean-up of the vast churn of plastic particles in the Pacific and expanding marine protection zones. The two men will preview their ideas at a high-level gathering in California on Tuesday organised by the Economist and National Geographic. Bringing order to the high seas is critical to managing existing fish stocks and safeguarding the world's food supply, Miliband said.

"The high seas are seriously undergoverned," Miliband, said in an interview. "There are parts of the high seas that are certainly anarchic. There are parts of the high seas that look too much like the wild west."

SECRETARY KERRY: John, thank you very much. I’m – first of all, I’ve been listening to you and agree with everything you’ve said, and very sorry that I can’t be with you in San Francisco this morning personally, but obviously I’m happy to be able to come by video and delighted to be able to offer a few thoughts about this from the State Department - US Dept of State. Let me start by thanking The Economist and National Geographic for bringing together a whole bunch of influential people from so many different industries. John, I see you motioning. Is there a – can you hear me? MODERATOR: Secretary Kerry, thank you very much for coming – for addressing us like this. And I wondered if you could say a few words about the oceans, and then I might ask you one thing about your personal involvement in it. SECRETARY KERRY: Sure. I was – I started. I didn’t know whether you were hearing me or not, but it’s my pleasure to be able to be with you to share some thoughts about this. And as I was listening to you, I was thinking about some of the challenges, obviously, of responding to this notion that restaurateurs and businesses and other people are talking about it, but we’re not necessarily doing it or doing what’s necessary. Look, the challenge of meeting the current problems of our oceans is really one of the most complex global challenges that we face today. As everybody knows, oceans are three quarters of our planet. And the oceans are in trouble, just to follow up on the comments previously made. And there isn’t any doubt about that. But the good news is we know exactly what is threatening our oceans, and we have a very good understanding of what we need to do in order to deal with these threats. We don’t yet have the political consensus or the urgency translated into political action. And we know that there’s no way that governments are going to tackle this enormous challenge, frankly, without significant impetus from the private sector, the NGO community, academia, media, and others. So that’s why I’m – I was particularly excited to take part in this session today and to simply underscore to everybody that we need a far more robust international dialogue on protecting and governing our oceans.

Watch the video:

THE Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme wants to hear from seafarers and families who have survived piracy. Please take part in our survey by clicking HERE.

GUIDANCE ON training and certification requirements for ship security officers and seafarers with designated security duties has been agreed by IMO, to address practical difficulties seafarers have reportedly experienced in obtaining the necessary security certification under the 2010 Manila amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and STCW Code - Marine Insight. The guidance recommends that, until 1 July 2015, relevant training under section 13 (Training, drills and exercises on ship security) of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code should be accepted as being equivalent to that required under the STCW Convention and Code. The guidance was agreed by the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW), meeting for its first session from 17 to 21 February 2014, which expressed its concern that large numbers of seafarers were reportedly unable to have access to approved training courses or were unable to be issued certification of security-related training in accordance with the STCW regulations.

CAPTAIN of the MV Albedo, Jawaid Khan relates how Somali pirates hijacked his ship in November 2010 - Seamen's Church. The crew suffered terrible mistreatment for years. Six Pakistani crew, including Captain Khan, achieved release in August 2012. As of February 2014, 11 seafarers from the Albedo remain captive, with four more missing. Capt. Jawaid Khan on How the MV Albedo was Hijacked -- Seafarer Voices on Piracy

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Aid Workers' Plight

NSTR

IT'S OSCAR season and this year two Academy Award nominees have connections here in our region. One is "12 Years A Slave", which tells the true story of a free black man, Solomon Northup. In the 1800s, Northup lived much of his life in the North Country before being abducted and sold into in the South - North Country Public Radio. The other movie with connections to our region is "Captain Phillips," which tells the true tale of Captain Richard Phillips, a Vermont merchant mariner who survived a modern pirate attack off the coast of Somalia in 2009. Phillips visited the Adirondacks earlier this month for a screening of the film about his life at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall. Phillips is a husky guy and just sort of normal looking – not the sort you expect to see at the center of a major Hollywood movie. The opening scene of the film shows him packing and heading off to the Burlington airport for his flight to Oman where he would skipper a container ship called the Maersk Alabama. Phillips lives in Vermont, but since the film came out, he's traveled across the US, talking to groups like the Champlain Valley Film Society about modern-day piracy, the role of the merchant marine in modern global society – and his own harrowing experience. He says the hijacking that changed his life five years ago began on a gorgeous day, with flat calm seas, perfect conditions for pirates hoping to board big freighters. "It was an ideal piracy day," Phillips recalls. "That's when it all started."

IHS’ Chief Maritime Analyst Richard Clayton argues that one of the most critical factors in the success of M2M is the trained analyst interpreting the information - IHS Maritime Machines talking to machines – shortened to M2M – is not a new idea. Over the past 20 years M2M has evolved in technologically advanced industries to become the acceptable way forward. In essence, a sensor or meter is used to capture an event such as a temperature or inventory level. The data is relayed through a network (wireless or wired) to a software program that translates the captured event into meaningful information. I have argued in IHS Maritime Technology that one of the most critical factors in the success of M2M is the trained analyst using that information to make decisions. For shipping, this might mean replacing a malfunctioning part causing an engine to overheat, or picking out a reduction in efficiency against the amount of fuel consumed. The human element is critical: everything is doomed to fail unless shipping invests in the people driving this initiative on-shore and onboard. M2M could lead to the unmanned ship if taken to its logical extreme, a scenario that has led to a vibrant discussion on social media – much of it focused on the safety angle. But even if it doesn’t go that far, the push for greater technological complexity on ships has safety implications that must not be overlooked.

ROLLS-ROYCE is designing a crewless cargo ship that will be captained remotely, thousands of miles away, with the help of onboard computers, modern sensors, and GPS. It's a magnificent idea that, thanks to resistance from maritime unions and international law, won't be hitting the high seas anytime soon - The Week. Oskar Levander, the chief of marine innovation engineering at the company, says he imagines "it will take more than 10 years before you have all the global rules in place." If the U.S. or another jurisdiction were interested in the robo-ships for use within its territorial waters, he told the Financial Times in December, it could be a question of years, not decades. And defeating maritime piracy is maybe the best reason to embrace crewless ships. Electronically hijacking the ships would be possible, but beyond the technological prowess of many pirate outfits and not worth the effort for others. The point of hijacking a ship is generally not for the cargo — who wants to try to unload hundreds of crates of stolen goods or hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil? — but to get millions of dollars in ransom for the boat and, especially, the crew. As piracy has declined since peaking in 2011, ransoms have risen. If you take away the crew and controls to steer the ship, what is there for pirates to hijack?

Hijacks:

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Unsuccessful Attacks/Robberies (All regions):

 Indian Ocean - Ten robbers in an unlit wooden boat armed with knives approach an anchored Hong Kong, China-flagged chemical tanker, Alpine Mia, at 2245 LT in position 22:15.8N - 091:43.2E, Chittagong Anchorage, Bangladesh. Two robbers boarded the tanker using grappling hooks and stole ships' stores/property. Duty AB noticed the robbers, informed the bridge, alarm was raised, ship's whistle sounded and crew rushed to the location. Seeing the crew approach, the robbers jumped overboard with stolen items, escaping in their boat with accomplices. Reported (IMB) 24 Feb.  Indian Ocean - LATE Report | Singapore-flagged tug, SG Victory, towing a general cargo ship underway at 1140 LT in position 21:00N - 091:37E, around 25nm off Bangladesh coast. Five fishing boats were spotted approaching the general cargo vessel; two came alongside, pirates boarded the vessel and were seen lowering ships' property and stores. The vessel under tow was not manned at that time as it was underway for scrap. Reported (IMB) 20 Feb.  West Africa - LATE Report | Robbers boarded an anchored Hong Kong, China-flagged supply ship, Maersk Handler, at 0150 LT in position 04:54.0S - 011:49.2E, Pointe Noire Anchorage, The Congo. The robbers used a piece of rope to get aboard the vessel. They stole ship’s properties and escaped when the duty crew spotted them. Reported (IMB) 20 Feb.  SE Asia - Duty A/B on routine rounds on board an anchored Antigua & Barbuda-flagged container ship, Karin Rambow, noticed an unlit small wooden boat leaving the stern of the ship at 2030 LT in position 05:59.90S - 106:55.60E, Jakarta Roads, Indonesia. The A/B immediately informed the bridge and the OOW raised the alarm. On searching the vessel it was found that engine room stores had been stolen. Reported (ReCAAP) 14 Feb  Gulf of Guinea - [Update] Eight armed pirates in a speed boat chased Panama-flagged tanker, Cher, underway at 1055 LT in position 04:01N - 005:01E, approx 75nm WSW of Brass, Nigeria. The tanker raised alarm, made evasive manoeuvres, sent distress message and activated the SSAS alert. The robbers manoeuvred alongside the tanker, and boarded using a long ladder. The crew cut off the power in the tanker and retreated into the citadel. After around five hours the crew emerged and noticed the pirates had used sledge hammers to break into stores and cabins. Tanker’s communication equipment was also destroyed. The crew managed to start the emergency generators and other necessary machinery, informed the owners and sailed the tanker to Lagos. Reported 6 Feb.  SE Asia - LATE Report | During routine rounds duty OOW onboard an anchored Panama-flagged bulk carrier, Phoenix Nereid, at 2225 LT in position 22:12N - 091:45E, Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh. Duty OOW noticed four robbers near the stern lowering ship’s stores into a wooden boat. He saw two wooden boats with three robbers in each boat. The robbers threatened the OOW with knives, when he tried to stop them from stealing the ropes. He escaped and informed the duty officer on the bridge who raised the alarm, alerted the crew and informed the coast guard. The coast guard arrived and boarded the ship and interviewed the crew and promised to apprehend the robbers. Reported 5 Feb.  SE Asia - LATE Report | Five robbers armed with knives boarded an anchored Saudi Arabia-flagged tanker, NCC Huda, unnoticed at 0300 LT in position 01:25N - 104:34E, approx 11nm N of Tanjng Berakit, Indonesia. The duty watch on board during routine rounds noticed some foot prints in the engine room and immediately informed the OOW on the bridge who raised alarm and alerted the crew. On hearing the alarm the robbers escaped in their boat with the stolen stores. Reported 5 Feb.

Other Incidents:  Gulf of Oman - MV reported suspicious activity by 2 skiffs at 0851 UTC in position 22:31N - 060:36E, Gulf of Oman. Two skiffs with 2-3 POB on each; ladders sighted, Skiffs ran parallel to vessel at distance of 1nm. Report reassessed as a suspicious approach. Update: Omani CG investigated and report skiffs were manned by fishermen. Reported 28 Feb (Incident considered False Alarm).

Suspicious Activity

 Arabian Sea - Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier reported "a big boat and a smaller vessel coming at them" at around 1630 LT about 40km (21.5nm) off Karachi, Pakistan. MV did a sharp turnaround and headed, full throttle, for the Pakistan coast. Suspect pirates gave up as vessel reached the Pakistani coast at around 1900 LT. Reported (Chief Nautical Surveyor of Bangladesh Shipping Department) 28 Feb.  Arabian Sea - A bulk carrier underway was chased by a skiff at 1300 LT in position 24:33N – 062:44E, around 40nm SE off Gwadar, Pakistan. The skiff chased the vessel for approximately four hours. The vessel took evasive measures as per BMP4, reported to UKMTO and headed toward the Pakistani coast for assistance. The Pakistani navy deployed a naval asset which located the skiff and detained the suspected pirates. Reported (IMB) 28 Feb.  Gulf of Oman - MV reported being chased by 2 skiffs at 1830 UTC in position 25:26.96N - 057:44.9E, approx 12nm S of Bander-e-Jask, Iran. The skiffs with 3 POB approached port side to within 1nm. Vessel increased speed, fired 3 flares. Skiff followed the vessel for around 15 mins. Weapons were reportedly sighted. Reported 25 Feb.  Gulf of Oman - Container ship reported 2 small craft approach at 1621 UTC in position 25:39.6N - 057:09.8E, approx 46nm NE of Khor Fakkan, UAE, Gulf of Oman. The small craft closed to within 200nm of the vessel and loitered at the stern for around 3 mins. The Master ordered an increase in speed but both crafts followed. Navigation lights were visible but vessel's crew were unable to determine the type of craft in the darkness. Embarked AST fired a warning flare to no effect, then fired a second flare resulting in the craft breaking away. Reported 25 Feb.  Gulf of Oman - Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker reported suspicious approach by one skiff w/ 2 POB launched from a black-hulled, blue wheelhouse with canvas awning, mothership, at 1413 UTC in position 24:37N - 057:43E, approx 75nm NNW of Muscat, Oman, Gulf of Oman. Embarked AST fired 3 flares resulting in skiff aborting approach. Two POB on mothership. Reported 24 Feb.  Gulf of Oman - MV reported blue wooden skiff at 5nm at 1200 UTC in position 24:15N - 057:51E, Gulf of Oman. Skiff with 4 POB approached at approx 18kts to within 2nm. Alarm raised and embarked AST fired 2 flares. Skiff closed to 1.5nm as 3rd flare was fired and AST displayed weapons. Skiff altered course moving away from the vessel. Reported (UKMTO) 24 feb.  Gulf of Aden - MV reported 2 possible motherships at 0730 UTC in position 12:11.6N - 046:02.1E, IRTC, Gulf of Aden. Vessels seen at 2nm; vis poor as 2 boats moved to within 1nm. Vessel altered course, mirrored by the boats which subsequently slowed due to poor vis. Reported (UKMTO) 23 Feb.  Arabian Sea - MV reported 2 whalers towing skiffs at 0430 UTC in position 16:04N - 068:30E, Arabian Sea. Craft spotted at 5nm off port bow. 1 whaler moved to 2nm and another to 3nm. Third craft spotted moving towards the vessel from the port beam. Vessel raised alarm, guards posted. Third whaler moved to within 3 cables and raised a yellow flag when the spotted the embarked AST. Whaler subsequently fell back. No weapons or ladders sighted. Reported (UKMTO) 23 Feb.

IMB - Vessels: 0 Hostages: 57. (as at 21 January). Worldwide Incidents 2014: 12 reported incidents Somalia - NATO & EUNAVFOR state Vessels: 0; Hostages: 50; UKMTO - 2 vessels (including dhows & FVs), 64 hostages.

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 HoA/IORHRA. OCEANUSLive.org permits the reproduction of this image providing source and link are published (Map ToU)

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