News
Al Safina Security
Cyber Extortion – the growing threat to martime business
Cyber security has become an important management issue for shipowners. In this article we focus particularly on cyber extortion, which we have identified as a growing threat to the shipping industry.
Anti-piracy mission helps China develop its blue-water navy
China’s 27th and 28th naval escort task forces have recently completed their mission handover in the Gulf of Aden. Anti-piracy operations by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) have become a constant in the area. And this has both immediate and long-term strategic implications for Beijing’s military projection away from its traditional perimeter of action in East...
Houthis threaten to block shipping traffic in Red Sea
Houthis threaten to block shipping traffic in Red Sea
Security Related Information to Mariners
ADMIRALTY Maritime Security Planning Charts contain safety-critical information to assist bridge crews in the planning of safe passages through high risk areas. All information has been gathered by the UKHO through work with NATO and other government organisations, ensuring each chart has the most accurate, up-to-date and verified information...
Spanish tuna fleet returns to Indian Ocean with falling prices, threat of pirate attacks
Spanish tuna vessels, which had to stop fishing in the Indian Ocean last November having exhausted their quota, have resumed catching in the tropical waters, with a new threat of piracy and as skipjack prices fall.
UN Migration Agency Helps 2,241 Migrants Get Home from Yemen in 2017
Aden – During the final days of 2017, IOM, the UN Migration Agency succeeded in completing two movements of stranded Somalis and Ethiopians out of Yemen, despite immense security challenges and difficult sea conditions.
Royal Australian Navy seizes EIGHT TONNES of hashish and heroin in the Arabian Sea – marking record haul worth almost half a billion dollars
Royal Australian Navy has seized almost eight tonnes of hashish heroin The illegal drugs, worth $415 million, were found in ships in the Arabian SeaMarks the largest ever haul of hashish seized by Australian ship in Middle East
Piracy attacks increase in African waters
The hijacking of a small Iranian fishing vessel off Somalia, was the latest incident in a series of hijackings in the so-called High Risk Area (HRA) off Somalia. Although the region had seen piracy incidents decreasing, in recent times they have been revived.
ReCAAP ISC: Tug boat robbed off Bangladesh
In its weekly report for 2-9 January 2018, the ReCAAP ISC informed of an incident involving the tug boat ‘Crest Spartan 8’, while underway approximately 13 nm west of Kutubdia Island, Bangladesh, on 31 December.
Djibouti: Spanish MPRA Passes 10000 Flying Hours for EU Navfor Counter-Piracy Operations.
The Spanish Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircrafts (MPRA) in Djibouti, reached this major milestone shortly after 9 years of continual support to EU NAVFOR.
Djibouti: EU Navfor Operation Commander Visits Jmsdf in Djibouti
During his visit to Djibouti earlier this month, Major General Charlie Stickland, Operation Commander of EU NAVFOR, took time out to visit the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces (JMSDF) deployed in maritime counter-piracy missions.
Japan Coast Guard sending vessel to India and Malaysia for joint anti-piracy exercises
A Japan Coast Guard (JCG) vessel will leave Hakodate on 28 December for joint anti-piracy exercises in India and Malaysia.
6 suspected Somali pirates held in Seychelles face 30 years in prison
(Seychelles News Agency) – Six Somali nationals who were transferred to Seychelles after being caught attacking a container ship and a fishing vessel last month could face 30 years imprisonment if convicted.
Seychelles Charges Suspected Somali Pirates Over November Attacks in Indian Ocean
The crew of the ITS Virginio Fasan apprehends six suspected pirates and seizes their vessels off the coast of Somalia, November 19, 2017. Photo: EU NAVFOR
Shipping lanes in Indian Ocean should remain secure: India
India said today that it would be in China’s interest that the shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean remain secure and asserted that the Indian Navy was keeping an eye on its key maritime areas. In response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said the Navy’s deployments in the Indian Ocean have been “further structured” under the new mission based deployment (MBD) concept. He said China had operationalised its overseas base at Djibouti in August last year to provide operational turn around (OTR) facilities for ships on anti-piracy missions. “China largely depends on the oil imports transiting through the Indian Ocean. It would be in China’s interest that shipping lanes and traffic in the Indian Ocean remain secure,” he...
INTERCARGO: Piracy remains ‘significant threat’ to shipping
INTERCARGO expressed its concern over the latest piracy incident off Nigeria, where a 57k dwt bulk carrier was attacked by pirates 35 miles south of Brass, kidnapping 10 crewmembers. The Association noted that this incident is a vivid reminder that piracy as an organised criminal activity remains a significant threat to international shipping, trade, and the people who serve...
Four piracy incidents reported to ReCAAP ISC in late December
Four piracy incidents reported to ReCAAP ISC in late DecemberDuring the period of 19-25 December, four incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported to the ReCAAP ISC. Of these, one incident occurred in Maheshkhali Island, Bangladesh, one incident in Cam Pha, Vietnam, while the two incidents occurred in Muara Berau, Indonesia on the same day, on the same...