British Maritime security consultant killed in Yemen. (updated) July 20, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Chris Mark, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security
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SANAA, Yemen — Thanks to a blog reader for providing a link to information for this update. A bomb placed under the driver’s seat of a British man’s car blew up in southern Yemen on Wednesday, killing the man. The British man who has yet to be identified, worked for the Aden-based Arab Company for Inspection and Marine Consulting.
The person’s name was David Mocket a marine surveyor from Plympton. You can read about the incident at this link.
Danish Hostages Please for Release From Somali Pirates July 20, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security.Tags: Chris Mark, gulf of aden, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, Somalia
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This is disturbing yet important to watch. The key is to prevent crews from being taken by pirates. This crew is of the MV Leopard and has been held since January 2011.
Somalia…..the perfect storm! July 20, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Somalia
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For the number one failed state in the world, things just got a whole lot worse. According to Mark Bowden, the U.N.’s top official in charge of humanitarian aid to Somalia, “the U.N. needs $300 million in humanitarian aid in Somalia over the next two months.”
The last time conditions were this bad was in 1992, when hundreds of thousands of Somalis starved to death. That famine prompted intervention by an international peacekeeping force, but it eventually pulled out after two American Black Hawk helicopters were shot down in 1993.
This problem, along with all the other problems the entire region is facing, will provide an abundant supply of Somali men who will resort to piracy as a means to an end. The weak, U.N.-backed Somali government regularly comes last in the world in the annual corruption rating by watchdog Transparency International. With ransoms for pirated vessels reaching record levels, attacks occurring during monsoon season, and pirate groups operating further out at sea and with greater sophistication; the commercial shipping industry must take pro active steps to protect its interests when operating in the region.
UAE Tanker Hijacked in Indian Ocean July 18, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security.Tags: Chris Mark, gulf of aden, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, Somalia
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Today 9 Somalian pirates hijacked the MV Jubba XX tanker in the Northern Indian Ocean. The fully laden tanker was enroute from UEA to Berbera, Somalia when attacked. The pirates have captured the ship as well as her 16 crewmen. As the IMB stated: “In the last six months, Somali pirates attacked more vessels than ever before and they’re taking higher risks,” said IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan. “This June, for the first time, pirates fired on ships in rough seas in the Indian Ocean during the monsoon season. In the past, they would have stayed away in such difficult conditions. Masters should remain vigilant,’’
Pirates are becoming more violent and taking greater risks in their pursuit of targets.
Improvise, Adapt, Overcome! July 15, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, Chris Mark, gulf of aden, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security
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The pirates are clearly applying all three tactics. While the problem won’t be solved on the high seas alone, right now this is where the rubber is meeting the road. That said, recent intelligence indicates that pirates are purchasing information from operatives in London and the Persian Gulf, which provides precise information where the most lucrative and vulnerable ships will be.
In asymmetric warfare, intelligence becomes a key aspect in defeating practices being used against your tactics. British police recently detected efforts to obtain information for pirates, and believe these efforts are becoming more intense.
Having transited the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean personally on clients’ vessels no less than six times, I can tell you first hand that this modus operandi has been occurring for well over a year, yet the industry is only now acknowledging this fact.
Pirates are equipping mother ships with GPS, radar and satellite phones, which enables them to direct skiffs to actual latitude/longitude positions. A recently pirated vessel that was released reported that when pirates boarded the vessel, they asked the crew “where they had been,” and that they were waiting for them for two hours.
Pirates are actively seeking information on shipping companies’ plans in general. Pirates are beginning to equip boarding parties with explosives and welding equipment to give them a chance of breaching citadels; this will keep warships away because now they have hostages.
Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management 