Pirates new tactics! July 26, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, armed security, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, somali pirates, Somalia
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On July 25, 2011 MSC(HOA) reported that a merchant vessel was under attack at 2109Z (a night time attack) again in the southern Red Sea, 55 nm NW of Bab-el-Mandeb and 20 nm east of the attacks on the F Blue and Front Pride.
The vessel was attacked by no less than four skiffs who were firing at the vessel from all directions.
The industry needs to understand that attacks at night will now become normal as ransoms afford pirates better equipment such as night vision technology, easily purchased on the black market. This year alone we’ve seen attacks in the Red Sea and vessels being hijacked during monsoon season; all first time occurrences.
Shipping companies should carefully consider hiring companies that purport less numbers of security team members can do more, or a few weapons of any sort will scare the pirates away. Their attacks will become more brazen and sophisticated over time.
NATO rejects plea for extra counter-piracy ships! July 22, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, armed security, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Maritime Security, NATO, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, Somalia
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NATO has turned down a plea from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to deploy extra warships to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Currently there are approximately 20 vessels patrolling the entire Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf comprised of several nations warships. This area is approximately 2.5 million square miles, a daunting task given the limited resources.
With ships being diverted to Libya and massive cutbacks in navies’ budgets worldwide, the International Shipping community should take pro-active steps to protect its own interests and not rely solely on foreign navies’ limited protection.
Sole female Somali cabinet minister kidnapped by terrorists July 21, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, Somalia
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News reports have confirmed that the fledgling Somali Transitional Federal Government’s only female cabinet member, Asha Osman Aqiil, has been kidnapped. The only woman in the country’s 18-member government, was reportedly taken by Shebab fighters, an Islamist rebel group. The kidnapping occurred 19 miles north of Mogadishu in a town called Balad.
Recent US State Department memos have confirmed that Somali Pirates are paying portions of ransom monies to the terrorist group to maintain a status quo. Roughly a third of Somalia is ruled by the terrorist organization with ties to Al-Qaeda.
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 