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.
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.
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