Al-Shabab in Somalia bans three sided pastry! July 27, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: armed security, gulf of aden, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, security, somali pirates, Somalia
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Al-Shabab, a powerful muslim extremist group, which controls roughly one third of the entire country, banned a three sided pastry because it may remind people of the Christian Holy Trinity.
Al-Shabab recently boarded trucks with loud speakers and announced that the popular pastry often filled with meat and vegetables was banned. The ban comes at a time when the U.N. estimates that 11 million people are being affected by the worst drought in decades.
Somalia’s prolonged drought became a famine in part because the Somali government nor many aid agencies can fully operate in many areas controlled by Al-Qaeda linked militants, and the U.N. is set to declare all of southern Somalia a famine zone as of Aug. 1.
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.
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.
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.
Tanker with Millions of Barrels of Oil Ablaze In GoA July 6, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security, weapons and tactics.Tags: armed security, Chris Mark, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security
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Bloomberg reports that an oil tanker was attacked approximately 20 miles from Aden and wet ablaze. The 274m Brillante Virtuoso was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden and reported ablaze at 0037z. The 26 crew members are reported to be OK and the ship is currently being pulled by two tugs. The ship was attacked when approaching port to take on unarmed guards, it is reported.
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