Pirates Release MV Panama after $7 Million US Ransom Paid September 6, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, Chris Mark, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, Ransom, somali pirates
add a comment
According to Reuters Africa, Somali pirates released the MV Ransom after a reported $7 million US ransom was paid. The vessel was hijacked on December 10th, 2010 while from Tanzania to Mozambique with a crew of 23 from Myanmar aboard. Based upon recent reports it appears that while the number of successful hijackings are down in 2011, the amount being paid for ransom is increasing sharply. The last two reports had an average ransom of $7.5 Million US paid to pirates. As shipping companies continue to arm their vessels some have posited that attacks will become more violent. I would suggest that not only will the hijackings become more violent but the pirates will demand a higher ransom as they have fewer lucrative targets to attack.
Detained 3 Al Qaeda members reveal plot to blow up commercial tankers! September 5, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, armed security, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
add a comment
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani intelligence officers working with the CIA arrested three members of Al Qaeda including a top operative believed to have been tasked by Usama bin Laden with targeting American economic interests around the world, Pakistan’s army said Monday.
Younis al-Mauritani’s arrest — made public five days before the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks — was seen as a blow to Al Qaeda’s central leadership in Pakistan, further degrading its ability to mount terrorist attacks abroad. The terrorist organization has seen its senior ranks thinned since Usama bin Laden was killed May 2 along with Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, the group’s No.2, in a CIA missile strike last month.
The statement said al-Mauritani was mainly responsible for Al Qaeda’s international operations and was tasked by bin Laden with hitting targets of economic importance in America, Europe and Australia. It said he was planning to target U.S. economic interests including gas and oil pipelines, power generating dams and oil tankers transiting in international waters by using explosive-laden speed boats to attack them.
It named the other two detainees as Abdul-Ghaffar al-Shami and Messara al-Shami.
U.S. officials were not immediately available for comment. The U.S. has said it doesn’t know of any specific Al Qaeda plot to attack the U.S. ahead of Sept. 11.
Piracy and the Armed Detterent- Lloyds List… & dogs… September 1, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Laws and Leglslation, Piracy & Maritime Security.Tags: Chris Mark, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management
add a comment
There is a very well written piece on the use of armed guards. Without rehashing the entire article, the author disputes those who claim that armed guards are resulting in an increasing level of violence from pirates. It is a great piece and worth the read. In contradiction to the naysayers and in support of the piece mentioned above, I would go so far as to say that it is the increasing violence of pirates that is necessitating the use of armed guards on ships. Security companies would love nothing more than to flash a big toothy grin and the international sign of friendship at pirates to make them scamper away. The unfortunate reality is that the pirates are escalating their attacks and ships are being forced to use armed guards.
Yesterday I was in the pet store buying some food for my new Rottweiler puppy Bo. Bo had never been on a leash and I was attempting to train him. A woman working at the store struck up a conversation and I was explaining that I had to put one of my dogs down recently when after 11 years she had become so unpredictable that we could not trust her around children, people or pets. The dog had already attacked and severely injured three dogs by the time the decision was made to put her down. While I was deeply saddened it was the only responsible option. It was simply her nature to be aggressive. What struck me was the woman’s response to the story and to the idea of leashes. She actually tried to convince me that leashes were the cause of dog bites and attacks and that if we would do away with leashes the incidence of dog bites would go down. She was an advocate for allowing all dogs to run free! I told her I felt it was irresponsible to allow a 130lb dog to run free among children and others. At the end of the day, no matter how well trained, a dog, is a dog, is a dog.
This is the same attitude that permeates the blogosphere where people claim that it is the shipping companies, which by arming their ships, are causing the violence. This is complete nonsense. The pirates are violent and it is their actions that result in the need for shipping companies to arm themselves. Not the other way around…
Pakistan training pirates? August 30, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in weapons and tactics.Tags: Chris Mark, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates
add a comment
According to an article published on Zeenews India claims to have “material evidence” that Somali pirates are receiving training in Pakastan. According to the article, the training is intended to support a proxy war against India. Whether this assertion stands up to scrutiny remains to be seen. If however, Somali pirates are receiving formal training by foreign governments it would suggest a much deeper problem for shipping companies. As the story develops we will provide more information.
Somali pirates release vessel after 10 months in captivity August 30, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates
add a comment
A Greece based shipping company has spoken of its distress during a piracy experience following the release of its hijacked tanker after 10 months in captivity.While Paradise Navigation, operators and managers of the 72,825 dwt product tanker MV Polar said it was “delighted” with the freeing, they were frustrated that owners and operators have been unaided against piracy.
While faced with many decisions on how to deal with piracy, ultimately shipping companies need to remain proactive in protecting their interests. The community can’t afford to wait for intervention by international governments. The message is loud and clear, this is an industry problem and needs to be dealt with by the industry.
Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management 