Somalia offensive….300 new militants in Mogadishu! July 28, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, Chris Mark, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, somali pirates, Somalia
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Heavy fighting broke out in Mogadishu on Thursday. Al-Shabab, Somalia’s dominant militant group, has sent 300 reinforcement fighters to Mogadishu in recent days, said Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, spokesman for the African Union peacekeeping force.
The African Union force believes that al-Shabab is trying to prevent aid from reaching the tens of thousands of famine refugees who have arrived in Mogadishu this month.
The al-Shabab militants already have killed men who tried to escape the famine with their families, saying it is better to starve than accept help from the West. The World for Food Program says it cannot reach 2.2 million people in need of aid in the militant-controlled areas in southern Somalia because of insecurity.
Somalia has been mired in conflict since 1991 when long time dictator Siad Barre was overthrown by warlords who then turned on each other. Islamist militants led by al-Shabab are attempting to overthrow the weak U.N.-backed government that is being propped up by about 9,000 AU peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi.
The hopelessness that young Somali men are experiencing will only make piracy a more enticing proposition that will ultimately lead to more attacks and greater ships being hijacked.
3 Pirate Attacks Repelled by Armed Guards July 28, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security.Tags: Chris Mark, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Somalia
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On July 20th, the oil tanker MT Front Pride was attacked by a skiff with 6 pirates who were successfully repelled by armed guards. The pirates were reportedly armed with machine guns and RPGs. 4 days prior a second ship, the MV Elinakos was attacked by pirates who were dissuaded when a security guard fired. Finally, on July 20th, the Greek owned MV F Blue, a general cargo ship, was attacked by eight pirates in a skiff. Armed security fired warning shots and the pirates were repelled.
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.
U.S. State Department Insists on Guards on U.S. Vessels July 26, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: armed security, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, Somalia
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As stated on Lloyd’s List, senior US officials have told Hong Kong ship owners that the US now insists that all US flagged vessels carry armed security personnel to defend against pirate attacks. This is the latest sign that the international approval of armed guards is becoming the norm.
Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management 