Terrorism’s Effect on Maritime Shipping
By: Roger L. Tomberlin
In the first years of the nineteenth century, Mediterranean pirates, with the support of the Barbary States of northern Africa, would capture merchant ships, terrorize their crews, and hold the ship for ransom. In response, the United States launched the Barbary wars, the first successful effort by the young republic to protect its citizens from a ruthless, unconventional enemy by fighting a protracted struggle overseas.
Read the rest of this entry »
African nations working for maritime security
By Scott Cohen
Representatives from 10 East African nations, along with coalition partners from the United Kingdom, France and the United States participated in a week-long working group in Djibouti to help lay a foundation for partnership in the realm of maritime security.
Read the rest of this entry »
US Chief of Naval Operations visits Israel for Counterpart Visit
By: Rebekah Blowers
US Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Gary Roughead is visiting Israel from June 21-24 at the invitation of Israel Navy Commander, Vice Adm. Eli Marum, to strengthen and further develop global maritime partnerships and increase maritime security.
Read the rest of this entry »
GAO Report on Maritime Security
On June 20, 2008 the United States Government Accountability Office released their latest report on maritime security. In its verdict GAO found that the National Strategy and Supporting Plans were generally well-developed and are being implemented.
Read the rest of this entry »
July 7-9, 2008: International Maritime and Yacht Security course - Malta
Camper & Nicholson’s Grand Harbour Marina, in conjunction with the International Bodyguards Association and Signal 8 Security Malta, is holding its first International Maritime and Yacht Security course at the marina between 7 and 9 July.
Read the rest of this entry »
Was Secopex hired by Somalia to provide for its maritime security, or not?
On June 16, 2008 we as well as several news organizations reported that Somalia hired the private French military firm Secopex to provide for its maritime security. Yesterday, VOA correspondent Alisha Ryu learned that this might not be true. Listen below to Alisha Ryu report.
Port Security News Today
1) Triton Imaging won a contract by the Port of Los Angeles to provide an “Underwater Explosive Detection System” based on the Triton HarborSuite. The integrated system is designed to provide protection from underwater IEDs by integrating seabed image data collected by port survey operations and making it readily available to port police dive units by point and click on a displayed map of the port.
Read the rest of this entry »
French military firm hired by Somalia to provide maritime security
Ever since the pirate attack on the French luxury yacht the Ponant, and the hostage tacking of it’s crew, French forces are involved in providing security to maritime vessels in the Gulf of Aden. Today, Secopex, a private French military firm has signed a contract with Somali government to boost it’s maritime security by creating a comprehensive coastguard information system. It is speculated that Secopex will receive 75-150 million dollars annually for the duration of the contract. Secopex, founded in 2003 and based in Carcassonne, southern France, is involved in providing private military services, private security, bodyguards, and security advice and auditing.
MI6 said to have uncovered a maritime terrorism plot in the Caribbean
According to a British newspaper, the British Foreign Intelligence MI6 has uncovered a plot by Al Qaeda to attack cruise ships in the Caribbean. The source stated that Al Qaeda planned to mimic the USS Cole attack (October 12, 2000) by using suicide terrorists to steer explosive loaded small crafts into the hull of the cruise ship. However, according to jihadist websites, Al Qaeda is also playing with the thoughts of establishing fake identities for some of its members to work on cruise ships and then take over and destroy the cruise ships by opening underwater hatches or start a disastrous blaze in the engine room.
