Bomb threat shuts down Bremerton-Seattle Ferry
Following an anonymous tip, the ferry Hyak, sailing from Bremerton to Seattle returned to Bremerton where all passengers were safely evacuated. According to a State Patrol spokeswoman a man who overheard two men talking at a 7-Eleven about a terrorist threat on the 12:35 PM ferry made an anonymous 911 call. The Bremerton dock was closed for more than two hours while the Coast Guard, State Patrol bomb squad, and ferry workers investigated the tip. A ferry operating between Seattle and Bremerton can hold 2,500 passengers and 144 vehicles.
Somali Pirates seize supertanker Sirius Star
Sirius Star
In their latest and biggest catch, Somali Pirates were able to board Liberian-flagged supertanker Sirius Star on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2008. Unlike past pirate attacks off Somalia the Sirius Star was boarded 450 miles south east of the Kenyan port of Mombasa and then sailed north, where according to some reports the tanker was last seen close to one of the main Somali pirate center, Eyl.
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Somali Pirate Raids Continue
Despite of NATO Maritime Group 2 best efforts to compat piracy, Somali pirate raids in the Gulf of Aden continue. On Saturday, November 15, 2008 two ships where hijacked. A Turkish chemical tankerwas seized off the coast of Yemen, along with its 14-member Turkish crew. And later that day a Japanese cargo ship was seized off the coast of Somalia carrying 23 crew including five South Koreans.
NATO Maritime Group transits Suez Canal en-route to anti-piracy duties
Seven ships from six NATO navies transit the Suez Canal yesterday, on their way to conduct both anti-piracy duties and visit NATO partner nations in the Gulf region. In response to a UN request, NATO defense ministers last week authorized NATO naval vessels to help protect World Food Program ships carrying desperately needed supplies to conflict-ridden Somalia.
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Maritime Casualties and the Impact to Homeland Security
Shortly after 1:30 A.M. of July 23, 2008, two vessels were transiting the Mississippi River. The Motor Tanker TINTOMARA, a 600-foot tanker was heading down river on a transit that seemed perfect for the early morning sail. The sky was clear with a three-quarter moon, 82 degrees with a light wind and ten-mile visibility. Lighting from the New Orleans Riverfront and two separate spans of the Crescent City Connection Bridges lit the waterway. The transit should have been enjoyable; the type of sail that sailors reminisce about years later.
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When will the Merchant Shipping community tighten security?
According to the Associated Press (2008), pirates seized the 530-foot-long freighter Faina off of the coast of Somalia. The ship was carrying 33 T-72 tanks, a substantial quantity of ammunition, and spare parts. This is a series of lucrative business adventures of coastal pirate groups who undertake these swift measures to financially assist themselves and their friends. Many of these close knit pirates organization provide funding to Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.
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Under Secretary Charles Allen speaks about Maritime Security
Maritime security is a topic important not only to the Department of Homeland Security, but to everyone in this room, and indeed in this country. Our purpose today is to find ways to work together to improve our ability to warn of threats to the United States. Our common purpose is to keep the nation safe. Thomas Jefferson recognized this great calling when he noted that for all Americans “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Today we follow in his footsteps confronting the 21st century threats to our security – threats that I view as very serious. The world in certain ways has grown darker.
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U.S. Ship repels pirate attack
While the world’s attention has been focused on the drama aboard the MV Faina (And it’s 21 member crew) off Somalia's Indian Ocean coast, there have been some other developments in the area which may point a much more sophisticated plot. On September 23rd, a Navy security team aboard the fleet oiler John Lenthall kept two small boats at bay with warning shots on Tuesday near Somalia, according to a bulletin from 5th Fleet in Bahrain.
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Somali Pirates seized freighter carrying 33 T-72 tanks
In their latest attack on merchent ships off the Horn of Africa, Somali pirates seized the 530-foot-long freighter Faina carrying 33 T-72 tanks, a substantial quantity of ammunition, and spare parts. According to an Ukraine newsagencey, Faina is owned by Tomex Team based out of Odessa and was hired by Ukrainian state controlled arms dealer Ukrspetsexport to transport the tanks to Mombassa, Kenya. According to AP reports, Alfred Mutua, a Kenyan government spokesman, confirmed that Kenya's military had ordered the tanks and spare parts.
