MARITIME SECURITY – Varied Actions Taken to Enhance Cruise Ship Security

Cruise ships are the single largest passenger conveyances in the world, with one ship currently in service that can carry more than 8,500 passengers and crew. The Coast Guard considers cruise ships to be highly attractive targets to terrorists, and according to a 2008 RAND Corporation report, cruise ships can represent high-prestige symbolic targets for [...]

Updates: More information about seized Iranian arms ships

The Israeli Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center recently released more information about Iran’s efforts to strengthen Shi’ite terrorist groups in Lebanon (Hezbollah) and Yemen (Houthi Shi’ite).
On October 26, 2009, Yemen announced that it seized an Iranian ship named Mahan-1loaded with mostly anti-tank weaponry destined for the Houthi Shi’ite terrorist group. The Mahan-1 had set sail [...]

Israel Navy Intercepts Iranian Weapons en route to Hezbollah

On November 3, 2009, the Israeli Navy intercepted the 459 feet (140 meter) freighter Francop near Cyprus. According to Israeli officials, the Antiguan flag vessel as carrying hundreds of tons of arms sent by Iran destined for Syria and Hezbollah. Weapons found inside containers owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines Group (IRISL) [...]

Singapore conducts counter terrorism readiness exercise

To test Singapore’s readiness to deal with concurrent terrorist attacks, 15 agencies including the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) came together in a homeland security exercise codenamed Northstar VII.
Organised by the SPF, this year’s exercise saw elements from the recently formed SAF Special Operations Task [...]

IMB report: Maritime piracy doubled in first half of 2009!

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported on Wednesday that pirate attacks around the globe have doubled in the first half of 2009. The bulk of the upsurge has come from increased activity in the Gulf of Aden and Somali coastal waters, where 130 incidents occurred since January. The report attributes a lull in activity in [...]

Maritime Security News Updates – July 13, 2009

This issue of the Maritime Security News Update contains the latest three Port Security Advisories published by the U.S. Coast Guard as well as two interesting articles by the Lloyd’s List.
Port Security Advisories are aimed towards those sailing in High Risk Waters such as the Gulf of Aden, Straits of Malacca, South China Sea , [...]

Fighting Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Beyond

The Heritage Foundation’s Maritime Security Working Group published on June 24, 2009 Special Report #59, examining the issue of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the appropriate U.S. response. Though the report’s proposals are focused on the Gulf of Aden, they have implications for combating piracy worldwide as the recent successes of the Somali [...]

Piracy Study: Piracy – An ancient risk with modern faces

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), a leading insurer of ships and cargo, has released a study suggesting its clients adapt their approach to marine insurance as the threat of piracy off the Horn of Africa continues to grow. In addition, the study points out that crews entering dangerous waters must be prepared to handle [...]

German Navy Thwarts Pirate Attack on Cruise Ship

According to German newspaper Deutsche Welle, The German Navy warded off a suspected piracy attack on a German cruise ship in the Gulf of Aden, a spokesman for the mission has confirmed . Germany has troops in the area to combat piracy.

Armed guards plan to tackle piracy

Vulnerable cargo ships off the coast of Somalia may be given armed guards by an EU task force being sent to combat the huge surge in piracy there. The British naval commander in charge of the operation, vice admiral Philip Jones, said the EU’s warship flotilla would seek to place “vessel-protection detachments” on board some [...]

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