Weekly Incidents

Interesting information

–Piracy threat returns to African waters Evolving threat A recent report from the NGO Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) found that piracy is spreading and evolving. Beyond the HRA, attacks surged off the West Coast of Africa with 95 incidents in 2016, up from 54 in 2015. The majority took place in Nigerian waters.

– A game of chess: Gulf crisis expands into the Horn of Africa .The six-month-old Gulf crisis has expanded to the Horn Africa, potentially fuelling simmering regional conflicts. Renewed fears of heightened tension in the Horn, a region pockmarked by foreign military bases that straddles key Indian Ocean trade roots with its 4,000-kilometre coast line, was sparked by Sudan last month granting Turkey the right to rebuild a decaying Ottoman port city and construct a naval dock to maintain civilian and military vessels on the African country’s Red Sea coast.

– Unmanned vessels boost coast guard’s presence and help deter crimes. Unmanned surface vessels (USVs), which can patrol Singapore waters autonomously, have been on trial since late last year said the Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG). Two of the USVs – one measuring 9m long and the other 16m – were showcased to the media yesterday, in the open water off Marina Bay. Leveraging on technology, USVs are part of Singapore’s “multi-layered” defence, which also includes sophisticated land-based CCTV cameras and sensors, to protect its maritime borders.

Sea Guardian continues to urge high levels of vigilance in the entire HRA with South Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and Somali Coast, remaining areas where caution needs to be exercised considering the recent incidents. ALL advisories in effect in South Red Sea and Yemeni Coast must be adhered by all. Reduced military presence in the area makes strict BMP Implementation (including IRTC and group transit scheme use) of the outmost importance.

Interesting information

–NIMASA Set to Acquire More Fast Intervention Vessels In line with the recent approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA is set to acquire strategic maritime safety and security assets, which are also in line with the total spectrum of maritime security strategy.

– ‘21’ killed as gunmen raid Rivers community At least 21 people were reportedly killed in an attack on Omoku, a community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) local government area of Rivers state, on Monday. There are reports that the assailants were working for a former militant leader.

–A game of chess: Gulf crisis expands into the Horn of Africa By James M. Dorsey The six-month-old Gulf crisis has expanded to the Horn Africa, potentially fuelling simmering regional conflicts. Renewed fears of heightened tension in the Horn, a region pockmarked by foreign military bases that straddles key Indian Ocean trade roots with its 4,000-kilometre coast line, was sparked by Sudan last month

–Ending Piracy in Nigerian Waters Eromosele Abiodun writes that the report by the International Maritime Bureau on rising cases of piracy in Nigeria focused on government agencies responsible for tackling the menace Recently, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) released a report naming Nigeria as one of the hotspots for sea piracy.

Sea Guardian continues to urge high levels of vigilance for all vessels operating GoG waters should adopt strict BMP4 implementation measures, follow MDAT-GoG guidelines and report any suspicious activity.