U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) for 24 September 2019 - 30 October 2019 and HORN OF AFRICA/GULF OF GUINEA/SOUTHEAST ASIA Weekly Piracy Update for 24 to 30 October 2019

U.S. Navy Office of Naval ... by lawofsea on Scribd

U.S. Navy Office of Naval ... by lawofsea on Scribd

On Midrats 16 July 2017 - Episode 393: Building the right carrier; heavy, medium, or light with Tal Manvel

Please join us at 5pm (EDT) for Midrats Episode 393: Building the right carrier; heavy, medium, or light with Tal Manvel

U.S. Navy/PH3 Alta I. Cutler 2002

As the USS FORD (CVN 78) delivered to the US Navy, the Royal Navy’s new HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH underway, and many nations either building or wanting built carriers of a variety of sized, the second decade of the 21st Century is an exciting time for those who are interested in carrier design.

With the Senate recently dedicating $30 million to the study of a light carrier design, the discussion has begun again about what is the right size carrier for the requirements of our navy.

We have the perfect guest for the entire hour to discuss, returning guest J. Talbot Manvel, Captain, USN (Ret).

Tal teaches at the US Naval Academy. While on active duty he served as an engineering

officer specializing in aircraft carriers. He served on three, assisted in building two, and ended his career developing the new FORD class of aircraft carriers. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972, earned a masters in mechanical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1979, a masters in liberal arts from St John’s College in 2008.

J. Talbot Manvel, Captain, USN (Ret) teaches at the US Naval Academy. Wile on active duty he served as an engineering officer specializing in aircraft carriers. He served on three, assisted in building two, and ended his career developing the new FORD class of aircraft carriers. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972, earned a masters in mechanical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1979, a masters in liberal arts from St John’s College in 2008.

Join us live if you can or pick the show up later by clicking here. Or you can pick the show up later by clicking that link or by visiting either our iTunes page or our Stitcher page.

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 19 December 2016 - 18 January 2017

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U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 1 - 30 November 2016

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 1 - 30 November 2016 by lawofsea on Scribd

U.S. Navy Office Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 18 October - 16 November 2016

U.S. Navy Office Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 18 October - 16 November 2016... by lawofsea on Scribd

Fighting Pirates and Sea Kidnappers with a Private-Public Deal Off Nigeria

Maritime Executive reports on a Private Maritime Security with Active Duty Personnel off Nigeria:

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. . .[T]he contractor may provide private patrol vessels, which are then "crewed, flagged and armed by the Nigerian Navy [who] use Nigerian national Rules of Engagement" on for-hire ship escort missions arranged by the PMSCs.

Damen FCS 3307

Diaplous Maritime Services Nigeria says that its security escort vessels have seven to 10 Nigerian Navy servicemembers on board and are armed and equipped to deter emerging threats. The firm uses Damen FCS 3307 patrol boats, the same model recently delivered to Nigeria's Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Limited (HIOSL).

In addition, in cooperation with the Nigerian Navy, Diaplous offers armed embarked maritime security teams of four to eight members. For unarmed options, it can provide security consultants – Hellenic nationals or former Nigerian Navy officers – who are experienced in operating in the Gulf of Guinea security environment. ***

However it happens, more forces on the water are a good idea to fight the bad guys in the Gulf of Guinea.

Hat tip to Claude Berube. , whose books you should buy.

Photo from Damen.

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 30 August - 28 September 2016

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U. S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 9 August - 7 September 2016

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 9 August - 7 September 201... by lawofsea on Scribd

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 19 July - 17 August 2016

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Sea Piracy of Various Forms and the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 12 July - 10 August 2016

Classic piracy as reported by the Maritime Herald Product tanker Ad Matsu attacked by pirates in South China Sea

The asphalt and bitumen product tanker Ad Matsu was attacked by pirates in South China Sea on 15 nautical miles north off Tanjung Berakit, Indonesia. The vessel was en route from Singapore to Hai Phong, Vietnam, but near the island Pulau Bintan was reached by fast boat from the starboard. Six armed men succeeded to board

Box is general area of attack

the vessel and took control of the tanker. The crew was locked in the mess room, while pirates robbed the vessel and stole all the cash and valuables of the seamen. After robbery the pirates abandoned the vessel and fled away to Malaysia. There were no injured seamen from the product tanker Ad Matsu during the piracy attack. The crew reported about the accident and vessel returned in operations.

The Indonesian Navy found and arrested one of the pirates in large scale anti-piracy operation. The young man was arrested and will be investigated and judged for piracy according to the Indonesian laws.

Fishing "piracy" off Somalia seems to be back as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in As piracy is contained, Somali fishermen again compete with illegal vessels in their waters:

When the horn of Africa's infamous pirate gangs first emerged two decades ago, they were Somali fishermen arming themselves to fight off illegal fishing boats from other parts of the world.

International patrol vessels now guard Somalia's coastline making the waters relatively safe. The pirates are gone but that's created the opportunity for illegal fishing activity by Asian and European interests. Once again these high seas trawlers are competing with the locals and there are fears tensions could again escalate.

Not so sure the "pirate gangs" were all that innocent in the old days . . . on the other hand some Somali warlords were licensing fishing boats to operate in Somali waters to the detriment of Somali fishermen. See The Two Piracies in Somalia: Why the World Ignores the Other? by Mohamed Abshir Waldo:

In arrangements with Somali warlords, new companies were formed abroad for bogus fishing licensing purposes. Jointly owned mafia Somali-European companies set up in Europe and Arabia worked closely with Somali warlords who issued them fake fishing “licenses” to any foreign fishing pirate willing to plunder the Somali marine resources. UK and Italy based African and Middle East Trading Co. (AFMET), PALMERA and UAE based SAMICO companies were some of the corrupt vehicles issuing such counterfeit licenses as well as fronting for the warlords who shared the loot.

Among technical advisors to the Mafia companies – AFMET, PALMIRA & SAMICO - were supposedly reputable firms like MacAllister Elliot & Partners of the UK. Warlords Gen. Mohamed Farah Aidiid, Gen. Mohamed Hersi Morgan, Osman Atto and Ex-President Ali Mahdi Mohamed officially and in writing gave authority to AFMET to issue fishing “licenses”, which local fishermen and marine experts call it simply a “deal between thieves”. According to Africa Analysis of November 13, 1998, AFMET alone “licensed” 43 seiners (mostly Spanish, at $30,000 per 4-month season. Spanish Pesca Nova was “licensed” by AFMET while French Cobracaf group got theirs from SAMICO at a much discounted rate of $15,000 per season per vessel.

Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 12 July - 10 August 2016 by lawofsea on Scribd

U.S.Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 14 June - 13 July 2016

U.S.Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 14 June - 13 July 2016

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 31 May - 29 June 2016

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 31 May - 29 June 2016 by lawofsea

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 17 May - 15 June 2016 and a New Maritime Security Approach in Southeast Asia

Office of Naval Intelligence Threats to Shipping:

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 17 May - 15 June 2016

Not mentioned in the report (due to its timing), Three southeast Asian nations to designate shipping corridor to battle piracy:

Celebes and Sulu Seas indicated by ovals

The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia signed the agreement to designate a transit corridor for commercial vessels in order to prevent hijacks by pirates.

Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines on Monday agreed to designate a transit corridor for commercial vessels crossing a maritime zone hit by a spate of hijackings by Islamist militants in the southern Philippines.

Nearly 20 Indonesian and Malaysian tugboat crew have been kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf militants this year, with Jakarta airing fears that the problem could reach levels seen off the coast of Somalia.
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Analysts say $40-billion worth of cargo passes through the Sulu and Celebes seas each year, including supertankers from the Indian Ocean that cannot use the crowded Malacca Strait.

The three countries also agreed to step up air and sea patrols and escorts for commercial ships in the common maritime areas to fend off potential hijacks, kidnaps and robbery.

Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the leaders agreed to share the best practices evolved by Indonesia and Malaysia during a joint effort to patrol the busy Malacca Strait waterway against pirates, as a model for three-way cooperation with the Philippines.

****

Analysts say $40-billion worth of cargo passes through the Sulu and Celebes seas each year, including supertankers from the Indian Ocean that cannot use the crowded Malacca Strait.

The three countries also agreed to step up air and sea patrols and escorts for commercial ships in the common maritime areas to fend off potential hijacks, kidnaps and robbery.

Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the leaders agreed to share the best practices evolved by Indonesia and Malaysia during a joint effort to patrol the busy Malacca Strait waterway against pirates, as a model for three-way cooperation with the Philippines.

***

There was no immediate comment from the Abu Sayyaf rebels.

Piracy near Somalia’s coast has subsided after shipping firms hired private security details and international warships patrolled the waters.

It's a Reuters report. Love the "no immediate comment from the . . . rebels" bit.

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 10 May - 8 June 2016

Source. Lots of activity in the last week or so off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 10 May - 8 June 2016

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 3 May - 2 June 2016

From USN's Office of Naval Intelligence

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 3 May - 2 June 2016

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence : Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 26 April - 25 May 2016

Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 26 April - 25 May 2016:

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence : Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 26 April - 25 May 2016

Also, not in the report yet, Guyana Pirates:

Police said the cutlass-wielding pirates attacked the Guyanese fishermen at about 11 PM on Friday, May 27, 2016, dumping the five fishermen aboard and carting off their outboard motor. The captain, Seepersaud Persaud, was rescued but one of his fishermen, Hemchand Sukhdeo of Number 55 Village, Corentyne, died and his body was recovered. Feared dead are Dhanpaul Rampaul of No. 67 Village, Corentyne, Dochand “Bucher”, 54, of No. 55 Village, Corentyne; and 26-year old Munesh “Boyo” Churram.
“We are working along with our Surinamese counterparts to see if we can recover bodies,” said the Divisional Commander.
The Divisional Commander said investigators were also working to ascertain whether the detainees were also responsible for a second vessel that was attacked the same night. No one aboard that vessel was injured but the boat’s engine was stolen.

U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 12 April - 11 May 2016

  U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 12 April - 11 May 2016

Attacks from the Sea on Cruise Ships, Tankers and Other Things

In researching questions for Captain Bob Hein and our Midrats show Episode 330: Terrorists on the Ocean, I was struck by the number of incidents that ought to act as a warning that terrorist attacks are already being made.

I include 3 Hollywood movies, one based on a real event, the others, well, food for thought.

I'm sure with time I can add many, many more.

Assault on a Queen

A motley crew of treasure hunters plan to rob the cruise-liner RMS Queen Mary, using a recovered WW2 German submarine.

Speed 2

A computer hacker breaks into the computer system of the Seabourn Legend cruise liner and sets it speeding on a collision course into a gigantic oil tanker.

ISIS Rocket Attack on Ship 2015

The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro

The story of the hijacking of the Itallian liner Achille Lauro by four militants of the Palestine Liberation Front, in 1985, who demanded the release of several Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli prisoners. On their hands, lies the fate of several passengers, many Americans included and among them, Jewish American businessman Leon Klinghoffer.

Attack on USS Cole. Midrats show with CO of Cole at time of attack Episode 121: Front Burner: The Attack on the USS COLE

Attack on oil tanker Limburg

Experts: ISIS Poses Terrorist Threat to Cruise Ships in Mediterranean

Maritime Terrorism: Risk and Liability

al Qaeda Planned to Seize Cruise Ships, Execute Passengers

Documents reveal al Qaeda's plans for seizing cruise ships, carnage in Europe

UK Naval Commander Warns that ISIS Could Target Cruise Ships in Mediterranean

A Guerilla War at Sea

Some details on the nuisance rocket attack on US ships in August (2005)

Suez canal terror attack alert (2005) Altering behavior of shipping

Video: Terrorists Launch Rocket Attack at Commercial Ship in Suez Canal 2013

Isis in the Sinai claims Egypt's vessel 'rocket attack and destruction'

A Worst Case Scenario: Guerilla Type War in the Littorals

Bomb caused Philippine ferry fire:

The 10,000 ton Superferry 14 was heading for Bacolod in the central Philippines when it caught fire, on 27 February 2004.

According to officials, 116 of the 900 people onboard are now presumed to have died, although only 63 bodies have been recovered.

The report into the fire has now concluded it was caused by "an explosive device," national police spokesman Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said in a statement.

Investigators believe the Superferry was targeted because its owners, WG&A, refused a request for $1m in protection money from Abu Sayyaf in 2003 .

Possible Abu Sayaff at Seat Kidnapping Off Philippines




Attack on Sri Lankan Galle Harbor and Rebel suicide blasts hit Sri Lankan resort

Sri Lanka:Terrorist/Pirate "Sea Tigers" Sunk?

Sri Lankan Navy takes on Tamil Sea Tigers

Mumbai Attack

Hezbollah Attack Using C-802 Missile

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 15 March - 13 April 2016

Nigeria's "board ships and kidnap crews for ransom" season seems to be in full swing.

Nice 16 ton cocaine bust in Mexico.

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 15 March - 13 April 2016

Sea Crimes: ONI's Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 8 March - 6 April 2016

Ripped from the website of the ONI Piracy page:

U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 8 March - 6 April 2016

And a new incident off Nigeria, as reported by the Turkish news site Hurriyet in Pirates abduct six Turkish crew off Nigeria:

Pirates have attacked a Turkish cargo ship off the coast of Nigeria, kidnapping six crew members in a region increasingly hit by piracy in recent years, the Nigerian navy said on April 11.

All the six Turkish crew members, including the captain of the vessel, the chief officer and the chief engineer, were abducted by the attackers," Nigerian Navy spokesman Chris Ezekobe told AFP.

The pirates attacked the vessel in the dead of night while it was steaming through the oil-rich Niger Delta, added the spokesman.

Kidnapping is a Nigerian nightmare.

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