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Date: 25th September 2019Series 13/Issue 196

Weekly Security & Risk Report

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The Security and Risk Report Series focuses on:

• Operational risks in areas of instability which could affect the safety of commercial and private vessels and personnel ashore and at sea.

• In country reporting on key countries where civil conflict are directly impacting on maritime opera-tions; and

• Reporting and analysis of incidents of terrorism, pi-racy and other related criminal activity. MAST has a global reach and presence, delivering first hand, accurate and exclusive intelligence. MAST is entrenched and committed in continuing to supportand promote the awareness of the very real risks thatseafarers and other stakeholders face. This Intelligence Report Series is a brief snapshot ofMAST’s Intelligence capabilities. MAST Intelligencespecialises in providing clients with a suite of prod-ucts and services, including; political and economic risk analysis, detailed port and vessel security briefs, vessel passage plans, threat and risk mitigation and travel risk management. Working closely in conjunction with a host of experts,MAST Intelligence offers a market leading service pertaining to all maritime affairs.

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Editor: David Riderwww.mast-security.com

Issue 196

Contents:

Mast Services

Indian Ocean region

Somalia

Yemen

Mediterranean

Libya

Gulf of Guinea

South East Asia

Central & South America

Severe Weather Warnings

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25th September 2019

24/7 Emergency Telephone+44 (0) 1202 045 833 (Maritime)

MAST UK+44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com

Issue 196 of the series reviews, analyses and threat assesses the fragile and conflict affected coastal states Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The Mediterranean migrant crisis, incidents affecting maritime security and influencing maritime news are also report-ed and analysed, focusing on the keys theatres of maritime instability.

4MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Hijack

Kidnap

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity Theft

Incidents: Nothing significant to report.

Iran, Russia and China Plan Joint Naval Drill in Gulf of OmanIran says that it is planning a joint naval drill with Russia and China in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, according to semi-official news agency Tasnim.

Somali pirates free Iranian hostage captured in 2015An Iranian man held by Somali pirates for more than four years was flown to Ethiopia’s capital Saturday 21st after his captors released him because he needed urgent medical care. The release of Mohammad Shariff Panahandeh means just three hostages remain in the custody of Somali pirates, according to the Hostage Support Partnership, the charity that negotiated his release. His health had deteriorated significantly in recent weeks, lending new urgency to efforts to secure his freedom, John Steed of the Hostage Support Partnership told AFP.

CMF/EU NAVFOR Focused Operation King CrabCMF/EU NAVFOR have announced a new Focused Operation to take place between 23rd and 26th in the Gulf of Aden and Socotra Gap.

Iran to present plan for Gulf security at U.N. this weekIranian President Hassan Rouhani will present a plan for creat-ing security in the Gulf in cooperation with other countries in the region when he attends the United Nations General As-sembly in New York this week.

Red Wave 2 Joint Maritime Drill Starts in JeddahThe Red Wave 2 joint drill, which includes naval forces from seven Red Sea countries, started Sunday 22nd in Jeddah, ac-cording to Saudi Arabia’s official SPA news agency. The partici-

pating forces come from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Yemen, and Somalia. The exercise “aims to unify and enhance the maritime security of the countries bordering the Red Sea, protect territorial waters and strengthen military co-operation.”

India seizes Myanmar vessel with 1.1 tonnes of ketamineThe Indian Coast Guard has seized a Myanmar vessel loaded with over 1.1 tonnes of ketamine off India’s Nicobar Islands, Indian authorities said. Six Myanmar crew members on the ship were arrested after it was boarded by Indian Coast Guard members on Thursday 19th. India’s maritime security agency said the vessel was navigating suspiciously in the Andaman Sea, prompting its officers to conduct a search, which yielded 1160 kilograms of ketamine.

UAE says joining global maritime security coalitionThe United Arab Emirates is joining an international maritime mission to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and other areas, state news agency WAM said on Thursday 19th.

US eyes 55-ship surveillance mission off Iran in Nov.: sourceU.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is planning to form an international maritime surveillance mission involving 55 vessels in a key waterway off Iran in November, a source fa-miliar with the plan said Thursday 19th. The plan came to light amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran following recent attacks on major oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, an incident Washington has blamed on Tehran.

To see MAST’s services in the Indian Ocean Region, please click here.

Indian Ocean Region Iran says it will soon release a British-flagged tanker that its Revolutionary Guards seized more than two months ago, sparking a crisis in Gulf shipping. Maritime authorities in the Islamic re-public told the semi-official Fars news agency on Sunday 22nd that the Swedish-owned Stena Impero would imminently be released, confirming earlier remarks by the chief executive of Stena Bulk, the company that owns the vessel.

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Control of Somali territory (March 2017) Source: Wikimedia Commons

AnalysisAl Shabaab continues to mount operations throughout the coun-try, despite efforts by US Central Command to degrade its capa-bilities with ongoing airstrikes which aim to remove AS leader-ship. It is questionable as to whether this “body count” policy is working. Threat AssessmentThe political situation has seen increased tension between re-gional states and the Federal Government. Should this continue, there is an opportunity for criminal organisations to return to their previous maritime activities. Al Shabaab continues to challenege the government and efforts to disrupt its operations continue, although AMISOM forces will withdraw some time in 2019. The trade in illegal charcoal by terror and crime groups continues, al-though the Combined Maritime Forces and UN are working on measures to prevent it. Youth unemployment in Somalia has not improved with 67% of Somali male youths aged between 14 to 29 unemployed. Pirate financiers offer lucrative and attractive op-portunities, and were seen to be increasingly active in the last inter-monsoon period. Recent incidents off Somalia have high-lighted the robust protections offered by both BMP5 and well trained, vigilant armed protection teams. Illegal fishing has re-turned to the region and there are wider political concerns that it could spark a resurgence in maritime crime unless checked. There is a risk that complacency in some quarters has seen a reduction in PMSC presence in these waters that could result in a piracy success. A lack of adherence to BMP5 protocol, particu-larly not maintaining a safe distance off the coast, has increased risks to shipping. Merchant vessels would be wise to maintain the same distance from the coast, particularly ensuring that the Socotra Gap isn’t taken. All vessels are advised to update risk as-sessments and register with UKMTO/MSCHOA prior to entering the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA).

MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Under control of Al Shabaab and allies Under control of neutral forces Under control of Government and allies Somaliland Government Territory disputed by Puntland and Somaliland

SomaliaAt least eight government soldiers were killed and several others wounded when fighters from Somali-based al-Qaeda-linked group Al Shabaab attacked Somali National Army (SNA) base in Lower Shabelle region, officials said on Sunday 22nd, Anadolu Agency reports. The attack took place at SNA base in the vicinity of El-Saliini, near the port city of Marka, the capital of Lower Shabelle region on Sunday morning.

Somalia suspends flights to key port of KismayuSomalia’s government has suspended flights to and from Kis-mayu, the main city in the country’s southern Jubbaland state. The suspension is to last for three days and comes ahead of the inauguration of Ahmed Mohamed Islam, known by his nickname “Madobe”, who was re-elected to lead Jubbaland in a disputed election last month.

UN warns of growing influx of refugees into EthiopiaThe UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned of a growing in-flux of Somalis that are seeking refuge in Ethiopia amid wors-ening draught and security woes, regional media reported on Sept. 24th

Al Shabaab leader lashes out at Kenya over maritime disputeThe leader of Somali Islamist group Al Shabaab, Ahmed Diriye, issued a rare audio message on Thursday (19th) night, accus-ing the West of pillaging the country’s natural resources and criticising Kenya’s claim on disputed maritime waters.

Islamic State trains in Somalia’s PuntlandIn photos released online on Sept. 21st, the Islamic State showed fighters within its Somali branch training in a makeshift camp in Somalia’s northern Puntland region. The photo report details the militants undergoing basic weapons and physical training at the so-called “Dawoud al Somali” training camp, which is named after a killed military trainer of the group.

Leaders in row over Somalia’s GalmudugSomalia’s federal regions face further uncertainty after Presi-dent Mohamed Farmaajo reignited a row with his predecessor Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over the future of Galmudug state. Fresh from taking opposing sides in the Jubbaland elections which Mogadishu refuses to recognise, the two clashed last week over whether the federal government should control im-pending elections in Galmudug, one of the five federal states in Somalia. Others are Jubbaland, Hirshabelle, South West and Puntland.

EUCAP Somalia: new Head of mission appointedChristopher Reynolds has been appointed Head of the EU ca-pacity building mission in Somalia, EUCAP Somalia. He takes over from Maria-Cristina Stepanescu (from Romania) who was the Head of mission since 1 September 2016. Christopher Reynolds, an Irish national, has been Deputy Head of the mis-sion and Chief of Staff since January 2019. In 2016-2017, he was the mission’s Head of Operations. He previously served in the Irish Navy and in the Irish Coast Guard.

Ethiopia says detains suspected Islamist militants planning attacksEthiopia said on Saturday 21st that it had arrested an unspeci-fied number of Islamist militant members of the Somali group al Shabaab and Islamic State who were planning to carry out attacks in the country on various targets including hotels.

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Control of Yemen territory (September 25th 2018)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Houthi

Pro Hadi Government Forces

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Controlled by Southern Transitional Council

YemenThe Arab Coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen said on Thursday 19th that it intercepted and destroyed an explosive-laden boat launched by Yemen’s Houthis from Hodeidah port. Col. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman of the coalition, said that the naval forces of the coalition spotted on Thursday morning an attempt by the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia to carry out an imminent hostile and terrorist act in the south of the Red Sea by using a booby-trapped boat and a drone launched from the Hodeidah governorate.

Houthis Detain Dozens of Civilians from Aden in Sana’aThe Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor noted that re-ports suggest that dozens of Yamani civilians are illegally de-tained and locked up by Houthi movement (The Ansar Allah movement). The Geneva-based group said that most of the arrests occurred at security checkpoints controlled by Houthis of people crossing from Aden to Sana’a. According to available data, the number of detainees during September reached 300 people and most of them are in Dhamar and Taiz prisons.

UAE continues providing fuel for power stationsThe United Arab Emirates (UAE), a key partner of the Saudi-led Arab coalition, continued on Sunday to provide fuel for elec-tricity stations to reduce power outages in the southern port city of Aden. Power outages rapidly increased during recent days in Aden, which has been hit by a scorching heat amid a lack of fuel for the power stations, an official of Aden’s local government confirmed to Xinhua.

UN welcomes Yemen rebels’ offer to halt attacks on Saudi ArabiaThe UN envoy for Yemen has said the Houthis’ offer to halt at-tacks on Saudi Arabia could bring an end to the devastating war in the country. News of the offer came a week after a crip-pling attack on Saudi oil facilities. The Houthi plan to cease drone and missile attacks in Saudi Arabia “could send a pow-erful message of the will to end the war,” Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said on Saturday 21st.

Houthis accuse Saudi-led coalition of ‘dangerous escalation’The Yemeni Houthi movement on Friday accused the Sau-di-led coalition of a dangerously escalation of the situation around Hodeidah after coalition forces attacked targets north of the port city. The actions threatened a U.N.-brokered cease-fire accord in the Red Sea port, Houthi spokesman Moham-med Abdul-Salam said.

UN chief urges restraint following reported Saudi-led assaultAn early morning strike on 20th Sept. in the vicinity of the Al Hali District of Hudaydah governorate-in the country’s western

coast- was carried out by a Saudi military operation, accord-ing to media reports. The assault comes after Yemen-based Houthi rebel forces launched two drone attacks on major Saudi oil facilities on 14 September, a violation of UN ceasefire agreements reached at peace talks in Sweden last year.

Yemen Houthis threaten UAE targetsYemen’s Houthi group said it identified dozens of sites in the United Arab Emirates as possible targets, an attempt to stress its military clout following a weekend attack on Saudi oil facili-ties, media reported on Sept. 19th.

Senior Saudi military commander killed in bomb explosion in Yemen A senior commander of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition forces and five of his bodyguards were killed in a bomb explosion in Yemen’s southeastern province of Hadramout on Thurs-day 19th. “A roadside bomb blast struck a military patrol of the Saudi-led coalition forces in the historic town of Shibam in Hadramout province,” said a government official who asked to remain anonymous.

UAE provides 12 tonnes of food supplements to hospitalsThe UAE has provided 12 tonnes of food supplements to hos-pitals in the Yemeni Governorate of Taiz, according to the of-ficial WAM news agency on Friday. The United Arab Emirates has provided these food supplements through its humanitar-ian arm the Emirates Red Crescent.

To see the latest threat analysis and Yemen port information in MASTOPDEIA, please click here.

MAST recommends BMP measures be enforced and watches strengthened during transits in the region.

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Migrant crossings 2016-2019. Source: UNHRC

MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Migrant statistics in the Mediterranean (Figures last updated on Sept. 24th 2019). Source: UNHCR

Mediterranean Interpol says it has detected more than a dozen suspected “foreign terrorist fighters” crossing the Mediterranean Sea during a six-week operation. The international police organisation carried out more than 1.2 million searches at ports in six countries between 24th July and 8th September. Operation Neptune II focussed on busy tourist routes between North Africa and southern Europe.

Ministers agree to temporary deal to distribute migrants ar-riving in Italy and MaltaFive European Union nations agreed on 23rd Monday to a temporary arrangement for disembarkation and relocation of migrants rescued in the central Mediterranean from unsea-worthy boats, with officials pushing for a wider deal involving more EU countries.

Spain saves 155 migrants off coastSpanish sea rescue workers have saved the lives of 115 mi-grants over the weekend off Spain’s southern coast. The number of arrivals in the country in general, however, has significantly decreased. The Europa Press news agency said that during two separate rescue missions, the sea rescue picked up 83 men, 17 women and 15 underage migrants.

Migrant shot and killed by Libyan Coast GuardA Sudanese man has been fatally shot in Libya after a group of migrants who had been intercepted off the coast resisted being taken to a detention center, UN agencies reported on Friday 20th. The 28-year-old man had been among a group of 103 migrants whose boat was stopped at sea by the Liby-an coast guard while attempting to cross the Mediterranean. The man was struck by a bullet in the stomach after armed men fired into the air when several migrants tried to escape, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

Italy to take in migrants from Ocean Viking rescue shipAid organization SOS Mediterranee said on Sunday 22nd that Italy would allow more than a hundred migrants to disem-bark from the vessel Ocean Viking. “The competent Italian authorities have assigned #Messina as place of safety for the 182 survivors on board the #OceanViking,” SOS Mediterranee said on Twitter.

The current migrant smuggling situationWith a new politcal will in Rome, we are finally seeing move-ment in the EU and a greater push to distribute migrants fairly among countries as well as greater levels of support for countres affected by migrant arrivals. Despite this new thawing in relations, there are still significant problems for migrants in Libya itself, highlighted by the fatal shooting of one refugee by Libyan Coast Guards. Security re-mains tenuous in the country, and repatriations to African nations are moving very slowly. As the conflict between the UN-backed government and the forces of Haftar’s LNA continue, it is unllke-ly that much will be achieved by UN agencies and NGOs within Libya itself.

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Control of Northern Libyan territory (Nov. 7th 2018)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Controlled by the Tobruk led government

Controlled by the Government of National Accord

Controlled by ISIS

Controlled by local forces

Controlled by Tuareg forces

MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

LibyaFive Western countries including the United States, as well as Turkey and the United Arab Emir-ates, support Libyan state oil firm NOC as the sole legitimate authority for the country’s energy sector, a joint statement said on Sunday 22nd. The move came after the eastern Libyan parallel government allied to Khalifa Haftar appointed a parallel board last week for a local unit of NOC, a move seen by diplomats as attempt to break away from the Tripoli headquarters.

Airstrikes by Libyan Army kill senior leaders from Haftar’s forces, Russian mercenariesFor the second day in a row, heavy fighting broke out on Sa-bea frontline between Libyan Army forces and Khalifa Haftar’s forces which carried out an attack Monday 23rd, aiming to seize control of Al-Aziziya town that links Tripoli and Gharyan. A source from the Volcano of Rage Operation said the Libyan Army forces under the command of the Presidential Coun-cil’s government had foiled an attack by Haftar’s forces on the frontline despite the intensity of the airstrikes helping the ground forces.

Clashes Escalate in TripoliThe Libyan National Army – led by Khalifa Haftar – said on Sun-day 22nd that its forces have made new advances on ground in the capital for the second day in a row against armed mili-tias loyal to Fayez al-Sarraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA).

Libya’s Army advances on strategic frontlines in southern TripoliThe Libyan Army forces have thwarted an attack by Khalifa Haftar’s forces on Sabea frontline, said the media office of Vol-cano of Rage Operation of the Presidential Council’s govern-ment. The media office added that the Libyan Army forces also foiled (Sunday 22nd) an attack by Haftar’s forces on Al-Sawani frontline and captured two fighters while they secured the Yarmouk Camp and Sawarikh Camp after a surprise attack by Haftar’s forces at dawn.

Partitioning oil sector will put Libya’s integrity “at grave risk”: NOC chairmanLibya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) condemned attempts to divide its subsidiary Brega Petroleum Marketing Company (BPMC), and rejected allegations that fuel supplies to the East-ern region are inadequate. NOC Chairman Eng. Mustafa San-alla said: “NOC rejects any attempts to partition and politicise Libya’s oil sector to serve narrow interests and foreign agen-das. Fuel supply to the Eastern and Central regions is more than adequate for civilian purposes. The real motive behind

this attempt is to set up a new illegitimate entity for the illegal export of oil from Libya.

28 illegal immigrants arrested in LibyaThe security department of the western Libyan city of Zu-waraon on Saturday 21st announced the arrest of 28 illegal immigrants who prepared to cross the sea into Europe. The immigrants, who are of African and Asian nationalities, were arrested inside a house in the nearby town of Abu-Kammash, said the department in a statement.

US meets with Haftar in push for peace talksAmerican media outlets reported on Sept. 20th that U.S. Am-bassador Richard Norland held talks in Abu Dhabi with “Field Marshal” Khalifa Haftar, who leads the so-called Libyan Na-tional Army.

U.S. Drone Attacks ISIS Fighters in Southern LibyaThe United States military carried out an airstrike against Is-lamic State fighters in southern Libya on Thursday 19th in a reminder of the terrorist group’s continuing operations and re-silience far from its main guerrilla strongholds in Iraq and Syria.

One person killed, 12 injured in indiscriminate shelling on mourners in BenghaziOne person was killed and at least 12 others, including women and children, were injured when indiscriminate rocket shells fell on a condolences tent in Bouhdima district of Benghazi. Local sources said the shells were fired from Majouri district, in memory of one of the so-called Dignity Operation members, killed in the war on Tripoli.

To read MAST’s Libyan Country report on MASTOPEDIA, please click here.

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MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Kidnap

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Gulf of GuineaOn Sunday 22nd, authorities in Moscow reported that three Russian seamen abducted in an act of piracy off the coast of Cameroon in August have been freed and brought to Germany. The Russians were part of a group of sailors, including Chinese and Ukrainian citizens, taken hostage in mid-August after an attack on their merchant ships in the Gulf of Guinea. In a statement, the Russian foreign ministry said they were “released from pirate captivity” and that their health was “satisfactory.”

Incidents: Nothing significant to report.

Suspected oil thieves set Agip pipeline ablaze in DeltaSuspected crude oil thieves have set fire on an oil pipeline, belonging to Italian oil giant Agip at Ubeta community in the Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the field is operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company, a subsidiary of Italy’s Eni. Ubeta is a border community between Bayelsa and Rivers States, sepa-rated by Orashi River, deep in the resource-rich Niger Delta.

Piracy reports on Nigeria is manipulated – NavyThe Nigerian Navy has warned the media against carrying the international piracy reports on Nigeria as credible news saying that, “Most of these are manipulated for their economic gains.’’Speaking at the third Ministerial stakeholders’ meeting in La-gos, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, said that these reports hurt businesses in Nigeria when they are published.

Shell Nigeria deploys HD aerial camerasShell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited has said it has deployed state-of-the-art high definition cameras for quick detection of and response to crude oil spills from its facilities. The oil major said that the cameras would also help in tracking vandalism of the SPDC joint venture assets.

12 suspected oil ‘thieves’ arrested in Uyo, NigeriaThe Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, Mbo Lo-cal Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has arrested 12 sus-pects, seized 50 drums of illegal Automated Gas Oil (AGO or diesel) and 486 bags of smuggled rice from them.

Ghana foils ‘elaborate coup plot’Ghana’s security forces have foiled “an elaborate plot” to tar-

get the presidency “with the ultimate aim of destabilising the country”, the information ministry says. A joint security opera-tion on Friday 20th led to the arrest of three people and seizure of several weapons, its statement said.

Oil theft cost Nigeria $1.35 bln, group urges legal task forceNigeria lost $1.35 billion to oil theft in the first six months of this year and needs a legal task force with special courts to tackle it, a government committee said on Thursday 19th. The com-mittee, set up to investigate theft from the miles of pipelines that snake through the country’s swampy, oil-rich Delta region, said the theft will only grow if the government does not take special action to combat it.

Niger Delta Militants threaten renewed hostilities if Prof. Charles Dokubo is sacked as Amnesty bossA Niger Delta militia group, the Reformed Niger Delta Aveng-ers (RNDA), has reiterated its warning to renew hostilities in the region by attacking oil facilities, if a cabal in the presidency succeeds in removing Professor Charles Dokubo as Coordina-tor of the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP).

Relief for ship owners as NPA waves charges for dry-docking of vesselsShip owners in the country have heave a sigh of relief as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) waves dues on vessels coming for dry-docking and maintenance on the nation’s territorial wa-ters. This move by the maritime industry watchdog is expected to attract more vessel owners to Nigeria rather than patroniz-ing foreign ship repair yards with attendant loss of capital flight.

To see MAST Services in the region, please click here. And and to read Nigeria’s country report, please click here.

10MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

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Suspicious Activity

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South East AsiaThree fishermen were feared to have been kidnapped on Monday (Sept 23) from a Malaysian fish-ing boat in the waters off Sabah, close to the sea border with southern Philippines. It was believed that seven kidnap-for-ransom masked gunmen in two pump boats boarded two fishing vessels at noon off Sabah’s Lahad Datu town. While the incident has been reported by regional media, there has so far been no official incdent report.

Incidents: Nothing significant to report.

PH Navy acquires 7 new fast attack crafts, amphibious vehi-clesThe Philippine Navy has acquired seven new fast attack crafts and amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) as the government in-tensifies its counter-terrorism operations. Among those newly-acquired are three multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC) mark III, four AAV and 22 other utility vehicles. The Philippine Navy said these units are in addition to the three missile-fitted fast attack craft that ushered the country’s naval force into the missile-age last year.

Curfew in ESSzone extended to Oct 8thThe curfew in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sa-bah Security Zone (ESSZone), which ends on Monday, has been extended until Oct 8th, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah. He said the curfew, from 6pm to 6am, coveres the waters off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran. “Those living in the af-fected areas should remain indoors; while outsiders will not be allowed to enter the waters there between 6pm and 6am.

As abductions continue, Sabah CM wants better security at hotspotChief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said that security must be improved at the sea border near Tambisan where the latest kidnapping incident took place last night. The area is just three nautical miles from international waters and the nearest point to the southern Philippines’ Tawi Tawi islands where militant groups like the Abu Sayyaf are known to reside.

PNP Maritime Group to get 22 high-speed boatsThe Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP-MG) is

considering the boosting of its boat fleet with the expected delivery next year of 22 high-speed tactical watercraft. The PNP-MG director, Brig. Gen. R’Win Pagkalinawan, told report-ers at Camp Crame last week that his unit’s fleet was only composed of 174 water assets nationwide with most of the high-speed tactical boats deployed to Mindanao.

Abu Sayyaf leader, 2 others surrender in BasilanThree members of the Abu Sayyaf terror group surrendered to authorities in Basilan on Saturday 21st, the military said. Khadaffy Kalitut, Aliman Langkasan and Jiyad Arabin turned themselves in to the 18th Infantry Battalion in Ungkaya Pukan town, and handed over their firearms.

China using fishing vessels for surveillance, control of West PH Sea – DNDChinese fishing vessels do more than just fish in the West Phil-ippine Sea, but are part of China’s strategy to control the re-source-rich waters and deny Filipinos access to their exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Department of National Defense (DND) said in a report. “Apparently, China has been utilizing fishing vessels to discreetly conduct surveillance, search and rescue operations as well as provide possible assistance to [Chinese] law enforcement agencies,” said the report signed by DND Undersecretary Cardozo Luna.

To see MAST’s services in the region, please click here.

11MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

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Central and South America Guyana Commissioner of Police Leslie James gave testimony at the Commission of Inquiry into the piracy attack in which over a dozen fishermen were killed off the coast of Suriname last May. As part of his testimony in Berbice, he recommended changes to the maritime and piracy acts in order to better enforce the acts as well as improve the fishing sector. He also stressed the need for aerial surveillance of the high seas.

Incidents: Nothing significant to report.

Standing advice: The repercussions of a vessel being caught acting as a mule with drugs stowed will depend on the type, amount and na-tional laws, but may be disruptive and costly. When and if operating in these areas, especially Columbia and Peru, it is advised that: • Potential stowage areas such as rudder shafts are denied as far as possible, and/or routinely searched. • Access points are closely monitored by a vigilant watch for the duration of the vessel’s call at port.

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Note: The forecasts are correct as of the day before publication. For latest updates please follow the provided links.

MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea

Severe Weather Warnings Warnings detailed on this page are from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and are issued by respective Regional Specialised Metrological Centres, Tropical Cyclone Centres or Na-tional Meteorological Services. For further information on severe weather warnings please click here.