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Date: 17th July 2019Series 13/Issue 186

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.

Follow MAST on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep abreast with these insightful weekly reports and more — including real time security updates.

Editor: David Riderwww.mast-security.com

Issue 186

Contents:

Mast Services

Indian Ocean region

Gulf of Oman Incidents

Somalia

Yemen

Mediterranean

Libya

Gulf of Guinea

South East Asia

Central & South America

Severe Weather Warnings

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17th July 2019

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

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Issue 186 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.

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Hijack

Kidnap

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity Theft

Incidents: Nothing significant to report.

Emirati Product Tanker Goes Missing Near IranAmerican officials have raised concerns that Iran may have seized the 1,900 dwt product tanker Riah. On Tuesday 16th, in a statement carried by state news agency ISNA, an Iranian government spokesman said Iran’s navy had provided help to an unnamed tanker after the vessel suffered a mechanical casualty. “An international oil tanker was in trouble due to a technical fault in the Persian Gulf. After receiving a request for assistance, Iranian forces approached it and used a tugboat to pull it towards Iranian waters for the necessary repairs to be carried out.”

Threat level raised to ‘critical’ for UK ships in Iranian watersThe UK has raised the threat to British shipping in Iranian wa-ters in the Gulf to the highest level – where the risk of attack is “critical”. The step was taken on Tuesday 9th, amid growing tensions in the region. On Wednesday, Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker in the region – before being driven off by a Royal Navy ship, the MoD said.

HMS Montrose trains guns on Iranian shipsA Royal Navy frigate trained its guns on three Iranian boats seeking to force an oil tanker off its route through the Strait of Hormuz, it emerged. The incident took place on July 10th when three Iranian vessels, believed to be manned by forc-es from Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, were spotted speeding towards the BP-operated British Heritage tanker.

Iran’s IRGC enhances naval defense gear: reportThe Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy received on Monday 15th new equipment used for defense in modern war-

fare,. The IRGC Navy received apparatuses used for detection, pollution reduction, and protection against chemical, biologi-cal and radiological weapons, according to the report.

US plans Gulf naval escortsThe Pentagon said on Thursday 11th it was discussing mili-tary escorts for vessels in the Gulf one day after armed Iranian boats threatened a British oil tanker. The White House’s nomi-nee to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, said Washington was attempting to put together a coalition “in terms of providing military escort, naval escort to commercial shipping.”

China-led port project inches ahead in MyanmarMyanmar’s US$1.3 billion Kyaukphyu deep-sea port project, a China-backed scheme under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initia-tive (BRI), is one small step closer to realization. CITIC Group Corporation, the Chinese state firm leading the project, started this month a legally required environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) and preliminary geological survey, the first signs of on-the-ground progress for the mega-project.

Qatar Coast Guard Inaugurates New Naval Base & FleetQatar inaugurated a large naval base and new additions to its fleet during a ceremony on Sunday 14th. The new base is located in Al-Daayen, about 30 kilometres North of Doha on Qatar’s eastern coast. Qatar new large gas terminal (and gas fields) is located in the Northern part of Qatar, and one of the main mission of the reinforced Coast Guard will be to secure these important resources.

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

Indian Ocean Region The UK has brought forward plans to send a second warship to the Gulf amid rising tensions with Iran. HMS Duncan is currently in the Mediterranean and is expected to join HMS Montrose in the region next week. It comes after the UK government said Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker in the Gulf on Wednesday 10th.

5MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Current ThreatLimpet mines attached to hull. Attached below the waterline if the vessel is at anchor. Attached above the waterline if the vessel is underway and making way. The method of delivery when the target vessel is underway is most likely to be via fast boat at night, especially when there is no moon or moon is close to setting. In the attack on FJ anchorage, the delivery method may have been by swimmer delivery vehicles, but is believed more likely that fast boats were used.

PerpetratorsThere are no known non-state actors (terrorists) with the ca-pability to conduct attacks of this complexity in the maritime. We also believe that the recent Russian media led claims that these attacks were conducted by the Americans are implau-sible. While there is no hard evidence that elements of the Iranian military conducted the attacks, there is significant cir-cumstantial evidence to support the idea, given their track re-cord in the region. While it is possible they are aiming to place mines on parts of the hull that are unlikely to cause casual-ties, there are concerns given the cargo type of the vessels attacked in the GOO, that a major conflagration and total ship loss with a major loss of life, could occur.

Threat MitigationFor now at least, maintaining deniability is important to the Iranians. It is therefore, unlikely that they will press home an attack if they believe personnel on the vessel have spotted them. Furthermore, any evidence captured by the crew of the suspect attack / attack will undermine plausible deniability. A good lookout is key to preventing and deterring any ap-proach by a fast patrol vessel / Rhib. Security personnel have a key role to play in providing additional lookouts, advising the

Master on pattern of life and threat reduction, and in having personnel in place to ward off a potential attack.

Armed teams provide the greatest degree of deterrence and ultimately, protection, in the event that an approach is pressed home with an attempt to place limpet mines. It should be noted however:

• Many ports in the Middle East do not allow vessels with arms on board to enter port. • Shooting at possible Iranian military could escalate the situ-ation.

Other Mitigation Preventing injury from explosions near the waterline – keep crew away/minimise time spent in areas close to the water-line, typically the engine control room.

A full range of BMP 5 measures including both passive protec-tion and reporting. Aim to locate potential hostile craft early, and make an approach as difficult as possible.

MAST PackageMAST can offer armed and unarmed security teams equipped with Gen 2+ optical night sight

Please contact Mast Operations for a proposal tailored to your specific security requirements.

Gulf of Oman Incidents Saudi Arabia has blamed its rival Iran for the recent attacks on oil tankers along a key shipping route in the Gulf. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says his country “won’t hesitate” to tackle any threats, as tensions continue to rise in the region. On Thursday 13th, two tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman, a month after four others were targeted off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

The latest images released by the Pentagon and CENTCOM purport to show blast damage and a suspected IRGC patrol boat and personnel in proximity to the MV Kokuka Courageous. Iran denies the accusations.

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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

SomaliaKenyans, Americans, a Briton and Tanzanians were among 26 people killed when Islamist gun-men stormed a hotel in the Somali port city of Kismayo, officials said on Saturday, the deadliest attack in the city since insurgents were driven out in 2012. A car bomb exploded at the hotel in the southern port city while local elders and lawmakers were meeting on Friday (12th) night, before three gunmen stormed in, police said. Security forces took 11 hours to end the siege, they said.

Military strikes alone cannot defeat Al ShabaabAttacks by the militant Islamist group Al Shabaab are a regular occurrence in Somalia, particularly in the capital Mogadishu. Yet the raid on Friday 12th on a Kismayo hotel by militia armed with bombs and guns, which left 26 people dead and injured another 56, seems to have struck a chord. There are a number of reasons why. First, the southern port city has been relatively peaceful since 2012, when Al Shabaab was driven out. Sec-ondly, the victims included foreigners, among them an Ameri-can and a Briton, clan elders and a candidate for regional pres-ident. Thirdly, the onslaught lasted for more than 14 hours, as poorly equipped local police struggled regain control of the hotel.

Three al Shabaab militants killed in Lamu, KenyaThree suspected al Shabaab militants were on Monday 15th killed by the Rapid Border Patrol Unit shortly after an IED deto-nated. The explosion injured two police officers at a road along the Kiunga-Somalia border. The IED believed to have been planted by the militants was targeting security units on patrol in the area.

Somali Army Retakes Fresh Areas From Al Shabaab After Of-fensiveSomali National Army has taken new areas from al-Shabaab in Lower Shabelle region on Sunday 14th. The troops seized Yaaqbari Weyne, MadaxMarodi and Lego villages during op-eration. Colonel, Mohamed Abdullahi Arale who was leading

contingents from the 35th brigade of the 60th division con-firmed the news to state media.

Ethiopian Airlines commences direct flights to PuntlandEthiopia’s flag carrier Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has launched thrice-weekly direct passenger flights between Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and Somalia’s Puntland state on Monday, Garowe Online reports.

Air strikes target Al Shabaab campUnidentified aircraft conducted airstrikes targeting al Shabaab militants near Jilib town in Middle Jubba region in southern So-malia on July 11th. The strikes targeted a militant camp and ex-plosives-making facility. The strike killed dozens of al Shabaab militants, including the commander and deputy commander of al Shabaab police forces in Jilib.

IED detonated near police stationSuspected al Shabaab militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) near a police station in Waberi district in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on July 11.th The explosion injured one civilian. Somali police separately arrested two al Shabaab militants plotting assassinations on the outskirts of Mogadishu on July 11th.

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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

YemenSaudi Arabia’s military in Yemen has moved in to secure two strategic Red Sea ports and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait after its leading ally the United Arab Emirates substantially reduced its pres-ence there, four sources familiar with the matter said. The UAE has drawn down its numbers in some parts of Yemen, where it had set up large bases amid a four-year-old multi-layered war that is widely seen as a proxy battle between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran.

U.N. says Yemeni warring sides agree port ceasefire moves Yemen’s warring parties have agreed new measures to en-force a ceasefire and facilitate a troop pullback from the flash-point port of Hodeidah, the United Nations said on Monday. Representatives of the Iran-aligned Houthi movement and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government met on a U.N. ship in the Red Sea for talks on Sunday 14th and Monday 15th, a U.N. statement said.

Houthi Rebels In Yemen Say They Have Begun Withdrawing From 3 Strategic PortsHouthi rebels in Yemen say they have begun a withdrawal from three key strategic ports that serve as a vital lifeline for food and humanitarian aid into the war-torn country. If seen through, the withdrawal from the Red Sea port of Hudaydah, a key gateway for humanitarian aid into Yemen, as well as the ports of Ras Isa and Salif, would represent the first practical step by forces on the ground to implement an internationally-backed ceasefire agreed to in December.

Gov’t forces capture key military sites from HouthisForces loyal to Yemen’s internationally-backed government captured on Friday 12th a number of military sites from the Houthi rebels in the central province of al-Bayda, state-run Saba news agency reported. The Yemeni news agency said that “the armed forces launched an attack on the Houthi mili-tiamen and managed to liberate a number of key military sites in the mountainous areas in Natea front located to the north of al-Bayda province.”

UN urges Yemen Houthi court to review 30 death sentencesThe United Nations human rights office says that a court run by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has sentenced 30 men to death, add-ing that it has received “credible” allegations that many were tortured during three years of detention that appeared to be politically motivated.

From crafts to Kalashnikovs: arms souk thrives in Yemen’s TaezOnce overflowing with handicrafts, the old Al-Shinayni market

in Yemen’s third city of Taez is now bursting with Kalashnikovs and bullets as traders scramble to scratch out a living in the war-wracked country. Many civilians in tribal Yemen carry per-sonal arms even under normal circumstances and weapons trade is common. But the war has seen the arms market surge, and traditional trades pushed aside.

1.2 mln cholera vaccine doses reach Yemen’s capitalNearly 1.2 million doses of cholera vaccine arrived in Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa on Thursday 11th, local health author-ities said in a statement. The shipment arrived in Sanaa airport by a cargo plane belonging to UNICEF, the statement said.

UN extends Yemen monitor mission by six monthsThe UN Security Council voted unanimously Monday 15th to extend its ceasefire observation mission in the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah by six months, until January 15, 2020. It also called on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to deploy a full contingent of observers “expeditiously” in the mission, which is mandated to have 75 staff but currently only has 20 on the ground.

KSRelief agrees to $31m extension to Yemeni land mines clearance projectA Saudi land mines clearance project in Yemen is to run for another year thanks to an investment of almost $31 million (SR116 million). The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) has extended the contract for its MASAM initiative for one year, which will see Saudi and international experts continue to clear mines especially in the governorates of Marib, Aden, Sanaa and Taiz.

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 July 16th 2019). Source: UNHCR

Mediterranean UN agencies have appealed to European countries to restart government rescue operations for migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. More needs to be done to improve inhumane conditions for displaced people in Libya as well. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have called on the EU to implement a series of measures aimed at assisting people trapped in Libya or at risk of dying on the Mediterranean Sea. The suggestions include restarting a program of organized sea rescues.

Dutch shipowners call for safe harbours for rescued mi-grantsThere needs to be more safe harbors for asylum seekers and other migrants rescued from the Mediterranean sea, other-wise unsafe situations will arise on merchant ships, the Royal association of Dutch shipowners KVNR said to newspaper Trouw. According to the KVNR, captains are required by trea-ties to rescue people in need from the water. This means that commercial ships must rescue migrants they find on the Mediterranean on rickety boats. And once the migrants on aboard, it is very difficult to find a place to put them ashore, the shipowners said. European countries refuse to take them, and they cannot be dropped off in Libya because it is unsafe.

Germany calls for ‘coalition of the willing’ to take in mi-grants rescued from MediterraneanGermany has called for a “coalition of the willing” to take in migrants rescued while attempting to cross the Mediterra-nean to Europe. Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister, called for a core group of European Union countries to agree a scheme without waiting for approval from the rest of the bloc, the Daily Telegraph reported on July 15th.

Moroccan navy rescues 161 illegal migrants in Mediterra-neanThe Moroccan navy rescued 161 illegal migrants in the Medi-terranean on Friday 12th , the Moroccan official news agency, MAP reported a military source as saying. According to the source the migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were trying to cross to Spain when their rubber boats faced dif-ficulties in the sea, adding that they were safely returned to the kingdom’s ports in the Mediterranean.

The current migrant smuggling situationAn interesing week, politically, for the region. A number of news articles have called for an increased naval presence in the Med-iterranean and more efforts to protect migrants still trapped in Libya. The call for safe harbours from the Dutch shipowners asso-ciation is timely. There has been considerable disquiet among the Merchant Marine who transit the Med regarding the issues sur-rounding migrant rescue. No company wants their vessel stuck outside an Italian port, unable to disembark goods and refugees, for example. Equally, those same owners are well aware of what can go wrong, following the incident where migrants essentially took control of a ship, requiring military action to free the crew. Crossing numbers remain down, year on year, but the mortality rate continues to climb.

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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

LibyaAt least four people were killed and 33 wounded when two car bombs exploded at a funeral for a former special forces commander in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. Those killed in Thursday 11th’s blast included two civilians and two soldiers, while soldiers, police, and civilians were among the injured, Interior Ministry spokesman Tarek el-Kharraz told The Associated Press.

Libya’s Oil Revenue dropsLibya’s oil revenue dropped 11.2% to 14.3 billion dinars ($10,2 billion) in the first six months of 2019, compared with the same period last year, the central bank said on Monday 15th. Oil rep-resented 92.8% of the country’s total income during the period, the bank said in a statement. Revenue from foreign exchange fees stood at 11.1 billion dinars, the bank said in a statement. It also listed on a chart an allocation of $2.096 billion for state oil firm NOC, Reuters reported.

Heavy losses in Libya’s Islamist ranks trigger concern among supportersIn a sign of a possibly changing tide in the battle for Tripoli, ji-hadist spiritual guide Sadiq al-Ghiriani expressed concern that Libya’s most powerful Islamist militia was suffering heavy loss-es in its attempt to ward off the advance of the Libyan National Army. Ghiriani, the former grand mufti of Libya, said the Misrata militia had endured the “heaviest losses” in the fight against the Libyan National Army (LNA), which is trying to clear Tripoli of Islamists and various militias that control the city.

UN calls for the release of 5,600 immigrants from sheltersThe United Nations called for the release of 5,600 immigrants from accommodation centres in Libya and their evacuation to other countries. It also stressed that it would not allow another tragedy, such as the air strike of the migrant shelter in Tajoura district of Tripoli.

Water supply halted in Tripoli over armed attackWater supplies to the Libyan capital, Tripoli, have been halt-ed in the wake of an armed attack on the main power plant in southern Tripoli, the management of the Great Man-Made River Project said in a statement on Friday 12th.

Leading Daesh member reportedly killedA top Daesh/ISIS terrorist reportedly responsible for media outreach was killed while working with Khalifa Haftar-affiliated forces in Libya, said a media organ affiliated with the terrorist group. Mohamed Bin Ahmed al-Falata was killed “by forces of the Libyan army,” reported a magazine affiliated with the ter-

rorist group.

Libya asks France to explain how its arms reached Haftar forcesLibya’s United Nations-recognised government on Thursday 11th demanded urgent answers after Paris conceded French missiles were found at a base used by renegade military com-mander Khalifa Haftar whose forces are fighting to take over the capital Tripoli.

Ammunition container in Sirte explodes of high temperaturesSpokesman of the Security and Protection Force of Sirte, Taha Hadid said that the sound of the explosion heard in the city was of ammunition container, which exploded because of high temperature, confirming that there were no casualties among their forces. Hadid denied that the cause of the explosion was of an aerial bombardment or a car bomb as circulated by pro-Haftar media.

Power outages add to the misery caused by Libya’s ongoing fightingLibyans in Tripoli and most western cities as well as in the south are enduring long hours of power cuts due to a wave of heat that is hitting the country coupled with the impact of the current fighting in southern Tripoli on power plants and elec-tricity generating units. In Tripoli, power load shedding hours can go as long as 14 a day, leaving people in complete misery as they have to endure a compulsory stay-in due to the ongo-ing fighting on different frontlines in southern Tripoli.

Libyan MPs vow to resolve current crisisA delegation of Libyan member of the parliament conclud-ed its visit to Cairo on Monday 15th after being invited by the Egyptian parliament. The members of the delegation- more than 70 members of parliament- stressed that the Libyan parliament must have a key role in solving the country’s crisis since its members were elected to represent the people’s will.

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

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Hijack

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

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Gulf of GuineaA group of 10 Turkish sailors has been been kidnapped by pirates off the coast of Nigeria. It is believed they are being held for ransom. The company that operate the ship said there are no initial reports of injuries. This ship was not carrying freight and another eight sailors managed to escape the kidnap, the BBC reported. MAST assesses that this refers to Incident 1, listed below.

Incidents: 1. Underway MV attacked by five to seven armed men in two skiffs at 2250 UTC in position 02:58N – 004:40E, approx 117nm SW of Brass, Nigeria. Investigation ongoing. Reported (MDAT) 13th July.

2. Fishing vessel attacked and boarded eight armed men in a speedboat at 2100 UTC in position 04:12N - 008:53E approx 6nm West of Idenao, Cameroon. Four crew reported abduct-ed as the perpetrators escaped. Reported (MDAT/Source) 8th July.

3. Anchored MV boarded at 0330 UTC in position 04:44S - 011:47E, off Pointe Noire, Rep of Congo. Vessel boarded by two unarmed persons who stole two ropes and fled in a white skiff. Vessel and crew were reported safe. Reported (MDAT) 7th July.

One Earth Future report makes grim readingWest Africa is turning into the world’s piracy hotspot according to One Earth Future, which produces an annual State of Mari-time Piracy report. The newly released 2018 statistics show a decline in the number of incidents of hijacking, kidnapping and robberies in East Africa. West Africa, on the other hand, record-ed an alarmingly increase in pirate attacks from 54 incidents in 2015 to 112 in 2018.

Security Remains Major Challenge in Niger Delta - ShellShell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has said security remains a major challenge due to continuing crude oil theft and vandalism of oil and gas facili-ties in parts of the Niger Delta. The comany noted that the illegal activities result in the loss of 11,000 Barrels Per Day of crude oil.

Boost for Scots oil and gas firm in NigeriaEland Oil & Gas has received a boost after the Nigerian gov-ernment approved the company’s plans to develop another field in Nigeria. Aberdeen-based Eland said the country’s Pe-troleum Directorate had given the green light to its proposals for the onshore Gbetiokun field, which the company expects will deliver a big boost to production.

Navy destroys N8.4b of crude oilAround 131,085 barrels of crude oil and 29,612,202 litres of illegally refined products valued at about N8.4 billion have been destroyed by the Nigerian Navy (NN) between Janu-ary and June 2019. Also destroyed were 227 illegal refineries, 2,688 storage facilities and 364 wooden boats while 11 barges and 32 vessels were impounded, the Nigerian Navy reported.

Nigeria’s Waters As Haven for PiratesThe recent admission by the former Minister of Transporta-tion, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, that the security situation in the maritime sector has become bad and last Monday’s Q2 report by the International Maritime Bureau naming Nigeria as a hotbed of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, leaves much to be de-sired. As stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry await the deployment of the $195 million maritime security equip-ments approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, a not very cheery news broke last Monday about the increasing pirates attacks on Nigeria’s territorial waters.

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

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

Hijack

Kidnap

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

Theft

South East AsiaAn alleged sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was killed after he allegedly resisted ar-rest during an operation conducted by a joint military and police units in Lantawan, Basilan on Monday 15th. A report from Major Arvin Encinas, Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) spokesperson, identified the slain suspect as Arod Wahing, said to be a Sulu-based ASG sub-leader working under the command of Radulan Sahiron.

Incidents: Nothing significant to report.

Esszone curfew extended again to July 25thThe curfew in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sa-bah Security Zone (Esszone), which ends today, will be extend-ed until July 25th. Sabah police commissioner Omar Mammah said in a statement today that the curfew from 6pm to 6am covers the waters off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.

1 dead, 4 injured in Abu Sayyaf encounter in Basilan — mili-taryAn armed militia man was killed while four civilians were wounded in an encounter Sunday in Basilan with unidenti-fied men believed to be Abu Sayyaf group members, the mili-tary said. The Western Mindanao Command reported that at around 8 a.m., a barangay peacekeeping action team outpost at Sitio Bohe Pahut, Barangay Central Sumisip was harassed by reported Abu Sayyaf members under sub-group leader Pasil Bayali.

Cagayan braces for typhoon #FalconPHThe members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) region 2 has warned all lo-cal councils and the public to be alert and take precaution-ary measures for the possible effects of tropical depression “Falcon”. Romeo Ganal, weather specialist of the Philippine At-mospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the tropical depression has already entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) moving north northwest heading towards northern Luzon area.

Taiwan Coast Guard saves crew of Hong Kong yacht near dis-puted Dongsha IslandThe Coast Guard on Friday July 12th assisted the four passen-gers of a Hong Kong-registered yacht drifting around near the disputed South China Sea island of Dongsha after engine fail-ure. Around noon Friday, the local division of the Coast Guard spotted a yacht drifting about 4.3 nautical miles north of the island, the Central News Agency reported. The Hong Kong-registered vessel had lost engine power, and the Coast Guard supplied food and mechanical parts to repair the engine.

P1.2-M worth of smuggled cigarettes seized in Port of Zam-boangaA total of 2,125 reams of smuggled cigarettes amounting to P1.2 million were confiscated at the port of Zamboanga on Wednesday July 10th. According to the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the illegal shipments were uncovered on board three passenger vessels: MV Mama Mia, MV Mary Joy 1 and MV Asian Stars, all from Jolo, Sulu.

Malaysia: Blitz on illegals, fish bombingThe Fisheries Department and Immigration Department have joined forces with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agen-cy (MMEA) in conducting special operations to eradicate un-documented immigrants, illegal use of pump boats and fish bombing activities in the State. Since the deaths of the three divers, believed to be the first case of recreational divers killed by fish bombing activities off Semporna waters, the marine po-lice and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in particular have stepped up operations statewide.

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Hijack

Kidnap

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

Theft

Central and South America Nothing significant to report.

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

Western North Pacific Ocean and South China 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.