Maritime: Intelligence Report Series

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30th December 2015 Issue: 5

Intelligence

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This weeks report continues to follow the developing security situations in Libya and Yemen, as well as detailing reports on security instances and news from around the world.

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The Maritime Intelligence Report Series focuses on:

Areas of instability which could affect the passage or port call of your vessel;

Changes or impediments to navigation/restrictions of; and

Charts and analysis detailing piracy, suspicious approaches, boardings and hijackings.

MAST has a global reach and presence, delivering first hand, accurate and exclusive intelligence. MAST is entrenched and committed in continuing to support and promote the awareness of the very real risks that seafarers and stakeholders face.

This Intelligence Report Series is a brief snapshot of MAST’s Intelligence capabilities. MAST Intelligence specialises in providing clients with a suite of products, including; detailed port and vessel security briefs, vessel passage plans, threat and risk mitigation, travel risk management.

Working closely in conjunction with a host of experts, MAST Intelligence offers a market leading service pertaining to all maritime affairs.

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

Yemen

- Update

- Aden

South China Sea

Libya and Southern Mediterranean

- Update

- National Oil Company (NOC)

- Mediterranean Migrant Crisis

Regional theatres of piracy, crime, terrorism and news

- Indian Ocean Region

- Gulf of Guinea

- South East Asia

- Central & South America

IMO News

Mast Services

Editor: Alexander Farrow

“Making the maritime environment a safer place to live and work”

Foreword Contents

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Yemen UPDATE:

The UN has urged the pro Hadi government forces and Houthi rebels to respect the ceasefire and return to negotiations.

Peace talks are planned to resume in January.

Severe fighting has continued on both sides, with gains made by the Saudi led coalition towards the Houthi controlled capital Sana.

Kuwait is set to send ground troops into Yemen to support the Saudi led coalition.

Control of Yemen territory (18th December 2015)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Houthi

Pro Hadi Government Forces

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Aden Unknown gunmen suspected of belonging

to the Yemen based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula shot and killed a prominent judge in Yemen's southern port city of Aden on Tuesday.

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China claims nearly all of the islands in the South China Sea. The waters surrounding the islands are believed to be rich in resources. The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam all lay claim to the disputed islands and waters.

Aside from the countries also claiming the islands, many countries do not recognise China’s claim and challenge China’s grip on the area.

Challenging China’s jurisdiction over the area is key to ensuring that China doesn’t continue to strengthen the grip it already has. Foreign warships and commercial ships sailing as ‘normal’ through the area will contribute to this.

The Chinese have been extending reefs and building infrastructure and populating these islands. The total land area of the Spratly Islands is less than 3 square miles.

The region is the world’s second busiest international sea lane. More than half of the world's super tanker traffic and 30% of all global maritime trade passes through the Spratly Island waters.

Shipping, by tonnage, through the Spratly islands is dominated by raw materials en-route to East Asian countries.

South China Sea

Chinese construction in the disputed Spratley Islands

Source: Philippine Government

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Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Libya UPDATE:

The UN security council has endorsed the Libyan government of national unity.

Italian Prime Minister Renzi has met Libya’s Government of National Accord

(GNA) Prime Minister designate Faiez Serraj. Renzi has pledged strong support in areas of development, security, fighting terrorism and in fighting illegal migration.

On a separate occasion, Libya’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Al-Dairi (Tobruk based government) has stated that Libya does not need any foreign intervention to cope with threats to its security, including terrorism. It just needs better weapons, as well as some help “in training and planning”.

Mediterranean Migrant Crisis

Migrant numbers are falling

116,579 estimated to have crossed in November

Down from 220,535 in October

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2014

2015

National Oil Company (NOC):

There have been no developments since lasts weeks news (below).

The NOC (Eastern based) has signed an agreement with Egyptian General

Petroleum Company to sell 2 million barrels of crude a month.

The Tripoli (Western based) branch of the NOC has strongly criticised this

and has stated that they solely reserve “all rights to hold any party responsi-

ble for the entire legal liabilities and consequences arising thereof” from

activities related to the Libyan oil. It also warned that “any operations that

are conducted outside the legal validity represented in the National Oil

Corporation whose headquarters are located in Bashir Sadawai Street in

Tripoli are considered an explicit breach of the law.”

Source: UNHCR

82,472 migrants have reportedly made the crossing over the Mediterranean Sea so far in December. Although the numbers are dropping, they are still extremely high for this time of year, over 9 times that of 2014 in December.

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Libya Indian Ocean Region

Incidents

Hijack

Boarding

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

Nothing significant to report

1st December 2015 HRA limits

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Gulf of Guinea Gulf of Guinea

Hijack

Boarding

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

Nothing significant to report

Incidents

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South East Asia

Incidents China: At Caofeidian anchorage, on the 29th December at

position 38°47’7N 118°16’2E five robbers in a large boat came

alongside and attempted to board an anchored bulk carrier.

The crew spotted the boat, raised the alarm and the crew

mustered. Seeing the alerted crew the robbers aborted and

moved away.

Hijack

Boarding

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

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Central and S. America

News

Standing advice: The smuggling of drugs on board merchant vessels is far from a new phenomenon. For every load which is caught, countless numbers undoubtedly slip

through undetected. This is very much a localised issue within South and Central America. The repercussions of a vessel being caught with drugs stowed will depend on

the type, amount and national 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.

Hi-Jack

Boarding

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

Nothing significant to report

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IMO News

Supplement to the International Convention on Standards of Training,

Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) entering into force as

of January 1st, 2016. For the full amendment click here

MAST Services MAST has the experience, capability and global presence to provide comprehensive

support to our clients:

Counter piracy

Physical security

Training services

ISPS services

Consultancy & risk management

Travel management

Explosives ordnance management/disposal

Technical security system design and installation

Security prevention and response services

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