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Contents:

Libya

- Update

- Analysis

Yemen

- Update

- Analysis

- Port Aden

Regional theatres of piracy, crime, terrorism and news

- Indian Ocean Region

- Gulf of Guinea

- South East Asia

- Central & South America

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The Maritime Intelligence Report Series focuses on:

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Changes or impediments to navigation/restrictions

of; and

Charts and analysis detailing piracy, suspicious

approaches, boarding's and hijackings.

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Editor: Alexander Farrow

24th February 2016 Issue 13

Issue 13 of the series continues to follow the developing conflicts in Yemen and Libya, as well

as detailing reports on security instances and news from around the World.

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

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Controlled by the Council of Deputies and Libyan National Army

Controlled by the New General National Congress and Libya Shield Force

Controlled by so called ‘ISIS’

Control of Northern Libyan territory

(23rd February 2016)

Libya UN envoy Martin Kobler travelled to Tobruk on Sunday (21st Feb) to assist with a vote

of confidence on a national unity government. The vote should have been held on the 23rd February but has been postponed for yet another week.

It is reported that there has been heavy fighting in Benghazi.

“Making the maritime environment a safer place to

live and work”

ISIS briefly took control of Sabratha, west of Tripoli, opening up a new front within Libya. The IS militants reportedly executed several members of the defending security forces before withdrawing.

ANALYSIS:

The House of Representatives in Tobruk have failed to convene in order to vote on the endorsement of the national unity government. Once/if this vote of endorsement has been carried, a further vote for it’s appointment is necessary. Martin Kobler is keen to push this vote through as soon as possible as it appears that there is mounting reluctance to endorse it as time goes by and for changes to be made to the proposed agreement. It has been reported that the main concerns surround the size of the Presidency Council and

disagreement on several prominent cabinet positions.

ISIS is often considered to be responsible, or claims responsibility, for attacks but there are many insurgent groups, or lone operators in Libya with varying motives. It is likely that ISIS is often given the ‘credit’ for attacks which perhaps should not be attributed to them. This attribution makes ISIS seem far more sizable, capable and organised than they perhaps are in reality.

Sabratha

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Houthi

Pro Hadi Government Forces

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Control of Yemen territory (21st February 2016)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Yemen AQAP temporarily gained control over the strategic coastal town of Ahwar, but failed to

consolidate control.

The BBC has found evidence in Yemen that troops from a Saudi-led coalition force and AQAP militants are both fighting Houthi rebels in a key battle for the city of Taiz.

“Making the maritime environment a safer place to

live and work”

ANALYSIS:

AQAP now control a significant proportion of the Southern Yemen coastline. The Saudi-led collation and Houthi rebels seem to have little appetite to oppose AQAP. AQAP efforts have been focused on consolidating control over key strategic towns, the majority of which they now control in the south. In light of a string of successful takeovers, AQAP’s next move could be to step up assassinations, sabotage and bombings in Aden. Alternatively, if AQAP is satisfied with internal progress and territorial gains, efforts may be directed towards targeting vessels in the GoA.

6th February 2016

Port Aden:

The port of Aden is now under the protection of the Republic of Yemen security forces.

Curfew in effect for Aden, 2000-0500 daily.

Merchant vessels wishing to enter Yemeni ports must first apply for a permit through the Yemeni Ministry of Transportation; contact: yemen.transport@gmail.com for more information.

Final clearance to enter Yemeni ports (with permits in place) is authenticated by the coalition guard ship.

Aden is the only port in Yemen currently able to facilitate container vessels. The container terminal has recently increased its capacity.

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“Making the maritime environment a safer place to

live and work”

Indian Ocean Region EU support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has been reduced due to

financial constraints.

Hijack

Kidnap

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

Theft

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Incidents

India: On the 19th February robbers in 4 fishing vessels approached and boarded a rig towed by a Singapore flagged tug, underway at 1445 LT in position 21°14’4N 072°16’6E around 11nm SSE of Alang, India. The tug’s crew noticed robbers stealing the rig’s properties. After around 1 hour 5 minutes, another 2 fishing vessels came alongside the rig. The tug raised the alarm, sounded 5 short blasts, and the crew mustered. Vessel traffic service and local police were informed.

Analysis

A review of EUNAVFOR’s operational presence in the HRA is due in December 2016. Can a prediction for a parallel be drawn between the reduction of EU funding of AMISOM and future EUNAVFOR funding? Quite

possibly. As a result of the HRA security framework being so effective, levels of piracy in the HRA is minimal compared to other piracy hotspots. It is increasingly hard to justify the resources and expense of EUNAVFOR. It is likely that if the HRA status quo continues, EUNAVFOR and other naval frameworks will be reduced from December 2016.

Instances of successful piracy are easily measured, but it is harder to assess the level of terrorism and other threats that have been deterred or suppressed due to naval presence and other elements of the security framework; BMP 4 measures and use of armed guards. The continuous reduction of this framework will increase the likelihood of not just piracy, but instances of terrorism and other maritime crime.

1st December 2015 HRA limits

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“Making the maritime environment a safer place to

live and work”

Gulf of Guinea

Hijack

Kidnap

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

Incidents Nigeria: Update-Panama flagged MT Maximus, hijacked 11th February, has been rescued by the Nigerian Navy with several pirates captured, 1 killed. 2 of the 18 crew remain missing, held by 2 pirates who escaped in a boat approximately 269nm SW of Lagos, Nigeria. The tanker was escorted into Lagos harbour on the 22nd February. The Nigerian Navy paraded 6 suspected pirates it arrested for hijacking an oil tanker. Analysis Why the vessel was pirated by Nigerian pirates so far from the destination of cargo transfer is unclear, but does demonstrate the length pirates are prepared to go to. Due to its reduced price, oil theft is less profitable. In coming weeks and months, it is likely pirates will turn to the more profitable kidnap and ransom of crew, especially after the foiling of the MT Maximus case where oil theft failed, but kidnap didn’t. It is still unclear

though if the pirates intend to ransom the kidnaped sailors. Equatorial Guinea: On the 20th February MV reported approached by a speedboat at 1430 UTC in position 02°32’N 008°13’E, around 45nm S of Bioko island, Equatorial Guinea. The vessel was reportedly approached and the attackers attempted to board the vessel. Nigeria: On the 23rd February MV reported coming under attack at 0825 LT in position 03°43’N 005°19’E, approximately 64nm SW of Brass, Nigeria. The perpetrators boarded the vessel and were said to have kidnapped 2 crew members. Remaining crew were able to secure in the citadel. Vessel in lockdown. News Nigeria: On the 22nd February, Tompolo denied issuing any ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw military from the region or he would blow up oil pipelines. To read the full article click here.

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“Making the maritime environment a safer place to

live and work”

South East Asia Nothing Serious to Report

Hijack

Boarding

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

Theft

News:

China has accused the US of militarising the disputed South China Sea through it’s air and naval patrols—to read the full article click here.

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“Making the maritime environment a safer place to

live and work”

Central and South America

Hi-Jack

Boarding

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity

1

Incidents

1. U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: On 14th January, a French citizen en-route from South Carolina, USA, via the Ba-hamas to Guadeloupe in a sailing yacht, anchored over-night on the southwest coast of St. Croix, near Limetree Bay. The following morning he was approached by a big fishing boat and boarded by 3 young men. The men threatened him and punched him in the face and then slashed his lower left leg with a machete. They forced him to go down below and open his safe and bring up money. When it "wasn’t enough" they shot him in the right thigh at close range, shattering his femur, severely wounding him. The captain was then left on the floor of his drifting boat when the men departed. The captain, although bleeding profusely and in severe pain, was able to manoeuvre his boat back into the industrial

harbour alongside a tug. A tug crewmember summoned the police and ambulance. The victim was transported to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for his serious injuries, some 3 hours after the initial attack.

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“Making the maritime environment a safer place to

live and work”

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