Red Sea

Pirates Low Profile in Monsoon Season

NATO Shipping Centre promulgates its latest weekly piracy assessment for the 'High Risk Area' During the reporting period 7 – 13, June 2012, the number of piracy incidents in the High Risk Area (HRA) has remained low, with no incidents reported. Due to the South-West monsoon between June and September, sea conditions in the HRA are expected to be generally unfavourable for small boats. Pirate Activity Groups (PAG) will likely continue to focus their limited efforts in the Northern Arabian Sea (NAS), Gulf of Oman (GOO) as well as in the Gulf of Aden (GOA) and South Red Sea (SRS). Southern Red Sea (SRS)/Bab Al Mandeb (BAM) / Gulf of Aden (GOA)/Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC): There have been no significant changes over the past week. Masters are advised that fishing activity is expected to continue and likely increase in this area over the next few months. Arabian Sea (AS)/Greater Somali Basin (SB)/Gulf of Oman (GOO)/Mozambique Channel (MC): There have been no significant changes over last week in this region.      

Three Sailors Die When Fishing Boat Sinks

Three Egyptian sailors died and four are missing at sea after their fishing boat sank in bad weather off the coast of Port Said, the state-owned Middle East News Agency (MENA) said. The deaths were the first casualties reported since Egypt closed five ports on the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday because of bad weather. The Red Sea ports of Suez, al-Adabiyah and al-Zaytiyah were shut after wind speeds rose to 27 knots and waves reached 2.5 m

NMIA Issues Worldwide Threat Advisory

The U.S. National Imagery and Mapping Agency

Photo: MV Motivator Released by Pirates

As reported earlier, the Product Tanker MV Motivator was released from pirate control earlier this week. The Marshall Islands flagged vessel, which was pirated on in the Southern Red Sea on 4 July and has a crew of 18 Filipino nationals, was released on the 16 January approximately 160 nautical miles South- West of the island of Socotra near to the coast of Somalia.  The EUNAVFOR warship FS Jacoubet and the helicopter TORO06 from SPS Canaria assisted the crew immediately after their

Middle East Workboats 2011 Returns to Abu Dhabi

Middle East Workboats 2011, the region’s main event for workboat operators, builders and equipment suppliers, returns to Abu Dhabi at a time when the maritime industry is rapidly accelerating in countries across the Gulf. Renewed growth across maritime and related sectors (including harbor and escort tug business, support and servicing along with coastal construction, energy exploration and production and others) underscores the importance of this event.

Survey Ship Discovers Red Sea 'Grand Canyon'

Naval survey ship 'HMS Enterprise' nets stunning images of a Grand Canyon-style ocean floor hidden deep under the Red Sea. Discovering the 250 metre deep canyon after leaving the Egyptian port of Safaga the ship used her sophisticated EM1002 Multibeam echo sounder to create the 3D images, allowing the ocean floor to be seen for the first time. Commanding Officer of HMS Enterprise, Commander Derek Rae, said: “These features could be the result of ancient rivers scouring through the

Ship Seizures Broaden Piracy Challenge

Two ship seizures in the Indian Ocean in recent days appear to indicate that pirates have broadened their focus beyond the heavily patrolled Gulf of Aden. Pirates hijacked two chemical tankers: the Bahamian-flagged, Norwegian-owned vessel Bowasir March 25 and the Panamanian-flagged, Greek-owned Nipayia March 26, a Navy spokesman confirmed. Bowasir and its 23-member crew were operating more than 380 nautical miles southeast of Kismayo, Somalia

ART Marine Appoints Constantinou CEO

ART Marine, an Abraaj Capital portfolio company and the Middle East's largest importer and distributor of luxury motor-yachts, announced the appointment of a highly experienced CEO from the United States to drive its expansion in the region as demand for pleasure craft begins to recover. Demonstrating the Gulf's continued ability to attract some of the world's most talented professionals, Constantinos Constantinou joins Dubai-based ART Marine from Cobalt Yachts in Tenn

Sea Marshals Expands Operations Center

Sea Marshals has expanded its UK Operations Centre and introduced the latest tracking technology to protect vessels under its protection.   The company has transferred its Operations Centre to larger premises in Cardiff to accommodate its growing team of security consultants. The unit is staffed year-round, 24 hours per day, seven days a week, by expert personnel, most with Naval or Army backgrounds and experience in planning and tracking.  

Don't Throw it Over the Wall ...

Annex V of the MARPOL Convention aims to eliminate and reduce the amount of garbage being dumped into the sea from ships.  Amendments to Annex V were adopted by resolution MEPC.201(62), which entered into force on 1 January 2013. The revised Annex V prohibits the discharge of all garbage into the sea, except as provided otherwise.  For example, Annex V totally prohibits of the disposal of plastics anywhere into the sea