Black Sea Grain Deal Talks Bring Little Progress
Talks on extending a July deal that resumed Ukraine Black Sea grain and fertilizer exports are not making much progress because Russian concerns are not being taken into proper account, Russia’s U.N. ambassador in Geneva said on Thursday.Senior United Nations officials are negotiating with Russia to extend and expand the July 22 deal that could expire next month if an agreement is not reached.“I wouldn’t say that much has been achieved as a result of the latest consultations.
Russia is Prepared to Quit Black Sea Grains Deal
Moscow has submitted concerns to the United Nations about an agreement on Black Sea grain exports, and is prepared to reject renewing the deal next month unless its demands are addressed, Russia's Geneva U.N. ambassador told Reuters on Thursday.The agreement, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July, paved the way for Ukraine to resume grain exports from Black Sea ports that had been shut since Russia invaded. Moscow won guarantees for its own grain and fertilizer exports.The…
Stranded Seafarers Escape Ukraine, Others Trapped
A portion of the estimated 1,000 seafarers trapped in Ukraine have escaped, the International Labour Organization and industry officials told Reuters, voicing concern for those remaining trapped onboard ships or unaccounted for.Several foreign cargo ships have been struck by crossfire in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on Feb. 24. U.N. agencies have called for urgent action to protect some 1,000 seafarers from at least 20 countries, including in the besieged city of Mariupol…
Mozambique: Ferry Carrying Survivors from Deadly Militant Attack on Gas Town Arrives in Pemba
A boat carrying more than 1,000 survivors of a highly organized, deadly attack by Islamic State-linked insurgents in northern Mozambique arrived in the port of Pemba on Thursday, a Reuters reporter and a diplomatic source said.Aid workers were at the crowded port to give food to those disembarking from the green and white ferry, while police and soldiers kept control of crowds of people excited to see their relatives rescued after the attack that began last week in Palma, the reporter said.Islamist insurgents have been increasingly active in the surrounding province of Cabo Delgado since 2017…
Course on Enhancing Maritime Security
How do you deal with maritime crimes at sea - and how do you train others to do so? These are the skills being taught on the latest in a series of regional training of trainers courses on combating insecurity in the maritime domain.Participants from 18 countries have attended the course, at the Mohammed Bin Naif Academy for Maritime Science and Security Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (30 June - 11 July).Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen were the participants.Participants learned teaching skills.
Coast Guard Training in Kenya
Senior officials from the newly established Kenya Coast Guard Services are undergoing training on coast guard functions at a national workshop in Mombasa, Kenya (24-28 June), said a press note from International Maritime Organization(IMO).The UN body said that fifteen participants are taking part in the training, which is using scenario development methodology and plenary discussions to highlight issues, identify insights and develop deeper understanding of effective ways to meet coastguard functions – with a view to enhancing maritime security in Kenya.The training is organized by the United Kingdom and IMO, under the auspices of the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct.It is supported by a joint team from the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA)…
Kenya Trains Maritime Security Officials
Maritime law enforcement officials from Kenya are taking part in a two week training course on best practices for visit, board, search and seizure of vessels, in Mombasa, Kenya (11-22 February).The multi-agency course brings together 30 officials to learn skills for effective coordination in combating maritime crimes and procedures used to successfully board and search a vessel of interest.The training is part of International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s support for implementing the Jeddah Amendment to Djibouti Code of Conduct 2017, a regional agreement against maritime crime in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean area, which…
APM Terminals Opens Aqaba Logistics Village Expansion
APM Terminals, with local Jordanian partner Kawar Group, officially opened the expanded Aqaba Logistics Village (ALV) on November 12th, with a formal ceremony attended by Jordanian Prime Minister His Excellency Abdullah Ensour, the Minister of Transport His Excellency Ayman Hatahet and Chief Commissioner of Aqaba Special Economic Zone, His Excellency Hani Mulki, among other dignitaries. The newly completed ALV Phase 2 facility includes 13,000 square meters (3.2 acres) of multi-purpose warehousing alongside 40,000 square meters (9.8 acres) of open yard. ALV Phase 2 has been designed to allow the flexibility of handling a wide variety of cargoes as regional and international trading patterns continue to evolve in the Middle East.
Australia, US Alliance on Display for Talisman Sabre
More than 33,000 U.S. and Australian personnel will participate in the biennial military training exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 in Australia July 4-19. Talisman Sabre, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defence Force Headquarters Joint Operations Command, will incorporate U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force as well as other government agencies from each country. Featuring 21 ships, including the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and more than 200 aircraft and three submarines, this sixth iteration of the exercise will focus on joint training of a combined task force of U.S.
Suspected pirates released by EU NAVFOR
Following the detention of the skiff and suspected pirates by the EU NAVFOR German warship Brandenburg on 7 Sep 2009, when the skiff refused to obey the command to stop, the four individuals involved in the incident have now been released, on order of the EU NAVFOR Force Commander, and left the warship en route to Somalia. All their pirate equipment (including weapons) has been confiscated and will be destroyed. The body of the suspected pirate who was wounded (and later died of his wounds) remains onboard the warship Brandenburg until arrangements to repatriate him are in place. Local authorities in Somalia and the International Committee for the Red Cross are being consulted.
