National Police News

The United States and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) on Thursday signed a remote shiprider agreement enabling the U.S. to act on behalf of the country to combat illicit maritime activity when an FSM law enforcement officer is not present.FSM is a nation with over six hundred islands in the Pacific, and the agreement provides a coordinating mechanism and process for U.S. law enforcement personnel to work with the FSM National Police through command centers to receive approval from the FSM to act.

What are the implications of the conflict in Cabo Delgado for maritime security in East Africa and the Mozambique Channel?Following the recent attacks on the coastal town of Palma in March-April by Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jamamah (ASWJ) insurgents in Mozambique’s troubled Cabo Delgado region, it is pertinent to assess the future trajectory of the conflict in the commercial maritime domain and the challenges it may pose to trade within the region. During the battle for Mocimboa da Praia…

Damen Shipyards Gorinchem has hosted the naming ceremony of a Damen Stan Patrol (SPa) 2005 for the Dutch National Police. The new vessel – named P64 – marks the second vessel in a six-ship contract between Damen and the Dutch Police.The Dutch Police will use the new SPa 2005 for deployment on the Netherlands’ extensive inland waterways. The vessel’s aluminium hull and FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer) superstructure will provide the lightweight means required for fast and effective police patrol operations.

Indonesian police on Thursday questioned the captain and crew of a luxury yacht in Bali at the request of U.S. authorities, probing alleged money laundering at a Malaysian state fund, they said. The yacht was impounded in Bali on Wednesday amid a multi-billion dollar corruption investigation launched by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and tied to Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Police seized the yacht, Equanimity, after receiving a letter on Feb. 21 from the U.S.

Marine News showcases the best of North America’s 2017 workboat deliveries. There is something for everyone. Notwithstanding the lingering offshore energy downturn, there were plenty of bright spots for North American shipyards in 2017. If a hull was delivered in 2017, we took a look at it, with several areas as a focus for inclusion into this edition. For starters, it is always exciting when a domestic yard delivers a vessel – or multiple vessels, for that matter – to foreign buyers. We can compete in a foreign arena; on price, quality and on-time delivery. This year was no different. No less important is the environmental footprint of a vessel, and there was plenty to report on from that angle in the past 12 months. The domestic waterfront is indeed getting greener and cleaner.

A national table-top exercise on maritime security concluded in Tegucigalpa, Honduras (28-29 August). The aim of the event was to encourage a multi-agency approach to maritime security and maritime law enforcement issues. The exercise also highlighted the need for an integrated approach to the implementation of SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPSCode. Broader security measures were looked at with a view to strengthening national implementation of the special measures to enhance maritime security. Under the guidance of International Maritime Organization (IMO) consultants, participants reviewed and discussed a number of possible maritime and port security scenarios and identified gaps and opportunities for improvement…

Metal Shark’s stock boats program shakes up the patrol boat game; here and across the big pond. If the news that Louisiana-based boatbuilder Metal Shark is ramping up production to build an inventory of stock vessels, with the goal of reducing lead times and enhancing service sounds familiar, but perhaps not on this side of the big pond, that’s because the move truly represents an innovative concept for North American builders. Savvy shipbuilding stakeholders everywhere, of course, know that Netherlands-based Damen has been doing it (successfully) for years. That kind of program, however, isn’t easily pulled off, nor should it be undertaken lightly.

Louisiana-based boatbuilder Metal Shark has announced several new contracts with Latin American and Caribbean operators, further expanding the company’s presence in the region. At a recent ceremony with Puerto Rico’s Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla in San Juan, the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) officially commissioned its first three Metal Shark 36-foot Fearless-class center console patrol boats. The welded-aluminum offshore center console vessels have been designed to operate at speed in the large ocean swells prevalent off the Puerto Rican coastline. Featuring high performance ventilated stepped-bottom running surfaces and powered by triple 300-horsepower Mercury Verado engines, the PRPD’s new patrol boats achieve speeds up to 55 knots.

The U.S. government has approved the sale to the government of the Philippines of two Sea Giraffe radars and related equipment, support and training for about $25 million, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Wednesday. The Philippines requested the sale to improve monitoring of its territorial waters. The radars will be installed on two Philippines Navy ships and the principle contractors will be VSE Corp and Saab. The radar sale will allow the Philippines to beef up its maritime security and helps reinforce an important U.S. regional security relationship at a time when Washington is concerned about what it sees as China's overreaching claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines has for decades been one of the closest U.S.

Three passenger boats return migrants from Lesbos, Chios; desperate migrants continue to cross despite deal. The first migrants deported from Greek islands under a disputed EU-Turkey deal were shipped back to Turkey on Monday in a drive to shut down the main route by which a million people fleeing war and poverty crossed the Aegean Sea in the last year. Under the pact criticised by refugee agencies and human rights campaigners, Ankara will take back all migrants and refugees who enter Greece illegally, including Syrians. In return, the European Union will take in thousands of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey and reward it with more money, early visa-free travel and progress in its EU membership negotiations.

The United States Department of State awarded a contract to Willard Marine, Inc., to provide the Philippine National Police Maritime Group with patrol vessels equipped to conduct search and rescue operations along Philippine maritime borders. This contract marks the third time Willard Marine has been chosen to provide military vessels to the Philippines. Willard has also developed boats recently for international military use by the Navy of Ukraine and the Nepalese Army. Willard Marine will provide the Philippine National Police Maritime Group with aluminum, 30-foot patrol boats with twin 480-hp engines and dual water jets, as well as 34-foot patrol boats with 600-hp engines and dual water jets.

The U.S. Department of State awarded a contract to boatbuilder Willard Marine, Inc., to provide the Philippine National Police Maritime Group with patrol vessels equipped to conduct search and rescue operations along Philippine maritime borders. This contract marks the third time Willard Marine has been chosen to provide military vessels to the Philippines, the builder noted, adding it has also recently developed boats for international military use by the Navy of Ukraine and the Nepalese Army.

In anticipation of Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines January 15-19, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG ) has created two maritime task forces to secure the maritime terrain where the Pope will hold activities, particularly at the vicinity of the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Luneta Park in Manila and in Tacloban City. The task force aims to ensure that threats which could possibly be initiated along the coastal waters will be negated. PCG Commandant Vice Admiral Rodolfo D Isorena…

Yoo had been target of South Korea's largest manhunt; Failure of police to catch Yoo had been burden for Park government. The body of South Korea's most wanted man, linked to the sinking of a ferry in April that killed 300 people, was identified more than a month after being found in an orchard, police said on Tuesday, with his book and empty bottles of alcohol nearby. The police chief in charge of the case in a small city in the south of the country was sacked on Tuesday for not recognizing the book, or putting two and two together, and for not identifying the corpse earlier. Police said that DNA and fingerprint evidence from the heavily decomposed body found on June 12 showed it to be that of Yoo Byung-un, 73, the target for more than two months of South Korea's largest manhunt.

South Korean president apologizes, vows tough punishment. South Korean President Park Geun-hye, tears rolling down her cheeks, formally apologized on Monday for a ferry disaster that killed about 300 people, mostly school children, and said she would dismantle the coast guard for failing in its duties. Park has been hit hard by an angry nationwide outcry over the government's response to South Korea's worst civilian maritime disaster in 20 years and the seemingly slow and ineffective rescue operation. Polls show support for Park has dropped by more than 20 points since the April 16 disaster. "I apologize to the nation for the pain and suffering that everyone felt…

South Korean President Park Geun-hye formally apologized on Monday for a ferry disaster last month that killed about 300 passengers, mostly school children, and said she would break up the coast guard because it had failed in its rescue mission. Park has been hit hard by an angry nation-wide outcry over the government's response to South Korea's worst civilian maritime disaster in 20 years and the seemingly slow and ineffective rescue operation. Polls show support for Park has dropped by more than 20 points since the April 16 disaster. "I apologize to the nation for the pain and suffering that everyone felt, as the president who should have been responsible for the safety and lives of the people…

Philippines police seized a Chinese fishing boat in the disputed South China Sea on Wednesday, an official told Reuters, the latest flare-up of tensions in the oil and gas-rich waters that are claimed wholly or in part by six Asian nations. Chief Superintendent Niel Vargas of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group said a maritime police patrol apprehended a Chinese fishing boat around 7 a.m. on Tuesday off Half Moon Shoal. The boat has 11 crew and police found about 500 turtles in the vessel, some of which were already dead, he said, adding that a Philippine boat with crew was also seized, and found to have 40 turtles on board. Several species of sea turtles are protected under Philippine law.

A 67-year old ailing Chinese passenger was successfully evacuated from a cruise ship by the joint team of Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Boracay and Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group at the vicinity waters of Malay, Aklan last Thursday, October 17. Coast Guard Station (CGS) Boracay received an information around 6:10 a.m. of the said through VHF radio from Captain Pentti Silvennoinen, Master of M/S Superstar Gemini, a cruise ship from Xiamen, China anchored at Caticlan Anchorage Area, Barangay Caticlan, Malay, Aklan. According to Capt. Silvennoinen, one of their passengers identified as Xu Yao, needs immediate medical attention. Investigation revealed that around 5:30 a.m. on the same date when Yao suddenly collapsed in his cabin.

LRAD Corporation (NASDAQ: LRAD), a provider of long range acoustic hailing devices (AHDs), has announced  it has received a $323,000 order for LRAD 300X systems and support equipment. The LRAD 300X systems will be installed on Colombian Navy coastal defense patrol boats. "We're pleased to receive another follow-on order from Colombia, which highlights the opportunity for international sales growth of LRAD products," remarked Tom Brown, the Company's president and CEO. "The Colombian Navy will be employing the LRAD 300X systems to broadcast warnings and critical information to vessels from safe, stand off distances. The order from the Colombian Navy follows prior orders from the Colombian Air Force…

Western Australian owned international shipbuilding company Strategic Marine has been contracted to provide high-speed patrol vessels for the Australian Federal Police. The three 16 metre vessels will be manufactured for use by Indonesian authorities. Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor says the construction of three high-speed patrol boats for the Indonesian National Police is well underway, as part of support from the Gillard Government to help tackle people smuggling in the region.

In step with the rest of the maritime world, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is making major investments to improve security and reduce the risk and vulnerability of its facilities. Because of these investments, though, which include expanding the Canal's electronic monitoring and tracking systems, a new fee will be assessed on all transiting vessels as of June 1, 2002. Among other things, improvements include adding new computerized systems and collecting data from all ships that arrive in Canal waters. The ACP is currently working on the Automatic Identification System (AIS), to be test- activated in 2002 and mandatory by July 2003. AIS will permit identifying and tracking all vessels before they enter Canal waters and during their transit.

U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard training teams concluded the first visit to Colon, Panama, during the pilot Global Fleet Station (GFS) on May 11 aboard High Speed Vessel (HSV 2) Swift. Training teams from Navy Expeditionary Training Command in Little Creek, Va., along with U.S. Coast Guard training teams from International Training Division, based in Yorktown, Va., facilitated five training sessions in areas requested by the nation of Panama. These courses included a coxswain course, two sessions of the port security and vulnerability course, as well as two leadership seminars. “The past two weeks in Panama have been very productive,” said Capt. Douglas Wied, commander, Task Group (TG) 40.9.

American Marine Holdings, Inc (AMH) Government Services experienced a record year in sales during 2004, according to Mike Collins, President. AMH, the parent company of Donzi Marine and Pro-Line Boats, formed the Government Services Group in 2003. Mr. Collins stated, ”I am extremely proud of the team we have assembled. John Hotz has been instrumental in our success and was just appointed Vice President of the group”. The past year marked a flurry of activity for the Government Services division, along with many new additions to the team. Mike Page, former United States Navy Lieutenant with the Special Boat Teams, and formally with Boston Whaler and Night Vision Technologies joined the group and now heads up International and Military sales.