Yemeni Coast Guard News

Yemen is establishing a maritime security zone along the country's 2,500 kilometre-long coastline to deter illegal immigrants from entering the country, reports The Middle East Monitor. The zone encompasses around 30 per cent of Yemen's territorial waters as determined by internationally-agreed limits, says the head of the Yemeni Coast Guard, Brigadier Ahmed Subhi. Coast Guard personnel are patrolling around the clock to maintain the secure waters. According to Subhi, the illegal migrants to Yemen usually originate in Africa. Those who are apprehended are handed over to the offices of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Deputy…

Vice Adm. John Miller, U.S. Navy, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. 5th Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) , spoke to delegates attending the IQPC Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Middle East 2013 conference just after participating in the 8th International Institute For Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue to discuss the development and implementation of regional security and provided a platform for leaders from more than 30 countries to engage in inter-governmental dialogue on sensitive regional issues.

Attendees at the IQPC Offshore Patrol Vessels Middle East 2013 conference, which concluded on Dec. 11, agreed that that the safety and security of maritime commerce in the Arabian Gulf, Res Sea and their approaches, is an international responsibility shared by regional and international partners. The conference was chaired by Rear Admiral (R) Ahmed Al Sabab Al Teneiji, former chief of naval forces for the UAE Navy. The event focused on regional security cooperation; offshore patrol vessel design, procurement and operations; coastal surveillance; and maritime domain awareness.

Attendees at the IQPC Offshore Patrol Vessels Middle East 2013 conference agree that what happens at sea in the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East has implications that ripple, or more correctly rumble throughout the globe. Speakers and panelists underscored the importance of maritime domain awareness and security for military, commercial, legal and environmental reasons, and how they are all connected. The IQPC Offshore Patrol Vessel conference at the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi is being attended by naval, coast guard, security, and other maritime and military professionals.

The EU Naval Force Flagship ESPS Patino located a Yemeni registered dhow that was suspected of being involved in acts of piracy off the Somali coast. The previous day a merchant vessel had reported that it had evaded an attack by two skiffs. As she was close by, ESPS Patino was tasked to investigate the scene, and when her helicopter arrived, it located a capsized skiff, with suspected pirates embarking onto the Yemini dhow. The dhow was confirmed as a suspected mother ship, previously observed at a pirate anchorage. Authorisation was given for a team from Patino to board the dhow.

Coalition forces recently completed a coordinated operation in the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa to deter and disrupt activities and incidents that affect maritime security and stability. "Coalition efforts build a lawful maritime order for regional security," said Commodore Keith Winstanley, Royal Navy, Deputy Combined Maritime Forces. Units from coalition forces included HMCS Charlottetown (FFH 339), a Canadian Halifax class frigate; RFA Argus (A 135), a Royal Navy Aviation training ship; and USS Carney (DDG 64), an American Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer, as well as air assets. The coalition forces also worked alongside Yemen Coast Guard forces and representatives from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees…

As part of the ongoing cooperation between the Governments of Yemen and the United States, a team of technicians from the U.S. Coast Guard will visit Yemen’s Coast Guard to train trainers in nautical skills related to engine and fiberglass hull repair, according to a press release. As part of the training, the Yemen Coast Guard will make an inventory of all spare parts to ensure that an adequate supply is on hand for any future requirements of the fleet. Col Frank Molinari, chief of the US Office of Military Cooperation located at the US Embassy, noted that the current training in engine and hull repair will increase the operational readiness of the Yemeni Coast Guard fleet, and provide them with the capacity to conduct independent training for future Coast Guard engineers.