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Date: 24th June 2020Series 15/Issue 234

Weekly Security & Risk Report

2MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

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The Security and Risk Report Series focuses on:

• Operational risks in areas of instability which could affect the safety of commercial and private vessels and personnel ashore and at sea.

• In country reporting on key countries where civil conflict are directly impacting on maritime operations; and

• Reporting and analysis of incidents of terrorism, piracy and other related criminal activity. MAST has a global reach and presence, delivering first hand, accurate and exclusive intelligence. MAST is entrenched and committed in continuing to supportand promote the awareness of the very real risks thatseafarers and other stakeholders face. This Intelligence Report Series is a brief snapshot ofMAST’s Intelligence capabilities. MAST Intelligencespecialises in providing clients with a suite of products and services, including; political and economic risk analysis, de-tailed port and vessel security briefs, vessel passage plans, threat and risk mitigation and travel risk management. Working closely in conjunction with a host of experts,MAST Intelligence offers a market leading service pertain-ing to all maritime affairs.

Follow MAST on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep abreast with these insightful weekly reports and more — including real time security updates.

Editor: David Riderwww.mast-security.com

Issue 234

Contents:

Mast Services

Indian Ocean region

Somalia

Yemen

Mediterranean

Libya

Gulf of Guinea

South East Asia

Central & South America

Severe Weather Warnings

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24th June 2020

24/7 Emergency Telephone+44 (0) 1202 045 833 (Maritime)

MAST UK+44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com

Issue 234 of the series reviews, analyses and threat assesses the fragile and conflict affected coastal states Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The Mediterranean migrant crisis, incidents affecting maritime security and influencing maritime news are also report-ed and analysed, focusing on the keys theatres of maritime instability.

Coronavirus Port and Terminal RestrictionsThe situation remains extremely fluid. For the most recent updates on closures and re-openings, MAST Security recommends using the Wilhemsen Covid-19 Global Port Restrictions Map. Please Click Here to visit their site.

4MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Hijack

Kidnap

Approach/Attack

Suspicious Activity Theft

Incidents: Nothing significant to report.

IRGC navy to build permanent Indian Ocean baseThe naval forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps plan to build a permanent base in the Indian Ocean by the end of the year, Admiral Alireza Tangsiri told state-run Fars news agency. He said the operation came at the request of military leadership and was intended to protect fishing and industrial shipping.

India builds up submarine fleetThe Indian Navy is discretely building up its submarine capa-bilities, Forbes reported on June 20th. The most visible aspect of India’s programs are new nuclear-powered submarines that are being built, but beneath the surface there are other stra-tegic steps to help ensure its Navy’s dominance of the Indian Ocean.

Oman Is Building The Largest Oil Storage Facility In The Mid-dle EastOman has built eight oil storage tanks that will make up part of what the sultanate hopes will be the largest oil storage facility in the Middle East and is preparing to build several others, for a total capacity of 25 million barrels. Bloomberg reports, citing unnamed sources in the know, that the tanks will be offered to oil producers and traders either for storage or as a temporary stop along the way to final consumers for those who want to avoid transporting their oil through the Strait of Hormuz, the source said.

Indian Navy deploys more ships in Indian Ocean regionAmid tensions with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, the Indian Navy has sent out additional ships

from its Eastern fleet for deployment in the Indian Ocean Re-gion, ThePrint reported on June 18th. The move comes at a time when India has put its military machinery on high alert following the deadly clash in the Galwan Valley last week.

IRGC Navy seizes two ships in Persian GulfOn Wednesday 17th, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards an-nounced the arrest of two fishing vessels in the regional wa-ters of Japhar and Kanark. “The Imam Ali Naval Unit of the Sea Corps of the Revolutionary Guards stopped two fishing ves-sels that had anchored in the waters of the Japhar and Kanark regions and committed a flagrant violation by entering the 12-mile zone, and they were practicing prohibited trawl fishing,” the public relations of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards naval force said in a statement, as quoted by the Fars News Agency of the Islamic Republic.

Djibouti offers crew change support for all ships passing through Bab el Mandeb strait Djibouti announced at the UN on June 16th its readiness to facilitate crew change operations in Djibouti for any ships passing through the Bab el Mandeb strait, with the necessary support provided by the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Author-ity (DPFZA). The country is responding to the joint statement of the IMO and UNCTAD (9th June) - the UN’s maritime and trade bodies respectively - to support crew changes and en-sure that maritime personnel can return home safely when the time comes to do so.

To see MAST’s services in the Indian Ocean Region, please click here.

Indian Ocean Region Iran’s Navy successfully test-fired new homegrown cruise missiles on Thursday 18th during a military exercise in the Sea of Oman and the northern parts of the Indian Ocean. During the mili-tary exercise, codenamed “Ramadan Martyrs”, the missiles hit targets at a distance of 280 kilom-eters. Short-range and long-range cruise missiles manufactured by the Iranian Defense Ministry were tested during the war game, Tasnim reported.

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Control of Somali territory (March 2017) Source: Wikimedia Commons

AnalysisAl Shabaab continues to mount operations throughout the coun-try, despite efforts by US Central Command to degrade its capa-bilities with ongoing airstrikes which aim to remove AS leader-ship. It is questionable as to whether this “body count” policy is working. Threat AssessmentThe political situation has seen increased tension between re-gional states and the Federal Government. Should this continue, there is an opportunity for criminal organisations to return to their previous maritime activities. Al Shabaab continues to challenege the government and efforts to disrupt its operations continue, although AMISOM forces will withdraw some time in 2019. The trade in illegal charcoal by terror and crime groups continues, al-though the Combined Maritime Forces and UN are working on measures to prevent it. Youth unemployment in Somalia has not improved with 67% of Somali male youths aged between 14 to 29 unemployed. Pirate financiers offer lucrative and attractive op-portunities, and were seen to be increasingly active in the last inter-monsoon period. Recent incidents off Somalia have high-lighted the robust protections offered by both BMP5 and well trained, vigilant armed protection teams. Illegal fishing has re-turned to the region and there are wider political concerns that it could spark a resurgence in maritime crime unless checked. There is a risk that complacency in some quarters has seen a reduction in PMSC presence in these waters that could result in a piracy success. A lack of adherence to BMP5 protocol, particu-larly not maintaining a safe distance off the coast, has increased risks to shipping. Merchant vessels would be wise to maintain the same distance from the coast, particularly ensuring that the Socotra Gap isn’t taken. All vessels are advised to update risk as-sessments and register with UKMTO/MSCHOA prior to entering the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA).

MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Under control of Al Shabaab and allies Under control of neutral forces Under control of Government and allies Somaliland Government Territory disputed by Puntland and Somaliland

SomaliaAt least seven people have died in two separate bomb attacks in Somalia in the last 24 hours, police and military officers said on Sunday 21st. In the first incident, two bombs planted in front of the home of a military official in the town of Wanlaweyn, 90km (56 miles) northwest of the capital Mogadishu, exploded late on Saturday, killing four people, including soldiers and civilians. In the second incident, three fighters in a car carried out a suicide bomb attack at a military checkpoint in Bacadweyn town in central Somalia’s Galmudug state on Sunday.

Somalia parliament grants women almost one-third of seatsSomalia’s lower house of parliament has passed legislation that gives women 30% of seats in both parliamentary cham-bers. The lower house has a total of 274 seats while the upper house has 54 seats. Women have been complaining of under-representation in the country’s politics.

Somalia to go ahead with $170m port schemeA Somali politician has said the state government of Galmadug will build a port in the town of Hobyo through a new “public-private entity”, raising questions over the involvement of Qatar, which undertook to fund it last year. Abdisabir Shurie, the Gal-madug minister for ports and fisheries, said at a rally in Hobyo that the project would open the state to the world.

Two soldiers reportedly killed in Al Shabaab suicide attack A suicide attack targeted a military base hosting the 21st divi-sion of the Somali army in Ba’adweyn, Mudug Rregion on June 21st. Soldiers had stopped a vehicle filled with explosives in front of the military base. The driver tried to force his way in before soldiers hit the vehicle with a rocket, resulting in a huge explosion. Smoke could be seen billowing over the base.

Somali soldiers end wages protestSoldiers in the Somali capital Mogadishu have ended their protest over unpaid salaries. They had blocked roads in the city on Saturday 20th, with some saying they had not received wages in over a year. Local television footage showed troops

blocking vehicles from the African Union peacekeeping force from passing.

Kenya planning to reopen border with Somalia, Kenyan pa-per reportsLarge-scale fishermen in Lamu County and traders in goods to and from Somalia will soon resume trade after the national government revealed plans to reopen the Lamu section of the Kenya-Somalia border. In June last year, the government closed the border with Somalia, including the Kiunga cross-border point in Lamu to block routes used by smugglers, ter-rorists and human traffickers.

Somalia, Somaliland sign a compromise after days of nego-tiationA historic summit between Somalia and Somaliland ended on Thursday 18th in Djibouti with the signing of a five-point com-promise including a code of conduct, a commitment to build confidence, and a promise to implement previous agreements on investment and humanitarian aid.

4 civilians killed by roadside bomb in capitalAt least four civilians were killed Thursday 18th – including a mother and child – by a roadside bomb in Mogadishu, Soma-lia’s capital, according to a government official. The blast “killed four people, all of them civilians, including a woman and her child, and three others were also wounded,” Abdullahi Abukar, a police official in Mogadishu, told Anadolu Agency.

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Control of Yemen territory (July 28th 2019)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Houthi

Pro Hadi Government Forces

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Controlled by Southern Transitional Council

YemenYemeni separatists have seized control of the island of Socotra in the Arabian Sea, deposing its governor and driving out the forces of the Saudi-backed government, which condemned the action as a coup. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared self-rule in the south of the country in April, complicating UN efforts to forge a permanent ceasefire in a war that has separa-tists and the government fighting as nominal allies in a Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels, who control the north.

Houthis launch attack on Saudi ArabiaYemen’s Houthi militia said they attacked Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. The Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television cited a statement by the Saudi-led coalition forces as saying that they had “intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles and eight bomb-laden drones launched on Tuesday morning from Yemen by the Houthi militia towards the Saudi border regions of Jizan and Najran.”

Yemen government, southern separatists agree to ceasefireYemen’s government and southern separatist forces have agreed to a ceasefire and will begin talks on implementing an earlier peace agreement, according to a Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthi rebels. The former coalition allies on Monday 22nd agreed to a ceasefire in Abyan province - a major hotspot of clashes - and the de-escalation of tensions in other regions.

Statement by the Special Envoy on recent military escalationThe Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, strongly denounces the continued military escala-tion across Yemen, particularly the recent increasing hostilities in the governorates of Ma’rib and Al Jawf. The Special Envoy notes that the escalation goes against the spirit of the ongo-ing UN-facilitated negotiations. These negotiations are aimed at reaching agreement between the Parties on: a nation-wide Ceasefire; humanitarian and economic measures to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people; and a commitment to re-sume the political process aimed at comprehensively ending the conflict.

Last Batch of Joint Aid Lands in Yemen Amid UN Funding Cuts The last of three large shipments of medical supplies landed in Yemen on Friday 19th, organizers of the cargo flights said, following a joint initiative by the world organization and mul-tinational corporations to boost the war-devastated country’s health care system as it battles the coronavirus. The shipments represent a different path to humanitarian relief in Yemen as

the U.N. faces a drastic shortage of funds for its operations, even with the virus surging across the Arab world’s poorest country.

Saudi Arabia’s proposal to end standoff between allies in YemenSaudi Arabia has proposed a framework to end the latest standoff in southern Yemen between nominal allies under a Saudi-led coalition, three sources said, as violence escalates with the Houthi movement in the north of the country. Three sources with knowledge of the matter said Riyadh submitted a proposal, seen by Reuters news agency, to implement a power-sharing deal brokered by Saudi Arabia last November, but it stalled.

Yemen’s healthcare system is collapsing under conflict and coronavirusThe UK has called for drastic action in Yemen, a country mired by both a devastating war and the rapid spread of coronavi-rus. Research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found infections in the middle-Eastern country may have reached one million. The same study projects a worst-case scenario of up to 85,000 deaths.

Houthis: Don’t Blame Us If Million-Barrel Tanker LeaksYemen’s Houthis have said they won’t be responsible if an ag-ing oil vessel anchored near the war-torn country’s coast starts leaking crude into the Red Sea. “We unhand our responsibility of any leakage from Safer tanker and we call for negotiation over this issue in a serious manner,” said Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the Houthi ruling political council, in a statement reported by Bloomberg.

To see the latest threat analysis and Yemen port information in MASTOPDEIA, please click here.

MAST recommends BMP measures be enforced and watches strengthened during transits in the region.

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Migrant crossings 2017-2020. Source: UNHRC

MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Migrant statistics in the Mediterranean (Figures last updated on June 15th 2020). Source: UNHCR

Mediterranean German NGO Sea-Watch on Friday 19th said it had rescued 46 migrants from a sinking boat in the Mediterranean overnight, bringing the total of saved people to 211 in the last 48 hours. The Sea-Watch 3 vessel is now sailing in international waters in the area of the Italian island of Linosa waiting for a safe port to disembark migrants, the charity group said. Of the 211 people on board, mainly from Africa, 20 are women and 62 are minors, including a few months old baby, Sea-Watch said. “We immediately need a safe port,” they wrote on Twitter.

EU accused of using aerial surveillance to help push mi-grants back to LibyaA number of humanitarian groups claim that the EU is using aerial surveillance to spot stranded migrants in the Mediterra-nean but only alerting Libya’s coast guard to intervene. They say the alleged move facilitates illegal pushbacks while pre-venting non-governmental rescue operations from reaching migrants. Alarm Phone, Borderline-Europe, Mediterranea Saving Humans and Sea-Watch said in a joint document that “tens of thousands” of migrants have been returned to Libya and prevented from reaching Europe because EU planes op-erating in the Mediterranean only supposedly contact Libya’s coast guard when they spot stranded migrants.

Morocco’s Royal Navy Rescues 93 Sub-Saharan Migrants in MediterraneanOfficers of Morocco’s Royal Navy managed to rescue 93 sub-Saharans attempting irregular migration in the Mediterranean during the night of Wednesday to Thursday (June 17th-18th). The list of those rescued includes 15 women and several mi-nors, a military source told Maghreb Arab Press (MAP).

Several dead in shipwreck off Libyan coastSeveral people have died following another shipwreck along the Libyan coast over the weekend of 20th-21st. The incident took place near the capital, Tripoli. The exact number of vic-tims is so far unknown; however, according to initial reports, there were three bodies washed up on the beach near the town of Al-Zawiya, about 50 kilometers west of Tripoli.

The current migrant smuggling situation

Once again, UNHCR has been unable to update its figures for the past week, although their graph does show an increase in move-ment numbers. This is reflected at sea, where multiple rescue missions have taken place and there continues to be loss of life. News that the Ocean Viking NGO vessel is returning to the region will be welcomed by agencies but not by coastal states who are still unwilling to accept migrant arrivals, particularly during the pandemic crisis. Conditions ashore in Libya continue to cause concern, with little news on the welfare of migrants trapped in the country.

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Control of Northern Libyan territory (Jan. 8th 2020)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Controlled by the Tobruk led government

Controlled by the Government of National Accord

Controlled by ISIS

Controlled by local forces

Controlled by Tuareg forces

MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

LibyaThe Financial Times reported on June 21st that Egypt’s leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has threatened to intervene militarily in neighbouring Libya if Turkish-backed forces capture Sirte, a strategic port and gateway to important oil terminals. Sisi warned that the fall of Sirte or the Jufra air base were seen as ‘red lines’ for Egypt, in a move that significantly increases tensions in the region.

US stresses need for Libya military pause and return to ne-gotiations – vows to deepen engagement In a statement released on Monday 22nd, the US State Depart-ment stressed the need for a military pause in Libya’s conflict and a return to negotiations. The statement came after U.S Ambassador Richard Norland and AFRICOM Commander Ste-phen Townsend met Faiez Serraj, Libya’s internationally recog-nized prime minister, in Zuwara, Libya, the previous day.

Turkey playing ‘dangerous game’ in Libya: MacronFrench President Emmanuel Macron on Monday 22nd launched a furious attack on Turkey’s conduct in Libya, accus-ing the key NATO member of playing a “dangerous game” that can no longer be tolerated. In fierce comments likely to rile his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Macron described Tur-key’s behavior as a telling example of his controversial belief the military alliance was in the throes of brain death.

EU voices concern over Sisi’s threats of military intervention in LibyaThe European Union said it was concerned about the re-cent surge in declarations on Libya as they work against the de-escalation of the conflict, the bloc’s chief spokesman for the foreign policy said on Monday 22nd, commenting on the Egyptian president’s threat of military intervention. EU spokes-man Peter Stano said the people of Libya do not need more escalation, or more confrontation, adding that in this light, the recent escalation of declarations, statements, and the interfer-ence by outside actors is a source for serious concerns.

Turkey says Haftar forces need to pull out from Sirte for Libya ceasefireTurkey on Saturday 20th said Khalifa Haftar’s forces in east-ern Libya need to withdraw from the strategic city of Sirte for a lasting ceasefire and accused France of “jeopardising” NATO security by backing him. Ibrahim Kalin, the presidential spokesman, told AFP that Turkey supports the position of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Trip-oli, and that Sirte and Al-Jufra should be evacuated by Haftar’s forces for a “sustainable ceasefire.”

Turkey, Russia continue talks for truce in LibyaTurkey and Russia have continued dialogue to broker a cease-fire in Libya despite the disagreements over its methodology as they reiterate that a political resolution to the lingering conflict is still the best way. Turkey underlines that a ceasefire to be reached in Libya should be a sustainable one after the strategic towns of Sirte and al-Jufra are liberated from Haftar’s forces.

Libya says 190 bodies found in mass gravesThe Libyan army loyal to the GNA said on Saturday 20th 190 corpses have been found in mass graves south of Tripoli and the city of Tarhuna since June 5th. In a statement, the army said 106 bodies, including children and women, were found with signs of torture inside a hospital morgue in Tarhuna on June 5. A further 37 bodies were found in another hospital in the city, of which 14 corpses were identified, the military said.

GNA Foreign Ministry rejects Egypt-requested Arab League meetingLibya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) has rejected talks on the conflict to be held by Arab League foreign min-isters next week at the request of Egypt. The talks, to be held by videoconference because of coronavirus-related concerns, were called for by Egypt, a key supporter of Khalifa Haftar. For-eign minister Mohamed Taher Sayala told the bloc’s executive council on Friday 19th that the planned meeting would “mere-ly deepen the rift” between Arab governments on the conflict.

Russian aircraft active in Libya, AFRICOM saysRussian jets delivered to Libya in May are being actively used in the North African country, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said on Thursday 18th. At least 14 MiG-29s and several Su-24s were flown to Libya via Syria, where their Russian markings had been painted over, AFRICOM said in May.

To read MAST’s Libyan Country report on MASTOPEDIA, please click here.

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MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

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Gulf of GuineaThe Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ba-shir Jamoh, has revealed that Nigeria’s failure to effect any arrest of pirates terrorising her water-ways between 2016 and 2019 battered her image in the international community. This is even as he revealed that so far, 27 pirates have been arrested since he took over as DG NIMASA. Address-ing maritime journalists in his office in Lagos over the weekend of 20th-21st, Dr Bashir Jamoh, explained that the agency swung into action following two letters received from the Presidency and the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government.

Incidents: Nothing significant to report.

Nigeria waters now safer for shipping – NIMASAThe Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NI-MASA) says that Nigeria’s waters are now safer for navigation, as it continues to step up efforts aimed at ridding the country of criminality at sea. The DG revealed that the agency’s proac-tive approach to safety and security at sea had started yield-ing results, as evidenced in the multiple arrests of suspected pirates during the course of this year.

Nigeria begins trial of pirates under new lawNigeria this week began the prosecution of suspected pirates under the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act. Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said this was part of efforts to rid the country’s waterways of criminali-ties and reassure the global community of security issues in its maritime domain. The Nigerian Navy arrested the suspected pirates recently, with intelligence support from NIMASA, and their trial will be the first under the anti-piracy law signed last June by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Navy of Cameroon plans to purchase two Island-class Amer-ican patrol boatsAccording to a statement released by the United States Em-bassy in Cameroon, the Cameroonian Navy plans to purchase in 2020 two 110-foot (34m) Island-class American patrol boats to greater extend its ability to patrol Cameroon’s economic ex-clusion zone.

Niger Delta militants want Akpabio sacked in 14 daysAkwa Ibom state-based Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV), a mili-tant group, has given the federal government 14 days to sack

and prosecute the Minister of Niger delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio. The group in a statement issued by General Ekpo Ekpo and Capt Nsidibe Etim and made available to jour-nalists, Thursday in Uyo, threatened to shut down oil opera-tions in Akwa Ibom if the federal government fails to accede to its demands.

Chinese Trawler Detained for Second Time in Ghanaian PortThe fishing vessel Lu Rong Yuan Yu 956 has been detained again on the same illegal fishing charges it faced a year ago, according to the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). In 2019, the vessel’s operators were issued with a fine for using under-size mesh nets and taking fish below minimum land-ing size: despite refusing to pay, the vessel had its licence renewed. Last month, Ghana’s Marine Police apprehended it again under almost identical charges, EJF reported.

Ivory Coast faces Jihadist threat as it spreads to GulfOn June 11th, Ivory Coast’s Army Chief, Lassina Doumbia, re-ported that gunmen attacked a security post in northern Ivory Coast near the border with Burkina Faso, killing at least ten sol-diers and injuring six others. The attack confirms reports by se-curity analysts that a jihadist revolt in the Sahel, that began in Mali in 2012, is spreading towards coastal states on the Gulf of Guinea. Ivory Coast shares a 550-kilometre (340-mile) border with Burkina Faso, where jihadist violence has claimed nearly 1,000 lives and forced 860,000 people out of their homes over the past five years.

To see MAST Services in the region, please click here. And and to read Nigeria’s country report, please click here.

10MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

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South East AsiaA military officer was killed while nine other soldiers were wounded in an encounter with Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists in Patikul, Sulu on Monday 22nd. Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, com-mander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), said elements of the Sulu-based 32nd Infantry Battalion (32IB) engaged an undetermined number of local terrorists in a fierce firefight in Sitio Tubig Bukayon, Barangay Pansul at around 12 noon.

Incidents: Nothing significant to report.

US Navy carriers in show of force in Indo-PacificTwo US Navy aircraft carriers, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and USS Nimitz (CVN 68) strike groups, have com-menced dual carrier flight operations in the Philippine Sea following the limited carrier presence in the region during the pandemic. The ships and aircraft assigned to both strike groups began co-ordinated operations in international waters demonstrating the US’ unique capability to operate multiple carrier strike groups in close proximity.

Indonesian boy kidnapped from Lahad Datu waters escaped, says sourceA boy, who Daily Express reported in March was among five Indonesian fishermen kidnapped in Tambisan Island waters off Lahad Datu in January, had escaped his Abu Sayyaf cap-tors in Sulu, an Indonesian source told the paper. Ulta Levenia Nababan, a terrorism researcher at Jakarta-based think tank Galatea, said three sources told her the boy’s current wherea-bouts was unknown, media reported on June 21st.

Chinese Coast Guard rams Vietnamse fishing boatA Chinese Coast Guard vessel has rammed a Vietnamese fishing boat in the South China Sea, prompting fears Beijing is preparing to enforce its illegal claims to the territory. Viet-namese state media reported a Chinese ship bearing the hull number 4006 had rammed a fishing boat near Lincoln Island in the Paracel Islands. Chinese sailors then allegedly boarded the wallowing vessel, seized fish and navigation equipment, and beat and kicked rescued fishermen ordered to pump wa-ter out of the damaged vessel. The date of the latest incident was not reported.

Abu Sayyaf ‘bomber’ captured in ZamboangaSecurity forces here captured an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member tagged as among those behind the 2007 bombing inside the Batasan complex that killed a lawmaker and a civil-ian, and injured seven others, officials said on Friday 19th.

Philippines seeks to resume exploration for oil and gas in South China SeaThe Department of Energy (DoE) and the Department of For-eign Affairs (DFA) are seeking ways to resume exploration in the West Philippine Sea as pandemic restrictions ease, citing the need to assert sovereignty in disputed waters. “While we are protecting our territories, the DoE is trying to work together with the DFA on how we can continue exploration in the area,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi was quoted as saying in a statement on Sunday 22nd.

Curfew in Malaysia Esszone extendedThe curfew involving the waters of seven districts in the East-ern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone), which is to end at 6pm today (Friday), has been extended to July 4th, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Zaini Jas announced in a statement on Thursday 18th.

PH Coast Guard puts new helicopter into serviceThe Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday (June 18th) commis-sioned into service one of its two new Airbus H145 light twin engine helicopters. The new air assets, costing P685 million, will be used for search and rescue, medical evacuation, mari-time patrol and maritime law enforcement.

To see MAST’s services in the region, please click here.

11MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

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Central and South America The US Department of State has issued a warning about the threat posed by pirates to vessels and oil installations in the southern Gulf of Mexico. The June 17th travel advisory said armed criminal groups are targeting commercial vessels, oil platforms and offshore supply vessels in the Bay of Campeche. Violent crime in the Campeche region is widespread and in November an Italian flag carrier was attacked by pirates, wounding two crew members.

Incidents: Nothing significant to report.

Standing advice: The repercussions of a vessel being caught acting as a mule with drugs stowed will depend on the type, amount and na-tional laws, but may be disruptive and costly. When and if operating in these areas, especially Columbia and Peru, it is advised that: • Potential stowage areas such as rudder shafts are denied as far as possible, and/or routinely searched. • Access points are closely monitored by a vigilant watch for the duration of the vessel’s call at port.

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Note: The forecasts are correct as of the day before publication. For latest updates please follow the provided links.

MAST UK: +44 (0)1279 216 726 operations@mast-security.com www.mast-security.com

Nothing significant to report.

Severe Weather Warnings Warnings detailed on this page are from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and are issued by respective Regional Specialised Metrological Centres, Tropical Cyclone Centres or Na-tional Meteorological Services. For further information on severe weather warnings please click here.