DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: BAE Systems Develops Non-Lethal Laser To Defend Against Pirate Attacks On Commercial Shipping

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: BAE Systems Develops Non-Lethal Laser To Defend Against Pirate Attacks On Commercial Shipping

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources BAE Systems 10 Jan 2011 | Ref. 004/2011

(NSI News Source Info) BRISTOL, U.K. - January 15, 2011: BAE Systems has successfully demonstrated a prototype device that will serve as an effective non-lethal deterrent against pirate attacks on commercial vessels such as oil tankers and container ships.Piracy worldwide is on the rise according to reports from the ICC’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB), with 430 attacks worldwide reported last year, up from 406 in 2009. As pirates increase their range of operations and their capabilities, commercial shipping agents are increasingly looking for ways of preventing attacks whilst avoiding armed guards on their ships.

In order to help combat the growing piracy threat BAE Systems conducted a study of pirate’s behaviour and a company-wide capability survey. This led to the development of the concept of using a non-lethal laser, which would leave only temporary effects, to distract and deter potential attackers from a distance. Leveraging the capability of its Optics and Laser Technology Department within its Advanced Technology Centre, BAE System’s researchers conducted a number of experiments to assess the feasibility of laser distraction as a non-lethal weapon. The research team has now successfully demonstrated a suitable laser at the Pershore Trials Range in Worcester over a variety of distances in a variety of conditions. The laser beam is capable of providing a visual warning to pirates at distances greater than 2km, and of disorientating attackers sufficiently at lesser distances so that weapons cannot be targeted effectively. At all times the power levels of the laser remain eye safe. Roy Clarke, BAE Systems capability technology lead for laser photonic systems, said: “The effect is similar to when a fighter pilot attacks from the direction of the sun. The glare from the laser is intense enough to make it impossible to aim weapons like AK47s or RPGs, but doesn’t have a permanent effect.”

The laser was trialled during night and day in varying weather conditions at the Worcester facility. Cameras were placed at the target location to demonstrate the level of beam intensity and divergence produced by the test runs. Beam oscillation techniques were also demonstrated. The researchers have developed a bespoke Neodymium Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser which is an effective deterrent at relatively low power levels. By utilising targeting systems and changing beam patterns, the distraction effect can be made more pronounced and be used against multiple targets. Clarke continued: “We successfully showed that the laser works not just during the night, but also in full daylight. But, there are many more requirements to meet before placing a non-lethal laser weapon on commercial ships." When fitted on commercial ships the laser distraction system could utilise its own targeting capability or integrate with existing ship radar and sensor systems to control the direction and power of the beam. It could therefore work semi-autonomously and would also include security features to ensure it could not be used by pirates if they boarded the ship. Bryan Hore, BAE Systems business development manager and the lead for the anti-piracy programme, said: “Laser distraction is part of a wider programme of anti-piracy technologies being developed by BAE Systems, including radar systems, which utilises expertise and knowledge from the military domain. The aim of the laser distraction project is now to develop a non-lethal deterrent to pirates, which has no lasting effects, which can work in a maritime environment, be operated by the crew at no risk, and be cost effective.”

Editors Notes

The International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau is a non-profit organisation which monitors the number of piracy and armed robbery incidents in shipping lanes worldwide. The vast majority of pirate attacks reported last year, 210, were reported in Somalia. At the present time Somali pirates hold 25 vessels and 586 hostages. The development of the laser distraction device is part of the company’s where BAE Systems is using capabilities and knowledge gained within the military domain to understand, analyse and demonstrate a layered set of defensive techniques for commercial maritime protection.

For more information, please contact:

Jo Fry, BAE Systems Tel: +44 (0)1252 384708 / +44 (0)7793 420318 jo.fry@baesystems.com Ben Sampson, Euro RSCG London PR Tel: +44 (0)207 467 9218 / +44 (0) 7725 924954 ben.sampson@eurorscg.com

Issued by:

BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947 24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739 www.baesystems.com

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

© Copyright (c) DTN News Defense-Technology News

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DTN News: Singapore Navy Warns Of Threats Against Oil Tankers In Malacca Strait / Tankers Warned Of Terror Threat In Malacca Strait

DTN News: Singapore Navy Warns Of Threats Against Oil Tankers In Malacca Strait / Tankers Warned Of Terror Threat In Malacca Strait Source: DTN News / By Alex Kennedy, Associated Press Writer (NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - March 5, 2010: Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have stepped up maritime and air patrols in the Malacca Strait after receiving a warning that a terrorist group was planning attacks on oil tankers in the waters, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The navies of the three countries are working together to increase monitoring, and "we are prepared to handle this threat," Malaysia's navy chief. Adm. Abdul Aziz Jaafar told The Associated Press in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. The International Maritime Bureau, a maritime watchdog, said it has urged ships in the region to keep a "strict watch." "We are aware of this terrorist threat affecting Malacca Strait and Singapore," Noel Choong, who heads the IMB's anti-piracy center in Kuala Lumpur. He said the IMB received the warning from a foreign government agency two days ago, and passed it on to authorities in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. He declined to give further details. The Singapore navy issued an advisory Wednesday warning of terrorist attacks against oil tankers in the waters but did not specify which group was suspected. The Malacca Strait is the favorite route of oil shippers between the Persian Gulf and Asian Pacific markets. The strait, just 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) at its narrowest point, was the second-busiest shipping lane of crude in 2006, with 15 million barrels a day passing through, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. Singapore lies at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula, along the strait, and is home to the world's busiest port. Until about a year ago, the strait was infested with pirates that hijacked ships. But joint operations by security forces of countries around the waterway has all but ended such attacks there. Abdul Aziz, the navy chief, also said the terrorist warning came two days ago from a credible intelligence source, but declined to give details. "The terrorists are targeting specific tankers in the Malacca Strait and Singapore Strait. We have beefed up patrols to ensure safety and getting the shipping industry to keep us informed of their whereabouts," he said. He said the warning didn't say which terrorist group was planning the attack or what kind of attack was feared. The Singapore navy's advisory said that a terrorist group was planning attacks on oil tankers and may also target other vessels in the shipping lane off Malaysia's east coast. "The terrorists' intent is probably to achieve widespread publicity and showcase that it remains a viable group," said the advisory from the navy's Information Fusion Centre. "However, this information does not preclude possible attacks on other large vessels with dangerous cargo." Indonesia has not received any information from Singapore about possible attacks but plans to boost air and sea patrols, Defense Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. I Wayan Midio said. "We are committed to increase the awareness and security in the Malacca Strait to anticipate any terrorist attacks," he said. The U.S. 7th fleet, whose area of responsibility includes the western Pacific and is based in Yokosuka, Japan, did not respond to calls for comment. Indonesian police on Thursday charged 14 suspected Islamist militants with planning terrorist attacks after they were captured in raids since Feb. 22 on Sumatra island, which forms the eastern boundary of the Malacca Strait. Their alleged targets weren't disclosed. Police are investigating if militants are linked to Jemaah Islamiyah, one of the most active terror networks in Southeast Asia. Police have blamed the group for suicide bombings of the J.W. Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in Jakarta in July 2009 that killed seven people and bombings on the island of Bali in 2002 that killed 202 people. The Singapore navy said small fishing boats or speedboats were used in past successful terrorist attacks against ships, and these kinds of vessels could be used in the Malacca Strait. The navy recommended ships add lookouts and lighting, avoid fishing areas and maintain a good speed. ___ Associated Press writers Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this story.

DTN News: German, Greek Commandos Thwart Pirate Attack

DTN News: German, Greek Commandos Thwart Pirate Attack

*Source: DTN News / Reuters

(NSI News Source Info) BERLIN, Germany - August 16, 2009: A German Navy helicopter thwarted a suspected pirate attack on a Turkish ship in the Gulf of Aden on Friday by firing warning shots at a speed boat as it approached the MS Elgiznur Cebi, the German armed forces said. Responding to a call for help from the Turkish vessel, the German helicopter from the warship Bremen, part of a European Union mission to combat piracy, spotted a speed boat with six people and ladders in it. It fired warning shots and the speed boat stopped. A Greek naval vessel, the HS Narvarinon, also responded to the call for help then boarded the speedboat and discovered weapons on board. Piracy has surged off the Somali coast in recent years where sea gangs continue to defy foreign navies patrolling the vast shipping lanes linking Asia and Europe. Germany has two warships patrolling in the region. Piracy attacks around the world more than doubled to 240 from 114 during the first six months of the year, according to the ICC International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre. (Writing by Erik Kirschbaum)

Russian Warship Escorts First Commercial Convoy Off Somali Coast

Russian Warship Escorts First Commercial Convoy Off Somali Coast

(NSI News Source Info) VLADIVOSTOK - May 4, 2009: Russia's Admiral Panteleyev destroyer is escorting its first convoy of merchant vessels through the Gulf of Aden, the Russian Pacific Fleet said Monday. A flotilla of Pacific Fleet ships, comprised of the Admiral Panteleyev, salvage tug SB-37, the Izhora and Irkut tankers, a naval infantry unit and two combat helicopters, arrived from Vladivostok to the Gulf of Aden on April 27 to take part in international anti-piracy efforts off the Horn of Africa. The convoy is expected to pass through the dangerous waters by Tuesday evening, when a new one will be formed for the return journey. Russia's defense minister said last Wednesday Russian warships would continue to patrol pirate-infested waters off the Somali coast to ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the area. The Admiral Panteleyev is an Udaloy-class missile destroyer armed with anti-ship missiles, 30-mm and 100-mm guns, and Ka-27 Helix helicopters. The warship replaced another Russian destroyer, the Admiral Vinogradov, which joined the anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia at the beginning of January. During its mission, which ended in mid-March, the Admiral Vinogradov destroyer escorted 12 convoys comprising a total of 54 ships from 17 countries, and thwarted several pirate attacks on various vessels. Around 20 warships from the navies of at least a dozen countries are involved in anti-piracy operations off Somalia. According to the United Nations, Somali pirates carried out at least 120 attacks on ships in 2008, resulting in combined ransom payouts of around $150 million.

NATO Soldier At Guard At Harbor In Karachi, Pakistan

NATO Soldier At Guard At Harbor In Karachi, Pakistan

(NSI News Source Info) April 26, 2009: A soldier of the Standing NATO Maritime Group One stands guard at harbor in Karachi, Pakistan on Sunday, April 26, 2009.

A fleet of NATO destroyers and frigates arrived in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi ahead of a two- day exercises with the Pakistani Navy that focus on counter terrorism and battling piracy.

Somalia Seeking Navy Force To Fight Pirates

Somalia Seeking Navy Force To Fight Pirates

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - April 21, 2009: The best way to combat piracy off Somalia is to create a national naval force financed by international aid in the impoverished east African nation, a Somali government minister said April 20. During counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Winnipeg escorts April 19, 2009 MV Abdul Rahman, a United Nations World Food Program ship, to a port in Somalia to deliver urgent humanitarian supplies in this Canadian National Defence handout photo obtained on April 20, 2009. HMCS Winnipeg is operating in the Gulf of Aden under Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) to counter acts of piracy and provide security for transiting merchant vessels. Commanded by Commander Craig Baines, the Halifax-class patrol frigate has a crew of approximately 240, including a CH-124 Sea King helicopter detachment. Canada's participation in SNMG1, conducted under Operation SEXTANT, represents a continuing commitment to international peace and security. HMCS Winnipeg is the 5th Canadian Ship to deploy since 2006 to join SNMG1, which represents a multi-national maritime force capable of conducting missions across a broad spectrum of operations anywhere around the world. The solution for battling pirates lies in "helping the Somali government create naval forces to face this criminal operation," Somali Minister for Planning and International Cooperation Abdirahman Abdishakuur told the U.S. government's Middle East satellite network Alhurra Television. Somali naval forces would "need training and support to be equipped and ready to carry out operations at sea," Abdishakuur said. "We, as a government of national unity, are trying to stop these operations and promote peace and security in Somalia, but we need the assistance of the international community," he added. The pirates who continue brazen attacks on vessels off the Horn of Africa feed off Somalia's internal chaos, where close to two decades of war and lawlessness have made piracy one of the few viable businesses. Some two dozen international ships - operating under U.S., EU and NATO commands - patrol the seas off Somalia. More than 150 suspected pirates were arrested in the Gulf of Aden last year. Pirate attacks soared 200 percent compared with 2007, with more than 130 merchant ships assaulted, according to the International Maritime Bureau. Representatives of 24 nations are to meet next month in New York to look at legal measures to fight the crime wave. "The international community has spent millions of dollars to combat piracy," Abdishakuur said. "If they spend 10 percent of what they spend at sea to help the Somali government, they will be able to put an end to these operations." Aside from a national naval force, the minister said, the only viable way to combat piracy is to fight economic conditions on land. The youths getting involved with piracy are all unemployed, and so "there is no alternative for them but to resort to these criminal activities. "We should provide the youth with work and education opportunities to bring them back to the community and public life," Abdishakuur said. Piracy is expected to be a key issue when donors to Somalia meet on Thursday in Brussels. U.S. President Barack Obama's administration has pledged to step up the piracy fight following the capture of a U.S. cargo ship earlier this month. U.S. Navy snipers ended the standoff by rescuing captain Richard Phillips and shooting dead three pirates. U.S. forces captured a fourth pirate, a teenager, who will reportedly go on trial in New York.

Somali Pirates Are Going On Rampage Hijacking Couple Of Ships

Somali Pirates Are Going On Rampage Hijacking Couple Of Ships

*Makes No Sense - Somali Piracy Analysis: It sounds ridiculous that a few bunch of Somali gangs are creating havoc and terror for ocean vessels around Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, which is spreading like a wild fire similar to terrorism factor a menace to the world from Pakistan. U.N. Security Council should organize immediately without any further delay an International Navy Task Force (INTF) consisting of Navies from U.S. (Big Daddy), European Union, Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Iran, South Africa, Asean and few other reliable countries. For a change the command of INTF should be handed to a country like China with full co-operation of other members of the Task Force and go after the pirates on land and sea and I am sure with a strong hand and a strong command this menace of Somali pirates can be easily eliminated in a short period before it spreads. (DTN Defense-Technology News)

(NSI News Source Info) April 14, 2009: Somali pirates have hijacked a fourth vessel in 48 hours, seizing a Lebanese-owned cargo ship. The 5,000-tonne Togo-flagged MV Sea Horse was taken by gunmen in up to four skiffs, Nato officials said. Earlier, pirates hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier, the MV Irene, in the Gulf of Aden. On Monday, Somali raiders captured two Egyptian fishing boats. The Greek-managed bulk carrier Irene E.M. , hijacked by Somalia pirates in the Gulf of Aden during the early hours of Tuesday April 14, 2009, is seen in this undated file photo. The Irene E.M was sailing from the Middle East to South Asia, with a Filipiono crew. Analysts say the gangs are clearly not put off by recent US and French hostage rescues that left several bandits dead. Somali pirate leaders - who have generally treated captives well in the hope of winning big ransom payouts - vowed on Monday to avenge the deaths. Attacks rise Nato officials said another ship - the Liberian-flagged Safmarine Asia - escaped on Tuesday after coming under fire from pirates in several small boats. They attacked at night, which was very unusual, they were using the moonlight as it's still quite bright; Lt Cdr Alexandre Fernandes. After a lull earlier this year, the gangs have stepped up their attacks off Somalia's coast in recent weeks. The 22 Filipino crew of the MV Irene, which was sailing from the Middle East to South Asia, are believed to be unhurt. A Nato helicopter has reportedly been dispatched from a Canadian warship to investigate what is happening to the merchant vessel, flagged in Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines. Nato Lt Cdr Alexandre Fernandes told Reuters news agency: "There was only three minutes between the alarm and the hijack. "They attacked at night, which was very unusual. They were using the moonlight as it's still quite bright." Hours later, Nato officials on a Portuguese warship announced the MV Sea Horse had also been seized off Somalia. It is said to be the tenth hijacking in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean since the start of the month. Last Wednesday, a group of Somali pirates attempted to seize a US-flagged ship, the Maersk Alabama, but fled after taking its American captain hostage. But following a stand-off with a US warship, three of the raiders were killed by three single shots from US snipers on Sunday and the skipper was freed. US President Barack Obama promised on Monday to "halt the rise of piracy" in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Last Friday French forces killed two pirates and captured three more while freeing a yacht with five hostages, but the vessel's owner also died in the gunfight. Shipping companies last year handed over about $80m (£54m) in ransom payments to Somali pirates. The Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective government since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed the pirates to thrive. Efforts to stop the raiders have so far had only limited success, with international naval patrols struggling to cover the vast areas of ocean where the gangs operate.

Somali Militants Fire At U.S. lawmaker

Somali Militants Fire At U.S. lawmaker

(NSI News Source Info) MOGADISHU - April 14, 2009: Somalia's militant Islamist rebel group al Shabaab said Monday it fired mortars at a plane carrying a U.S. lawmaker, a day after U.S. snipers killed three Somali pirates and freed the American ship captain they had been holding hostage. An al Shabaab spokesman said his group fired at the plane carrying Representative Donald Payne as he left the anarchic Horn of Africa country following a rare one-day visit by a U.S. official. Payne's plane took off safely and no-one was hurt. U.S. Congressman Donald Payne (left) sits with Somalia's Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid in Mogadishu's presidential place April 13, 2009. The crew of a U.S. ship attacked off Somalia called on President Barack Obama to lead the battle to stamp out piracy on Monday, after U.S. forces freed the ship's captain to end a five-day hostage drama. The successful rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, who had been held by pirates for five days in a drifting lifeboat after their attempt to hijack the U.S.-flagged container ship Maersk Alabama failed, was hailed in the United States as a "feel-good" story that temporarily lifted the country's spirits in gloomy economic times. Three U.S. snipers each fired a single shot virtually simultaneously, each killing his target. A fourth pirate was captured alive. The successful conclusion boosted President Barack Obama, who had authorized the U.S. navy to use force if the commander on the spot felt Phillips's life was in danger. Obama, in brief comments Monday, called Phillips a hero and reiterated that he was resolved to work with other countries to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. "We're going to have to continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks," Obama said. "We have to continue to be prepared to confront them when they arise." More than 250 hostages of many nationalities are still being held along the Somali coast by pirates who have seized dozens of vessels, from tankers to yachts, in recent months. Helicopters once again flew over pirate bases near Eyl on the Somali coast overnight after Phillips' rescue. "They killed our friends on the lifeboat and we thought helicopters would bomb us in Eyl last night," a pirate in Eyl, who called himself Farah, told Reuters. "We were mourning for dead friends and then roaring planes came -- grief upon grief. America has become our new enemy." Al Shabaab, which condemns both piracy and anti-piracy patrols by international navies off Somalia, said the attack on Payne's plane was a message to the United States but did not directly link it to the hostage issue. ENCOURAGE PROSECUTION State Department spokesman Robert Wood said Washington was encouraging states to prosecute suspected pirates and working with the shipping industry to avoid future hijacks. He cautioned that the problem would not be solved overnight. Responding to threats by the pirates' to kill foreign hostages in retaliation for the rescue, Wood said: "These folks are bandits. They're lawless." Phillips was the first American taken by pirates who have plundered ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean for years. The U.S. Navy said the decision to shoot his kidnappers was a split-second one, taken because he appeared to be in imminent danger. "They were pointing the AK-47s at the captain," Vice Admiral William Gortney, head of the U.S. Naval Central Command, said. Phillips contacted his family after the rescue, received a medical check, and rested aboard the USS Boxer. His crew set off flares, hoisted an American flag and jumped for joy at the news of their captain's rescue. They called on Obama to take the lead in combating piracy. A Somali man is rushed into the local hospital after a mortar attack targeting US congressman Donald Payne during the congressman's one day visit to Mogadishu on April 13, 2009. Somalia's hardline Shebab Islamists on Monday claimed responsibility for a mortar attack targeting US congressman Donald Payne, who was unharmed, one of the group's officials said. "We carried out mortar attacks against the enemy of Allah who arrived to spread democracy in Somalia," Sheikh Husein Ali Fidow told reporters in Mogadishu Payne is the chairman of the subcommittee on Africa and global health in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Maersk Alabama, carrying food aid for the region, was attacked far out in the Indian Ocean Wednesday, but its 20 American crew regained control. Phillips volunteered to go with the pirates in a lifeboat in exchange for the crew's safety. So far, pirates have generally treated hostages well, sometimes roasting goat meat for them and even letting them phone loved ones. The worst violence has been the occasional beating. No hostages are known to have been killed by pirates.

Somali Pirates Vow Revenge After Captain Rescued

Somali Pirates Vow Revenge After Captain Rescued

(NSI News Source Info) MOGADISHU, Somalia - April 13, 2009: Somali pirates on Monday vowed to retaliate for the deaths of three colleagues who were shot dead by U.S. Navy snipers hours before in a daring nighttime assault that freed a 53-year-old American captain. A US Navy April 12, 2009 handout photo shows Maersk-Alabama Capt. Richard Phillips (R), stands alongside Lt. Cmdr. David Fowler, commanding officer of USS Bainbridge after being rescued by U.S Naval Forces off the coast of Somalia. Philips was held hostage for four days by pirates. The Navy Seals late Sunday rescued freighter Capt. Richard Phillips, who had been held by pirates on a lifeboat that drifted in the Indian Ocean for five days. "Every country will be treated the way it treats us," said Abdullahi Lami, one of the pirates holding a Greek ship anchored in the pirate den of Gaan, a central Somali town. "In the future, America will be the one mourning and crying," he told The Associated Press by telephone. "We will retaliate for the killings of our men." He gave no details and it was not clear in what way the pirates could retaliate, though some fear they could take their revenge on the hundreds of other foreign nationals they hold on seized ships. The rescue dealt a blow to pirates who regularly seize passing ships and hold them captive until multimillion dollar ransoms are paid. But it is unlikely to help quell the region's growing pirate threat, which has turned the Gulf of Aden and the waterways along Somalia's coast into some of the most dangerous shipping lanes on the planet. Pirates currently hold more than a dozen foreign ships, most moored along the Horn of Africa nation's long coast, with about 230 foreign sailors from Russia to the Philippines. The American rescue followed a similar operation Friday carried out by French navy commandos, who stormed a pirate-held sailboat, the Tanit, in a shootout at sea that killed two pirates and freed four French hostages. The French owner of the vessel was also killed in the assault. Residents of the Somali town of Harardhere said tensions were growing there. Abdullahi Haji Jama, who owns a clothing store in the town, said: "We fear that the pirates may retaliate against the foreign nationals they are holding." But he also said people feared "any revenge taken by the pirates against foreign nationals could bring more attacks from the foreign navies, perhaps on our villages." Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said the American operation "could escalate violence in this part of the world, no question about it." Jamac Habeb, a 30-year-old self-proclaimed pirate, told The Associated Press that the three pirates' deaths were "a painful experience." Speaking from the pirate hub, Eyl, he added: "this will be a good lesson for us." "From now on, if we capture foreign ships and their respective countries try to attack us, we will kill them," Habeb said. "Now they became our number one enemy," he said of U.S. forces. So far, at least, it has been rare for Somali pirates to harm captive foreign crews. Several years ago, a crew member of a Taiwanese fishing boat hijacked for six months was killed by pirates, but no reason was given but it appeared to be an isolated incident, according to Noel Choong, who heads the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. No reason was given but it appeared to be an isolated incident, he said. Somalia has been engulfed in fighting and anarchy since the 1991 overthrow of Siad Barre, and remains today a country with no effective government, a nation ruled by tribal clans. The piracy scourge appears to have evolved partly out of an attempt by Somali fishermen to protect their waters against illegal foreign trawlers who were destroying their livelihoods. Some of the vigilantes morphed into pirates, lured by the large profits they could win in ransoms. Somalia's prime minister welcomed the U.S. Navy's operation Sunday. "The Somali government wanted the drama to end in a peaceful way, but anyone who is involved in this latest case had the choice to use violence or other means," Abdulkhadir Walayo, the prime minister's spokesman, told The Associated Press. "Anyway, we see it will be a good lesson for the pirates or anyone else involved in this dirty business." Pirates were defiant though, vowing the events would not stop them form seizing more ships. One pirate vowed the events would not stop them from targeting more ships. "The mere killing of three and capturing one will not make us change our mind," said one pirate holding a German ship anchored in the Somali town of Harardhere who refused to give his name. "We are determined to continue our business regardless of the recent killings and arrests."

U.S. Crew Regain Control Of Hijacked Ship, Negotiate Captain's Release

U.S. Crew Regain Control Of Hijacked Ship, Negotiate Captain's Release

(NSI News Source Info) April 9, 2009: American crew members aboard a U.S.-flagged ship hijacked by Somali pirates Wednesday were able to regain control of the vessel, but the ship's captain is still being held hostage, FOX News confirms. A defense official said the Maersk Alabama's captain is being held captive on board a lifeboat belonging to the sihp.

Wednesday April 8, 2009 by Maersk Line, shows the 17,000-ton container ship Maersk Alabama, when it was operating under the name Maersk Alva, which has been hijacked by Somalia pirates with 20 crew members aboard while sailing from Salalah in Oman to the Kenyan port of Mombassa via Djibouti. Four pirates are in the lifeboat and according to the official there is no clear evidence that a pirate remains captive with the U.S. crew. Speaking on the ship's satellite phone, one of the 20 crew members said they had been taken hostage but managed to seize one pirate and then successfully negotiate their own release. He said negotiations are under way for the captain's release. "All the crew members are trained in security detail in how to deal with piracy," Maersk CEO John Reinhart told reporters. "As merchant vessels we do not carry arms. We have ways to push back, but we do not carry arms." John Harris, CEO of HollowPoint Security Services, which specializes in maritime security, said that the crew's overtaking the pirates could help prevent future hijackings, especially since the military can't protect the entire high seas.

"Any time you can get intel from them, they can give you any kind of significant information, they more than likely will not, but anything we can get will always help us in the future," Harris told FOX News. "Naval vessels ... can't be everywhere at one time, just like law enforcement," he said, noting that the U.S. Navy has been protecting the most vulnerable shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. "If you saturate an area long enough in the shipping lanes, if you saturate it with war ships long enough, they venture out. In this case that's what they did. They want 350 miles out of the coast where no Naval vessels were present," he said. As for the boldness of the pirates taking a ship operating under a U.S. flag, Harris said pirates don't care which ship they grab. "We have not seen it matters at all. This is a business to them. They are not intended on carrying what cargo we're carrying. All they want to do is see a dollar figure. They know if they catch a big ship, they get big money. All they want is ransom out of this. They are not worried about crew or cargo," Harris said. Pentagon Spokesman Bryan Whitman said earlier Wednesday he has "no information to suggest the 20 crew members of the Maersk Alabama have been harmed by the pirates." During its one communication with the ship, Maersk was told the crew was safe, Reinhart said. He would not release the names of the crew members. Cmdr. Jane Campbell, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said that it was the first pirate attack "involving U.S. nationals and a U.S.-flagged vessel in recent memory." Wednesday's incident was the first such hostage-taking involving U.S. citizens in 200 years. In December 2008, Somali pirates chased and shot at a U.S. cruise ship with more than 1,000 people on board but failed to hijack the vessel. The top two commanders of the ship graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, the Cape Cod Times reported Wednesday. Andrea Phillips, the wife of Capt. Richard Phillips of Underhill, Vt., said her husband has sailed in those waters "for quite some time" and a hijacking was perhaps "inevitable." The Cape Cod Times reported his second in command, Capt. Shane Murphy, was also among the 20 Americans aboard the Maersk Alabama. Capt. Joseph Murphy, a professor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, says his son is a 2001 graduate who recently talked to a class about the dangers of pirates. The newspaper reported the 33-year-old Murphy had phoned his mother to say he was safe. The 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama was carrying emergency relief to Mombasa, Kenya, at the time it was hijacked, for the Copenhagen-based container shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk. Robert A. Wood, Deputy State Department Spokesman, told reporters the ship was carrying "vegetable oil, corn soy blend and other basic food commodities bound for Africa."

Russian Warship Returns To Base After Six-Month Mission

Russian Warship Returns To Base After Six-Month Mission

(NSI News Source Info) SEVEROMORSK (Northern Russia) - March 11, 2009: Russia's Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser returned to its main base in northern Russia on Tuesday after an almost six-month tour-of-duty of the world's oceans, a Navy spokesman said. "All the tasks set for the mission have been accomplished. The crew is healthy and the weaponry is in an excellent condition," the spokesman said. Pyotr Veliky is a Kirov class missile cruiser and the flagship of Russia's Northern Fleet. During the mission, which started on September 22 last year, the warship visited a number of foreign ports, took part in Russian-Venezuelan naval drills in the Caribbean and the Russian-Indian INDRA-2009 exercises in the Arabian Sea, and participated in the international anti-piracy operation off the Somali coast. On February 12, the Pyotr Veliky spotted and detained two speedboats and a large parent ship with 10 Somali pirates on board near Yemen's Sokotra Island. The pirates were later handed over to Yemen authorities. Russia announced in December 2007 that its Navy had resumed and would build up a constant presence throughout the world's oceans.

South Korean Navy To Deploy For Somalia Mission

South Korean Navy To Deploy For Somalia Mission

(NSI News Source Info) SEOUL - March 4, 2009: South Korea's Navy will send an anti-piracy unit to the Somalia littorals within weeks, its first overseas combat deployment, service officials said March 3. The announcement followed the National Assembly's March 2 endorsement of a motion for deployment. It also followed days of rehearsal operations by the new unit, named Cheonghae, in the waters off the southern port city of Busan. Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyers are multipurpose destroyers of the Republic of Korea Navy. The lead ship of this class, ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sunshin, was launched in May 2002 and commissioned in December 2003. Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyers are a part of the Republic of Korea Navy's shipbuilding program named "KDX-II", which paved the way for becoming a blue-water navy. The design of the hull was designed by Hyundai Heavy Industries and the first ship built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. The Korean contingent includes a 4,500-ton KDX-II destroyer, a Lynx anti-submarine helicopter, rigid inflatable speedboats and 300 personnel, including 30 Underwater Demolition Team/SEAL forces. An explosive ordnance disposal team will also join the contingent. During its planned six-month deployment, the unit will focus on escorting South Korean commercial ships through the Gulf of Aden, an effort to protect the nation's economic interests, said Cmdr. Yoo Young-shik, chief of the Navy's public affairs office. If required, it will also monitor, inspect, stop and seize pirates' vessels as part of the Combined Task Force 151, a multinational naval task force with logistics facilities at Djibouti under the command of the Combined Forces Maritime Component Command based in Bahrain, Yoo said. The task force is responsible for maritime security from the Red Sea down the east coast of Africa and into the Arabian Sea toward Pakistan and India. Currently, the efforts to clamp down on piracy in the troubled waters include about 21 warships and five aircraft from Britain, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, India, Malaysia, and the United States. South Korean officials express confidence in the Navy's counterpiracy operations, citing the service's close-range combat skills accrued from decades of training to thwart North Korean ships. The KDX-II destroyer is equipped with an Mk. 45 127mm gun, Harpoon ship-to-surface missiles, RAM Mk 31 ship-to-air guided missiles, a 30mm Goalkeeper system for engaging sea-skimming anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. Built in 2003, the 150-meter-long, 17-meter-wide ship has a top speed of 29 knots. South Korean cargo ships have also been hijacked in recent years. Somali pirates held eight crewmembers of two Dongwon Fisheries tuna ships for four months before releasing them in 2006 for a ransom of $800. Two Daechang Fishing boats were hijacked in May last year, and their 25 crewmembers were released six months later. In September, pirates kidnapped a cargo vessel carrying eight South Korean and 13 Myanmar crewmembers, releasing them the following month after the ship's owner paid a ransom. The Somali pirates reportedly run sophisticated operations using high-tech equipment such as satellite phones and GPS receivers. They are known to receive information from contacts at ports in the Gulf of Aden and use speedboats with very powerful outboard motors to approach their targets. Sometimes the speedboats are launched from much larger "mother ships" on the high seas. Located along the route of a crude-oil pipeline connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean and racked by civil war, Somalia's coastline has become infamous for piracy. Each year, about 20,000 ships sail throughout the Gulf of Aden headed for the Suez Canal, an important shipping route for international trade that links Europe to the Middle East and Asia. The International Maritime Organization counted 111 attacks in 2008 in the Arablic Sea near Somalia, the most notorious location for such activity. A March 3 ceremony in Busan marked the commissioning of the new unit, the service said in a news release. "The inauguration of the Cheonghae unit this year, which marks the 100th anniversary of the Navy's founder, the late Adm. Sohn Won-il, will serve as a starting point for our Navy to make history and build a naval power to sustain us over the next 100 years," Adm. Jung Ok-keun, South Korea's chief of naval operations, said in a speech at the ceremony at Naval Operations Command.

Yemen Plans To Buy More MiG-29 Fighters From Russia

Yemen Plans To Buy More MiG-29 Fighters From Russia

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - February 26, 2009: The president of Yemen said his country plans to buy a number of MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters and other military equipment from Russia, a newspaper reported on Thursday. Ali Abdullah Salah, who is currently on a visit to Russia, met on Wednesday with President Dmitry Medvedev to discuss military and trade cooperation, as well as tackling piracy and terrorism. "These [the MiG-29] are excellent aircraft. We have had them for a long time and several years ago we brought them to Russia and carried out their modernization program," the Yemeni president said in an interview published by Russia's Vremya Novostei newspaper. "Suffice it to say that we are planning to acquire more of these aircraft and probably MiG-35 fighters as well. We are also in talks on the purchase of Russian helicopters and patrol boats," he added. About 90% of the military hardware and aircraft used by the Yemeni Armed Forces were made in the Soviet Union. Yemeni Air Force currently has 44 MiG-29SMT and MiG-29UBT fighters in service. Yemen and Russia are currently holding talks to reach an agreement on the maintenance of military hardware, component supplies and training of Yemeni military personnel in Russia. According to Salah, he and his Russian counterpart discussed measures to counteract terrorism and anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden. The UN said Somali pirates carried out at least 120 attacks on ships in 2008, resulting in combined ransom payouts of around $150 million. The Yemeni leader has proposed to set up a regional anti-piracy center in the port of Aden to coordinate the international efforts in fighting sea piracy off the Somali coast. He also said Yemen will render all necessary assistance to Russian warships involved in the current anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden. Russia has already rotated a number of combat vessels among some 20 warships from the navies of 16 countries that are operating in the area. At present, the Admiral Vinogradov destroyer from Russia's Pacific Fleet escorts commercial ships through the dangerous waters around the Horn of Africa.

Turkey, Singapore Join Efforts To Combat Piracy In Gulf Of Aden

Turkey, Singapore Join Efforts To Combat Piracy In Gulf Of Aden

(NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: Turkey and Singapore recently committed forces to join Combined Task Force 151, a naval coalition dedicated to conducting counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. Turkey and Singapore will join other nations -- including the United States, the United Kingdom and Denmark -- that have conducted operations as part of the task force. Republic of Singapore Navy - Frigates; The Formidable class multi-role stealth frigates are the latest platforms to enter into service with the RSN, and are multi-mission derivatives of the French Navy’s La Fayette class frigate. The frigates are key information nodes and fighting units, and are “by far the most advanced surface combatants in Southeast Asia". The frigates will be equipped with Sikorsky S-70B naval helicopters, an international derivative of the United States Navy SH-60B Seahawk. The MINDEF signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in January 2005 to acquire six of these helicopters, which will be organic to the frigates. These naval helicopters are equipped with anti-surface and anti-submarine combat systems, extending the ship’s own surveillance and over-the-horizon targeting and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The naval helicopters will be raised as a squadron in the Republic of Singapore Air Force and piloted by air force pilots, but the system operators will be from the RSN. The naval helicopters are projected for delivery in late 2009. The frigates have a special surface-to-air missile configuration, combining the Thales Herakles radar with the Sylver A50 launcher and a mix of MBDA Aster 15 and 30 missiles. The lead ship of the class, RSS Formidable was commissioned on 5 May 2007, marking the 40th year of the RSN. "Coalition ships are a critical part of our mission," U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Terry McKnight, commander of CTF 151, said. "The very nature of some of our operations, as well as the success of those operations, is often predicated on our ability to work effectively with our partners and allies." International law obligates all nations to cooperate to the fullest extent in the repression of piracy. Coalition forces have taken action necessary to repress piracy in the region in accordance with international law to ensure free and secure use of the world's oceans by legitimate mariners, task force officials said. "The presence of international navy vessels in the region demonstrates our commitment to regional security and stability," McKnight said. "To continue to counter and deter destabilizing activities successfully, coalition efforts must be complemented by proactive measures by commercial shippers, regional governments and the international community." The task force has worked with and emphasized the important role merchants can play by taking proactive measures to prevent boardings, such as traveling at speeds greater than 15 knots, reporting suspicious activity and pulling their ladders up to prevent access to the ships. Even with increased naval forces in the region, coalition vessels have not always been close enough to a help a ship that was being attacked. "The bottom line is that piracy is an international problem that requires an international solution," McKnight said. "We are committed to continuing operations that counter and deter piracy and other destabilizing activities in the maritime arena to create a lawful maritime order."