Category Archives: News

SHADE Conference held by CMF on 22.11.2017

  December 2, 2017 ,
UG

Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) welcomed delegates to the latest SHADE (Shared Awareness and Deconfliction) conference on counter-piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean in Bahrain on 22 November. A wide range of organisations was represented, including delegates from CMF, EU Naval Forces (EU NAVFOR), the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO), The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSC HOA), US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and NATO, independent navies from around the world, global shipping organisations and other industry partners, who gathered to discuss regional maritime security issues. SHADE is a biannual event, co-chaired by CMF and EU NAVFOR, to discuss the international response to piracy, bringing together the widest possible set of stakeholders. The diversification … Continue reading

Maritime Security Transit Corridor established

  December 2, 2017 ,
UG

Recent attacks against merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden and Bab Al Mandeb have highlighted the risks associated with transiting these waters.  The multiple types of risks and the broad expanse of ocean on which these attacks can occur dictate that Naval Forces must be used in the most efficient manner possible.  To assist in this, CMF has established a Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC). The MSTC consists of: The Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) The BAM TSS and the TSS West of the Hanish Islands A two-way route directly connecting the IRTC and the BAM TSS When combined, these sections as a whole will be termed the MSTC.  The purpose of this corridor is to provide a recommended … Continue reading

Advisory by BIMCO on Indian Ocean Threat Assessment

  June 22, 2016 ,
UGS

BIMCO issued a security advisory on 13 June 2016, wishing to clarify some points on the Industry Releasable Piracy Threat Assessment off Somalia releasedto the Shipping Industry in March 2016 by EUNAVFOR – Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and NATO. As BIMCO mentions, although the industry reduced the High Risk Area on 1 Dec 2015 and although there have been no successful attacks for some time, the threat assessment does not indicate that Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been eliminated and will not start again. On the contrary, the assessment stresses that many of the conditions ashore that were present at the start and peak of Somali piracy still remain, allowing pirates to act with impunity in certain areas … Continue reading

UGS Sec. Operatives training always top priority

  April 18, 2015 ,

UGS training system and methodology for our security operators incorporates a comprehensive and continuously evolving approach, consisting of land based – in our Training Centre – initial and enhanced refreshment training courses, as well as on the job training during the operations and under specific program. Of course – apart from these – our sec. operators have to successfully undergo First Aid – trauma response training from recognized organizations, as well as firearms live firing and tactics courses in order to keep their knowledge and awareness in the highest level possible. This way they make the most of their already significant special forces and military background and valuable expertise, while along with the special lessons learned sessions and workshops they … Continue reading

Yemen bans entry to territorial waters

  April 18, 2015 ,

April 2015 – Navigation in Yemen’s territorial waters has been banned from 12 April 2015 and ships are not allowed into Yemen unless inspected and approval by the Saudi-led coalition forces, as BIMCO passed in a security advisory. The ban started after the Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs delegated the coalition forces to implement it. In a statement signed by the Foreign Minister Riyadh Yassin, it is stated that “Yemen has banned entry into the territorial waters and has authorized coalition countries to implement the decision, adding that the ban has been imposed on the country’s maritime zones”. The term “maritime zones” was not clearly defined in the statement though and clarification should be sought from port agents and P&I … Continue reading

Kenya strikes Somalia Al-Shabaab camps

  April 11, 2015 ,
kenya strikes al shabaab

April 2015 – Kenya’s air force launched strikes in Somalia on 5 April 2015,  that reportedly destroyed two camps linked to the Islamist militant group al Shabaab, Kenyan military officials said on Monday April 6th. This is the first round of military action to follow the massacre at Garissa University College last week that left 148 people dead. The airstrikes occurred Sunday April 5th afternoon and Monday April 6th morning in the Gedo region, just across the border in southern Somalia. According to Reuters, Kenyan army spokesman David Obonyo declared that the mission was part of ongoing attempts to stop the al Qaeda-linked militant group from waging attacks on the Kenyan side of the border. “The bombings are part of the continued … Continue reading