Category Archives: News

Oil tanker near Ivory Coast hijacked by pirates

  February 4, 2013 ,
MARSEC updates - United Guards Services Ltd

A French oil tanker that went missing near the Ivory Coast over the weekend has been hijacked by pirates for its cargo.French oil tanker that went missing near the Ivory Coast over the weekend has been hijacked by pirates for its cargo. Alexis Guie, a spokesman for the Autonomous Port of Abidjan, where the ship was last seen, said: “The boat was hijacked in international waters”. France said it had yet to receive any demands from the pirates. Mr Guie added: “When a boat is hijacked more than 300 kilometres (185 miles) from the Ivorian coast, that can’t be in our waters”. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) issued a security alert for West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea following a spate … Continue reading

Piracy falls in 2012, but seas off East and West Africa remain dangerous, says IMB

  January 16, 2013 ,
MARSEC updates - United Guards Services Ltd

London, Paris, 16 January 2013 – Piracy on the world’s seas has reached a five-year low, with 297 ships attacked in 2012, compared with 439 in 2011, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) global piracy report revealed today. Worldwide figures were brought down by a huge reduction in Somali piracy, though East and West Africa remain the worst hit areas, with 150 attacks in 2012. Globally, 174 ships were boarded by pirates last year, while 28 were hijacked and 28 were fired upon. IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre also recorded 67 attempted attacks. The number of people taken hostage onboard fell to 585 from 802 in 2011, while a further 26 were kidnapped for ransom in Nigeria. … Continue reading

Piraeus, 30 November 2012: GL Academy Hellas and United Guards Services Ltd Training Course

  December 1, 2012 ,
Announcements - United Guards Services Ltd

Security training has been in the agenda of GL Academy since the implementation of the ISPS Code. As piracy has become the most common threat of today’s shipping, the use of external providers for security services is an option for many shipowners. New requirements as well as the need to familiarize Security Personnel with the duties of the Ship Security Officer were the driving forces for United Guards Services Ltd, a maritime security services provider in Piraeus, to approach GL Academy Hellas for the organization of such training for their security personnel. The first such training was concluded on 30 November 2012 at the United Guards Services Ltd premises in Piraeus with very positive feedback from the participants. GL Academy … Continue reading

Training Seminar on 27-28-29 August 2012

  August 30, 2012 ,
Announcements - United Guards Services Ltd

The 1st training seminar, held on 27-28-29 August 2012, at United Guards Services (UGS) Training Centre in Piraeus, was successfully completed and left positive impressions. Participants had the opportunity to be informed and trained from experienced and qualified Instructors on issues relating to: Maritime piracy and the threat arising from that phenomenon up to date. Basic principles of classification and practices for tackling battlefield Trauma (Trauma-treatment). BMP-4 Procedures Standard Operational Procedures of UGS. Methods and practices shielding a vessel (Hardening). Rules for the Use of Force. Presentation and familiarization on safe use with AK-47 assault-rifle. Disassembling rifle until 2nd grade. Cleaning, visual inspection and maintenance of 2nd grade for AK-47 assault-rifle & ammunition. Navigation rules and the International regulations for … Continue reading

13 March 2012: Paper Presented to the US Chamber of Commerce by the Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, US Department of State, Andrew J. Shapiro

  May 4, 2012 ,
MARSEC updates - United Guards Services Ltd

According to a recent paper prepared and presented on March 13, 2012 to the US Chamber of Commerce by the Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, US Department of State, Andrew J. Shapiro, “We are seeing signs that combined efforts by the international community are having a positive effect. The numbers demonstrate this. In 2011, even though the number of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia increased slightly over 2010, the number of successful pirate attacks fell by nearly half. There has also been a significant drop in the numbers of ships and crew held hostage. In January 2011, pirates held 31 ships and 710 hostages. In early March of 2012 pirates held 8 ships and 213 hostages. This … Continue reading