Feral Jundi

Friday, April 22, 2011

Maritime Security: Somalia News–Firms Bid For Contracts To Fight Pirates, UNSC Passes Resolution, And The PMC Halliday Finch

Filed under: Industry Talk,Maritime Security,Somalia — Tags: , , , , , , , — Matt @ 3:33 PM

Now this is interesting for several reasons. The big problem everyone had with Saracen International was that they thought there was no transparency with that contract, and that they could be in  violation of the UN Arms Embargo placed on Somalia.  With this current resolution passed by the UN Security Counsel, this is basically giving legal authority for anti-piracy operations in Somalia, by making these operations fit in with this UN Arms Embargo.

Meaning, regions like Puntland can go forth and contract with private industry to set up UNSC approved legal apparatus to fight piracy with.  Companies could be used to train police forces or navies for anti-piracy, and not have to worry about any conflict with the UN–just as long as it fits in with the SC resolution.  That is why this conference was so interesting, and got little mention in the news. I guess a comparison here, is how private industry is used to prop up the police or military forces in Iraq or Afghanistan and have legal approval by authorities to do so.

Probably the most significant part that jumped out at me was this gem:

Halliday Finch, a Nairobi-based firm that is seeking funds to build a 1,500-strong maritime police force on behalf of the government in Mogadishu, said it follows such steps.
The company has already trained 500 non-maritime police, said CEO Sam Mattock, and has kept the UN and other organisations abreast of its activities.
“We’ve said, let’s do this properly, let’s make it transparent,” he said. “No secrets.”
The firm has drafted a law for the government to submit to parliament that would regulate maritime police.
To ensure the force is sustainable, the firm aims to spend $52 million in the first year and train up an officer corps within two years. With a Kuwaiti partner, Mr Mattock said, he plans to solicit the funds from the Kuwaiti government.

I have never heard of these folks before, but supposedly they have $52 million of Kuwaiti money to play around with, and they are helping their client in ‘drafting laws’?  Not to mention that they have already trained 500 police? Wow, how come this wasn’t reported and I am sure the folks at Saracen are scratching their head as to why they were singled out? Here are some of the jobs they are offering, to give you an idea about the company:

Are You interested in joining the Halliday Finch team in Africa?
We respect your privacy: Any details you submit will be sent directly and in strict confidence to the CEO. Your details will not be shared or passed on to any other party. If we have a vacancy matching your skill set (now or in the future), we will contact you to arrange an interview or to request further details.
Current Vacancies
OPERATIONS MANAGER: Position filled.
CLOSE PROTECTION OPERATIVES: Close protection operatives needed for tasks in Africa for VVIP and VIP principals. African Experience essential.
ESCORT DUTIES FOR GULF OF ADEN: Required for ongoing tasks, must have relevant maritime experience.
AVIATION SECURITY INSTRUCTOR: The successful applicant will be a certified / licensed Aviation Security Instructor who has successfully attended a UK DfT-approved Level 5 Training Course.
POLICE MENTORING SERVICE: Potential Police Service mentoring task in Somalia. Must have relevant Police Experience, Royal Military Police, UK Police, South African Police Service or East African Police Officers would be ideal.

So there you have it. This is some news that you will not hear anywhere else, and certainly significant. I also posted the UNSC Resolution that coincides with this article, just so you can see what I am talking about. –Matt

Firms bid for contracts to fight pirates
Carol Huang
Apr 20, 2011
Eager to capitalise on the rising threat of Somali piracy, private security firms are lining up to win contracts to train maritime forces in Somalia.
And while the international community backs the idea of building up Somali forces to fight piracy, it is raising eyebrows about the prospect of unregulated training and arming programmes that could later backfire.
Still, over 100 security firms have made pitches for contracts, said Saeed Mohamed Rage, the government minister overseeing counter-piracy for the Somali region of Puntland, where most pirates come from. (more…)

Monday, April 18, 2011

Maritime Security: Somali Pirates Keep Indian Hostages After Paid Ransom

Filed under: India,Maritime Security,Somalia — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 12:45 PM

Thanks to Matt for sending me this story.  You know, acts like this and the killings of four Americans only reinforce the idea that these pirates are ‘not rational’. Meaning, pirates have no code of conduct or laws governing how they operate. All they care about is protecting their business and making money.  So to them, keeping Indian hostages is a message to the Indian government and people to not threaten that business model with anti-piracy operations or having armed security on boats.

This also changes the game now.  For those companies thinking that ransoms are a surefire way of getting their people back, think again.  Pirates are irrational business partners, and as they continue to get pressure from anti-piracy forces, they will continue to get more irrational.  The point being, spend the money on security, and do not give a larger sum of money to a pirate industry. Fuel the Defense Industry, while starving the pirate’s Offense Industry. –Matt

Somali Pirates Keep Indian Hostages After Paid Ransom
April 15, 2011
A Somali pirate says pirates are holding on to Indian hostages even after a ransom was paid in retaliation for recent arrests by the Indian Navy.
The pirate, Hassan Farah, said the pirates in the stronghold of Haradhere have taken that collective decision.
A ransom was dropped Friday for the release of the ship Asphalt Venture and its crew. The non-Indian crew members were released. (more…)

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Somalia: Puntland Suspends Contract With Saracen International Due To UN And US Pressure

Filed under: Africa,Industry Talk,Somalia — Tags: , , , , , , — Matt @ 11:25 AM

 

This was to be expected. What I would be interested in is what kind of sweet deal or alternative did the US or UN offer, to get Puntland to suspend this contract?  Also this was ‘suspend’ and not canceled, which is equally significant. Perhaps some kind of military mission through AFRICOM is the alternative? –Matt

Somalia’s Puntland suspends security contractors

March 17, 2011

By ABDI GULED

Somalia’s northern region of Puntland has suspended a controversial deal with a private security firm contracted to train an anti-piracy force, two government officials said Thursday.

Saracen International was hired to train 1,050 men in Puntland to battle the pirates that menace shipping off Somalia’s coast.

(more…)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Maritime Security: The Maersk Alabama Drawing Pirates Like Flies, And Armed Security Saves The Day

Filed under: Industry Talk,Maritime Security,Somalia — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 1:34 PM

     Actually, this story is factually incorrect. (check out the comments at gCaptain’s post) Boy, The Maersk Alabama has been attacked and/or approached by pirates multiple times since the first attack that put it on the news.  I don’t know if the pirates are all gunning for the ship to get some pay back or there are just more pirates now? I do know that armed security along with good strategy is doing an excellent job of defeating these thugs.

    From what I can gather, Nexus Consulting is the security company that the Maersk Alabama uses for protective services. Although I could be wrong here, because the Maersk line uses all sorts of different security companies. –Matt

Pirates Fail in Third Attempt to Seize Maersk Alabama

Peter T. Leach

Mar 9, 2011

Security team fires warning shots, discouraging suspicious skiff

Suspected Somali pirates tried to seize the Maersk Alabama again on Tuesday in the third attempt to hijack it in three years.

Four people suspected of being pirates approached the ship in a skiff in which a hook ladder could be seen. When the skiff came within half a nautical mile, the ship’s captain authorized the firing of warning shots.

“Maersk Alabama was approached by a suspicious skiff with four people and a ladder onboard,” said Kevin Speers a spokesman for Maersk Line Limited, the U.S.-flag subsidiary of Denmark’s Maersk Line.

“The captain followed the appropriate protocol and authorized an embarked security team to fire warning shots in order for the pirates to turn away. Shortly after, the small boat departed the area astern of the vessel,” Speers said in a statement.

Tuesday’s attempted hijacking was the third time pirates have tried to seize the U.S.-flag container ship. The first two attempts occurred in 2009.

(more…)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Maritime Security: Four Americans Killed By Pirates On Hijacked Yacht

Filed under: Kidnap And Ransom,Maritime Security,Military News,Somalia — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 1:52 PM

     After the grenade was fired at the Sterett, several pirates came on deck with their hands raised, as if trying to surrender, Fox said. The gunfire erupted on board almost immediately. But U.S. officers said it was not known whether the hostages had made an escape attempt or whether disagreements among the pirates prompted the firing.

“I can presume inside the vessel there was a lot of small-arms fire,” Fox said, but he noted that the Special Forces team did not have to fight its way onto the yacht.

     As the Special Forces team cleared the vessel, it discovered two pirates who already were dead. Another two were killed by U.S. personnel, one by gunfire and one by a knife, Fox said. 

     Not good, and rest in peace to these fallen hostages. It seems to me that these pirates are taking on a more violent approach. I will not speculate as to what happened out there that led to the pirates killing their hostages, and we will see from future reports as to the details. Until then, CENTCOM has made their statement on the matter.

      The other thing that grabbed my attention was the mention of a SEAL (I am assuming that US Personnel would be a SEAL) who killed a pirate with a knife?  Wow, that is some close quarters combat if you have to use a knife.  Although sometimes a knife would be the best tool for the job on a small vessel that has cramped and hidden quarters.  If someone pops out quickly, getting your gun on them might take too much time. Instead, there might have been a fight and once some minor distance was gained in the battle and the SEAL could have pulled out a pig sticker to take care of the problem. Who knows and I am sure more will follow in future reports on this? –Matt

DOD News Briefing with Vice Adm. Fox via Telephone from Bahrain on Somali Piracy Aboard the S/V Quest 

Official: Four Americans killed by pirates on hijacked yacht

Knife quote from the LA Times

U.S. forces respond to gunfire aboard the S/V Quest

U.S. forces respond to gunfire aboard the S/V Quest

CENTCOM Public Affairs

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 22, 2011) — At approximately 1 a.m. EST today, while negotiations were ongoing to secure the release of four American hostages, U.S. forces responded to gunfire aboard the pirated vessel (S/V) Quest. As they responded to the gunfire, reaching and boarding the Quest, the forces discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors. Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds.

“We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest,” said Gen James N. Mattis, U.S. Central Command Commander.

(more…)

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