Feral Jundi

Monday, July 11, 2011

Maritime Security: Feral Jundi Survey–The Best Company To Work At For Maritime Security In 2011

Filed under: Industry Talk,Maritime Security,Surveys — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 3:11 PM

This is cool. On the internet there has been a list floating around that detailed all of the maritime security related companies out there to apply with. I thought I would make a survey based on this list and offer it up for the readership to participate in. You get one vote per computer and one company of choice. Once you vote, you get to see the results, so it is pretty simple and quick. I also apologize if any companies are missing that are relevant, and I think I can make some edits to this thing. If not, this is just a test to see how this goes, and I might do more of this type of thing in the future. Let me know what you think in the comments section, and this should be fun to see what company gets the title of Best Company To Work At For Maritime Security In 2011. (also, feel free to pass around the link to get more folks taking the survey)-Matt

Edit: 07/12/2011- I have closed down the survey and these are the results. I had to shut it down because someone decided to cheat on the thing. I won’t name names, but they know who they are. It is the weakness of such surveys like this, just because they work great all the way up until someone decides they want to cheat the system. A better survey is one that can minimize cheating, and automatically keep people honest. That is the reality of the internet I guess, and it is too bad. Here are the results for the top three companies, and take it for what it’s worth.

MAST 8 votes
PVI 7 votes
EOS Risk Management 5 votes

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Maritime Security: UN Reports That Piracy Ransoms Are Being Funnelled To Islamist Militants

Filed under: Al Qaeda,Kidnap And Ransom,Maritime Security,Somalia — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 9:55 PM

C-level Maritime’s Frodl said the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) carried out reviews of all potential ransom payments to determine if the pirate group in question had ever handed over part of a ransom to al Shabaab.
“Most times OFAC has authorized payment because it has found no link,” Frodl said. “But if there is indeed a 20% ’tax’ being applied by Shabaab against pirate ransoms in Haradhere, a major pirate hub it now controls, then things could change.”

Boy, this is very interesting if true. The consequences could mean that the payment of ransoms would be illegal, because that money would be funding terrorism. Although I have already talked about the jihadist privateer concept awhile back, so it does not surprise me that there would be a connection between Al Shabab and pirates.

It is just one way to fund their jihad, and it also helps the pirates be effective by supplying weapons and safe haven. 20 % is also a pretty sizable chunk.  Eventually I would imagine that the pirates would port somewhere else to avoid this jihad tax, or that Al Shabab would get into the business to cut out the non-affiliated pirate middle men. Interesting stuff. –Matt

Piracy ransoms funnelled to Islamist militants: U.N.

Jul 6, 2011
By Richard Lough funnelled
Ransoms paid to Somali pirates to free merchant vessels are ending up in the hands of Islamist militants, laying shipping groups open to accusations of breaching international sanctions, U.N. officials told Reuters.
John Steed, the principal military adviser to the U.N. special envoy to Somalia and head of the envoy’s counter-piracy unit, said links between armed pirate gangs and Somalia’s al Qaeda-affiliated rebels were gradually firming.
“The payment of ransoms just like any other funding activity, illegal or otherwise, is technically in breach of the Somalia sanctions regime if it makes the security situation in Somalia worse,” said Steed.
“Especially if it is ending up in the hands of terrorists or militia leaders — and we believe it is, some directly, some more indirectly,” said Steed, a retired military officer.

(more…)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Weapons: MICOR Leader 50 Lightweight Bullpup .50 BMG

Filed under: Maritime Security,Weapons — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 1:03 PM

This is cool. The MICOR Leader 50 weighs 17 lbs. and is a semiautomatic, magazine fed bullpup .50 BMG! In the video, the manufacturer says it is accurate out to 2000 yards as well, and I think that would make this weapon an outstanding choice for ship security.
It answers several needs for this industry. It is compact, lightweight, and portable. A weapon like this gives the shooter quick follow up shots and the ability to quickly reload with a ten round magazine. This is important, because if you want to take out the engine of a boat at distance, a weapon like this will help you to get on target and adjust quickly.
A semiautomatic weapon can also help a team to engage multiple boats, and at distance. This is important, because you do not want these boats maneuvering close enough to the vessel so they can use their weapons at an effective range. A pirate that can lob shots at a boat, without any fear of the return fire, is a dangerous pirate and certainly a threat to your vessel.
Think PKM’s, RPG’s, Dragunov SVD’s, AK-47’s, and what kind of weapons your security team can carry to not only compete with these weapons, but actually give you an advantage over them. A weapon like the MICOR Leader 50, along with good supportive weapons, a sound strategy, a well led and trained team, all could give you the edge out there.
Now I cannot fully endorse this weapon quite yet, just because I have yet to hear any serious tests or real world usage of the thing. Once the gun community puts this weapon through the paces, then we will get a good idea about how it stacks up. But I do support the concept of giving the armed security team out there, every advantage they can get.
Here is another reason why I support this kind of weaponry. Today’s pirate forces are evolving and seeking advantage too. The amount of money each ransom brings in (4 to 5 million), is only increasing, and only fueling today’s piracy operations. They will do everything they can to protect their money making machine, much like the cartels in Mexico protect their cash machines called drug sales. With more revenue, comes more options for these pirates, and each pirate company out there will take the path that will help them to secure a capture.
At this time, if only 10 percent of the boats that transit through pirate infested waters have armed security, then the other 90 percent will be the group these pirates will focus in on. But what happens when that 10 percent becomes 80 or 90 percent with armed security? These pirates will have a choice–go back to fishing at home and being poor, or attempt to take down the armed vessels to maintain their business. Yet again, the cartels of Mexico are a good example of how powerful this profit motive is, and what men are willing to do to keep the money coming in.
To underestimate the lethal effects of that kind of entrepreneurial death machine, or offense industry, is a lesson that the entire world is learning and experiencing as we speak. Doom on those security companies and shipping companies who think they can compete against such offense industries, by poorly paying, equipping and ‘arming’ their security teams. –Matt


Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Maritime Security: Sea Transport Firm May Drop Dutch Flag Over Piracy Rules

Filed under: Maritime Security,Netherlands — Tags: , , , , , , — Matt @ 12:07 PM

Wow, this is quite the story.  Here is a Dutch company pleading with their government for them to authorize the use of private armed security on their ships. We are talking about the basic right of self defense here, and their government does not support this.

It also shows the kind of urgency that companies are experiencing. As more shipping companies contract armed security for their vessels, the pirates will be forced to focus their attention on unarmed or minimally armed vessels. If they know that certain flagged vessels are not allowed to have armed guards, well then guess who the pirates will attack?

Now I also wanted to mention another trend that is going on out there that must be looked at.  If you are the owner of a shipping company and are wanting to contract the services of a PSC or PNC, then you need to make sure that this team is in fact armed sufficiently to defend your vessel. Shotguns loaded with bird shot or old bolt action rifles are not sufficient weapons to defeat PKM’s, AK 47’s, or RPG’s–the preferred weapons of today’s pirates.

The reason why I mention this is that I am hearing reports from security contractors that are actually armed with such pathetic weapons, all because the company does not want to invest in sufficient fire power or are unwilling to go through the hoops to get that stuff.  To top it off, the companies are just throwing the weapons overboard before they come into port to avoid any legal problems. That has got to change, because if the ‘armed’ maritime security industry wants to maintain it’s excellent protection record on this seaborne battlefield, it must have sufficient weapons and arming authority.

Nor is having a couple of Glocks on a boat sufficient.(I am still shaking my head on that one, yet they still repelled the assault) Nor is having a total dependence on less than lethal munitions as a deterrence the right strategy. In this arms race on the sea, a team must have the tools necessary to repel an enemy assault. Current reports suggest that pirates are not using shotguns loaded with bird shot, bolt action rifles, or pistols. They are using the big stuff, and they have plenty of money to buy the big stuff.(thanks to all of these ransoms that are paid out)

I have also heard of companies poorly treating their security guards, or paying them a wage that is not the industry standard. What kind of folks do you think a company attracts when they pay so poorly? You be the judge, and I wouldn’t want that kind of force protecting a natural gas tanker/chemical tanker, or millions of dollars in boat and cargo. You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

Basically, there are companies out there that are providing guard forces that are low paid and insufficiently armed and equipped. A shipping company that is shopping around for a guard force must really get into the details of what a sufficient guard force is.  They need to look at the operational history of that company, they need to look at the weapons and equipment used, the strategies and tactics used, and most importantly, they need to look at the reputation of that company.  A great way to shop is to actually ask the contracted guard force what they think of their company or their operational capabilities. Or you can ask some of the larger trade groups that deal with security contractors, and get some suggestions that way. Do not trust the slick sales tactics of shady companies who do not have the courage or desire to do things right.

The point is, you get what you pay for.  If you picked a security company because they were the cheapest, then doom on you.  If your vessel gets taken by pirates, or your crew is hurt/killed because of a poorly armed, poorly paid and poorly organized guard force, then that is your fault!  Of course you want to look at pricing for this stuff, but you also want the best value guard force that money can buy. Do the research and find the companies that are capable.

There are also no CORS or contracting officers overseeing your decisions. There is nothing to force you to use a capable guard force.  Although you are private industry, and should care about money well spent.

Oh, and you can certainly bet that the pirates will judge your choices and make you pay in blood and treasure for your poor investment in security…. –Matt

Sea transport firm may drop Dutch flag over piracy rules
June 8, 2011
Dual Dutch-Norwegian listed ocean transport company Dockwise has warned the Netherlands it will sail its vessels under a different flag unless it is allowed private guards to fend off pirates.
The company said in a statement on Tuesday it was making an urgent appeal to the Dutch government to remove some legal barriers to allow for armed private protection to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
Piracy has emerged as a major security risk for maritime firms, with the European Union saying the first three months of 2011 were the worst on record with 77 attacks and hijackings, up from 36 in the same period of 2010.
But the use of defensive military force at sea remains largely the preserve of states which are often reluctant to allow modern-day cargo ships, with their often multinational crews and ownership structures, to use weapons.

(more…)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Funny Stuff: Somali Pirates Cut Ransoms To Clear Hijacked Ships

Filed under: Funny Stuff,Kidnap And Ransom,Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , , , — Matt @ 2:58 PM

This is a little old and I am surprised I missed this. But better late than never. I think this speaks volumes as to how bad this piracy thing really is.  We have all the navies of the world, expending millions of dollars every day in hunting pirates and trying to put a stop to this thing–and these pirates are more successful than ever. This is an example of how effective an Offense Industry can be.  These pirates have an incentive to attack commerce, and despite all the threats to their operations, they continue to thrive.

Also, to clarify here, I despise these criminals. I do not think that hostage taking/killing/torturing or piracy itself is funny.  If anything, I am laughing at our pathetic response to this scourge. I would like to cheer on the modern nations of the world in eradicating this problem, but it’s hard to do that when the pirates are this successful. Ridiculously successful matter of fact. They are achieving results with their ever evolving offense industry, and the rest of the modern world just falters. In this case, you just have to laugh at this one. –Matt

Somali pirates cut ransoms to clear hijacked ships
By Mohamed Ahmed and Abdi sheikh
Sunday March 13, 2011
Somali pirates said on Sunday they would lower some of their ransom demands to get a faster turnover of ships they hijack in the Indian Ocean.
Armed pirate gangs, who have made millions of dollars capturing ships as far south as the Seychelles and eastwards towards India, said they were holding too many vessels and needed a quicker handover to generate more income.
“I believe there is no excuse for taking high ransoms. At least each of our groups holds ships now,” pirate Hussein told Reuters from Hobyo on the Somalian coast. He said the pirates were holding more than 30 ships at the moment.

(more…)

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress