Feral Jundi

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Maritime Security: US Firm ESPADA Services Provides Armed Escorts To Curb Pirate Attacks, Somalia

Abdinoor, chief executive officer of African Shipping Line, Espada’s local agentEspada has 14 vessels with armed personnel who will offer security from the East African ports to Yemen.

Most of the firm’s security team have military training and experience in defending ships, Mr Abdinoor said.

Espada has 50 personnel, and expects to increase this to 150 when physical escort along the Somali waters takes ships in the coming months.

Interesting little bit of news there and below I have provided their career section page with an email to send a resume too. Although I am sure they have tons of guys already on the books but still, it doesn’t hurt to get your resume out there.  Hopefully they will pop up in the comments section like they have done in the past, and fill in any blanks or add any new information about this potential increase in jobs and size of contract. Good news to them and bravo for getting the job done! –Matt

ESPADA Logistics and Security Group website here.

African Shipping Lines website here.

Edit: 10/28/2010 – Jim was kind enough to come up in the comments section and correct the record of this article. It seems the numbers offered in the article are a little off. Check it out.

Matt,

While Espada has greatly expanded its security operations in the area….we do NOT have 14 vessels operating in the Indian Ocean. We have 3 vessels we use on charter when needed for special security projects (cable-layers, barges, heavy lift, etc). Also, we are NOT investing $50M in the region….only a fraction of that amount. We have partnered with African Shipping Lines for regional support…but need to have better coordination on any press releases so that facts are accurately communicated. Reputation is everything and I would rather under report what we are doing than exaggerate our position. We have worked very hard to get where we are by delivering to customers what we say we can…not by puffing smoke.

You are correct that we have a large pool of talent waiting for open positions. However, I would still encourage QUALIFIED MARSEC personnel to apply through our website as we are expanding rapidly to meet new contract demands.

As always, I am available for further clarification and discussion.

– Jim Jorrie CEO, Espada Marine Services

Edit: 06/09/2011- At this time, Feral Jundi does not endorse this company.  I have received multiple negative reports from contractors that have worked for this company, and I am not at all impressed with the way they are operating. Buyer beware….Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Also please check out this thread on SOCNET about Espada.

US security firm provides armed escort to curb pirate attacks

By GITHUA KIHARA and GALGALO BOCHA

Wednesday, October 27 2010

A private US security firm is working with a Mombasa-based shipping line to provide armed escort to ships using the East Coast of Africa in a bid to order to reduce piracy along Somalia’s coast.

Espada Logistics and Security Group, based in San Antonio, Texas, plans to invest up to $50 million to boost its vessels, which will be deployed in East Africa to escort vessels from the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam to Yemen.

Ships are currently avoiding the Somalia waters and are taking a longer route, said Mr Ibrahim Ahmed Abdinoor, chief executive officer of African Shipping Line, Espada’s local agentEspada has 14 vessels with armed personnel who will offer security from the East African ports to Yemen.

Most of the firm’s security team have military training and experience in defending ships, Mr Abdinoor said.

Espada has 50 personnel, and expects to increase this to 150 when physical escort along the Somali waters takes ships in the coming months.

(more…)

Friday, October 8, 2010

Maritime Security: Ascot Underwriting Agrees To Join JLT’s Fight Against Somali Pirates

     Here is an update to the whole private navy thing. This is an important step to the process, and they are getting all their ‘ducks lined up in a row’. What these guys are waiting on now is for the British government to approve this. And get this, there might be a chance for an issuing of the Letter of Marque. It was discussed by some industry folks on that video I posted, and I am sure that conversation has been had elsewhere throughout this whole process?

     If this happens, this would be a very significant event in terms of the legal use of private industry for actions such as this. The historical significance would equally be awesome. Who knows and I will keep an eye out on this one. If anyone comes up with anything interesting, by all means let me know. –Matt

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Ascot agrees to join JLT’s fight against Somali pirates

07-10-2010

By Sam Barker

£10m joint venture would create fleet of armed patrol boats

Lloyd’s insurer Ascot Underwriting is working with JLT on the broker’s plans for a private navy to protect ships against Somali pirates.

The £10m JLT proposals would create a fleet of around 20 armed patrol boats to protect ships from Somali pirates. Ascot has proposed to underwrite the shipping escorted by the JLT private navy.

Ascot underwriter for marine hull Andrew Moulton said: “We have been working with JLT to provide a framework of potential insurance coverages in the event that the convoy escort programme receives support from the wider shipping community and, most importantly, gets the backing of EU Naval Force Somalia.”

(more…)

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Maritime Security: Maersk Line, CMA CGM, And MSC Unite In Piracy Fight

The three lines also called for other steps to be taken, including creation of an effective regional coast guard and possible transit corridors to East Africa.

Meanwhile most shipowners are reluctant to have guns onboard, with Maersk repeating its opposition to armed personnel on its ships while MSC is reviewing the situation after several piracy incidents.

“We do not have armed guards at the moment but we are considering their use, to protect our crew, the ship and the cargo,” MSC assistant operations manager Pasquale Ferraro said. 

*****

     Interesting news. I think what we are seeing here is a consolidation of companies to help alleviate costs for such things as protection of ships.  Strength in unity and economy of scale stuff here. So with that said, will we see investments from this trio towards this ‘effective regional coast guard’? And is this coast guard going to be operated by a private company or what?

     Or perhaps they are referring to the insurance backed private navy that was discussed earlier? The insurers that Maersk works with is Chubb and Marsh.  Could these two insurers be contemplating what JLT has been proposing?

     The other story that I attached to this one, is the increase of piracy off the coast of Nigeria.  Africa Energy Intelligence is reporting on all of the security company activity there in regards to increased threats to the energy sector. The insurgency (MEND) will get stronger because piracy will soon become a source of income that will only increase the strength and capability of that insurgency. Bottom line is that they are copying what the Somali pirates are doing, and will use that money for their fight against the oil interests and government in that country.

     So protecting boats from Nigerian pirates, Jihadist pirates, and Somali pirates is slowly becoming a focus of the companies and those that insure them. Because paying ransoms only makes piracy, terrorism, and land based conflict worse by inadvertently financing those activities. Interesting stuff. –Matt

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Box trio unite in piracy fight

Sep 22, 2010

Maersk Line, CMA CGM and MSC are joining up to draw attention to the continued threat of piracy.

The carriers also intend to swap ideas about how best to tackle the problem, which is likely to worsen as the monsoon season comes to an end.

With no sign that piracy attacks are likely to recede, the three lines are hoping their combined voice will send out a clear message that more needs to be done to safeguard commercial shipping lanes.

(more…)

Friday, October 1, 2010

Letter Of Marque: LoM Discussed On Show About Insurance Company’s Private Navy

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Military News: US Marines Gain Control Of The M/V Magellan Star From Pirates

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