Feral Jundi

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Maritime Security: MPRI/L3 Awarded Maritime Security Work In Equatorial Guinea

Filed under: Equatorial Guinea,Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 11:11 PM

     Awhile back I posted the job ad for this contract, and it sounds like MPRI has been given the go for it.  For you guys that were on standby or are currently involved, congrats and I hope it works out for you.

     I am still a little foggy as to what exactly MSEP will entail, and there might be a little bit of everything there.  The original job ad had positions in security, search and rescue, detainee processing, information technology, logistics/maintenance, and administration. I suspect it will all be ‘teaching’, as opposed to ‘doing’.  But you never know with this stuff, and there might be a little bit of mentorship going on here. This is a PMC (or now maybe a PNC) standing up a coast guard for Equatorial New Guinea, and that is definitely significant.

     Also, MPRI has some experience with Equatorial Guinea, as well as other gigs in Iraq and Bosnia. This definitely diversifies their contracts and is a good move in my opinion (not everything is in Iraq, which is smart). If any MPRI guys are reading this and would like to fill in some blanks, we are all ears. –Matt

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L-3 Awarded Maritime Security Work in Equatorial Guinea

Feb. 24, 2010

NEW YORK (BUSINESS WIRE) — L-3 Communications announced today that its MPRI division has been awarded a $58 million firm-fixed-price task order with the government of Equatorial Guinea to establish a Maritime Security Enhancement Program (MSEP). This task order is the first part of a multi-year contract, with a potential value of approximately $250 million. The MSEP is designed to provide nationwide coastal surveillance coverage for the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

“This important contract award represents a strategic opportunity to contribute not only to the vital maritime security of Equatorial Guinea, but also provides a thoughtful approach toward establishing long-term stability for the entire region,” said Jim Jackson, general manager for MPRI’s International Group.

The MSEP envisions completion of a surveillance site network and operations centers in Equatorial Guinea within three years. This would be followed up by two years of sustainment and maintenance support for an estimated contract total of five years.

(more…)

Monday, February 15, 2010

Maritime Security: Defending Ships From Pirates ‘Slightly Smacks Of Vigilantism’, What?

Filed under: Maritime Security,Yemen — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 12:41 PM

     Small, fast boats with a handful of armed mariners are an “emerging way to handle the [piracy] problem in a safe way,” said Jim Jorrie, CEO of Espada Logistics and Security-MENA, a San Antonio-based company offering such services.

     But shipping industry experts frown on the practice.

     “It slightly smacks of vigilantism to me,” said Tony Mason, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping and International Shipping Federation. 

*****

   Yet again, who the hell does this Tony Mason dude think he is? This kind of leadership and commentary, is exactly what has made the piracy problem flourish in the first place. Where is the mention of the right to self defense?  Or does Tony not care about this basic human right on the high seas? This attitude just kills me, and it is guys like this that keep promoting it.

   If a company wants to protect it’s boat and people from armed pirates, then they should have every right in the world to do so.  If they want to put armed guys on a boat, or hire out the Yemeni Coast Guard to protect their goods and people, then so be it.

   And where does Mason get off on calling this Vigilantism?  What a terrible choice of words, and it is this attitude that got the shipping industry into the trouble it is in today.  You have pirates who are applying a business model that works, and is only empowering them to do more, and you have a shipping industry that would much rather roll the dice with pirates, or just pay the ransom.  It is this attitude of ‘non-action’, which is allowing this vile practice of piracy to flourish. Pffft. I call arming the boats self-defense, and certainly the right of all companies that care about the lives of their people.

   The other point that I wanted to mention, is the Yemeni Coast Guard and the Tanzanian Navy both being hired by shipping corporations, is pretty wild.  Talk about pre-Westphalia. lol –Matt

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Hired guns secure ships, stir controversy

By Sandra Jontz, Stars and StripesEuropean edition, Monday, February 15, 2010

NAPLES, Italy — As the world struggles to stop piracy in the waters off the coast of Africa and the Middle East, several companies have stepped forward to provide armed escort boats for commercial ships.

Small, fast boats with a handful of armed mariners are an “emerging way to handle the [piracy] problem in a safe way,” said Jim Jorrie, CEO of Espada Logistics and Security-MENA, a San Antonio-based company offering such services.

But shipping industry experts frown on the practice.

“It slightly smacks of vigilantism to me,” said Tony Mason, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping and International Shipping Federation.

(more…)

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Maritime Security: Lessons From Sri Lanka For Combating Terrorists At Sea

Filed under: Al Qaeda,Maritime Security,Somalia,Sri Lanka,Strategy — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 9:37 AM

   This was a cool little report, and I had no idea that LTTE was conducting swarming attacks like this. This also gives me pause in regards to our current maritimes security challenges.  What if Somali pirates started using swarming methods in order to take down boats?  Could a security team on a ship, hold off 25 to 30 speed boats, all buzzing around a ship like angry bees? Do security teams have the kind of firepower necessary to sustain a defense against something like this? Who knows, but it is something to think about.

   The other concern is if Al Qaeda and all of their little proxies started using the techniques of LTTE in order kick off some kind of sea based terror campaign?  Well low and behold, I just found a little report that barely got any mention of just such a thing. All I know is having a good defensive plan on a boat, with sufficient firepower (and a QRF if possible), will be key.  Especially for the ships that are massive floating bombs, like the natural gas tankers.  I could see a swarm attack against one of those just in order to capture it (much like terrorists hijacked a ship for their attack in Mumbai), then rig the thing for detonation and run it into a city port or industrial port somewhere.

   As for the professional navies out there and their defense?  I think they are pretty much covered for the defense, with plenty of armaments and surveillance stuff. But they are not immune either, and instances like the USS Cole attack in Yemen, are a prime example of such things. Check it out. –Matt

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Current maritime challenges, a Sri Lankan perspective

January 9, 2010

The summerised version of the speech delivered by Navy commander Vice Admiral TSG Samarasinghe at the biannual Langkawi International Maritime Conference and Maritime Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) at Langkawi Island, Malaysia in December 2009 on the theme “The changing nature of maritime security: challenges and the application of technology”.

Most of you seafarers, would have passed this Dondra-light many a time. As an island nation with this strategic location, the Sri Lanka Navy has a huge task and responsibility in protecting the territorial the contiguous and the Exclusive Economic Zone with the added responsibility of a large search and rescue region and in the near future a even large area after ratification of the continental margins.

(more…)

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Jobs: Armed Escort, Indian Ocean

Filed under: Indian Ocean,Jobs,Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , , , , — Matt @ 5:57 AM

   Sounds like an interesting gig if you can get on.  Notice the SIA license requirement, as well as the multi-language deal. I am seeing the SIA being more of requirement for security contracting internationally, and that license would certainly make you more marketable.  Maybe someone from the company can add some more commentary about this job?

   I also like hearing more usage of armed escorts, and this is the way to go in my opinion.  I am not sure how heavily armed these guys will be, but yet again, this is a vast improvement over the other types of gigs where LRADs, water cannons, and bad language are your only defense. –Matt

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TSL Consulting

TSL Consulting ltd. recruting now experienced operators and TL in maritime security for a 2 month contract.

Details :

– Armed task

– Transit Djibouti to Mombasa

– Transit 6/7 days

– Flight and accomodation payed

Requirement :

– Experience in armed escort in Indian Ocean

– SIA licence

– SSO course

– Multilanguage

Please apply at cv@tslconsulting.com

Website for TSL Consulting here.

*****

Company News for TSL Consulting.

2009-11-13 23:10:12 – MARITIME SECURITY LONG TERM CONTRACTTSL have now a long term contract to provide armed protection in GoA and Somalia coast.

2009-10-17 10:33:22 – TSL TRAINING CAMPTSL Consulting open a training division ,the training camp will be based in Czech Republic ,all details soon on the new web site .

2009-09-07 08:03:06 – MARITIME CONTRACTTSL have sign a new contract with a Middle east towing company for one year for the protection of tag boat and barge in transit in GoA . (more…)

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Maritime Security: Maersk Hires War Ship To Protect Tanker

Filed under: Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 11:45 AM

   I haven’t heard anything about Guardian GBS Security before, nor do I know anything about this warship they contracted out.  But if true, then that is pretty damn cool.  Although Blackwater is probably scratching their head right now, as they try to sell the MacArthur while it rusts away in Spain. If any of my Danish readers would like to add more to this story, I am all ears. –Matt

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Maersk hires war ship to protect tanker

Monday, 04 January 2010

Danish shippers are taking more extreme measures to provide safety for the fleets sailing in pirate waters

Danish shipper A.P. Moller Maersk has hired out soldiers and a warship from Tanzania to protect its fleet in pirate-ridden waters off the coast of Africa, and now other shippers are expected to follow suit.

Maersk hired the warship through former special forces soldiers working for firm Guardian GBS security in December 2008. The ship was charged with protecting the Brigit Maersk tanker from pirates. It is unknown how much the shipping company paid for the service.

 ‘The waters east of Africa are a grey zone because developing countries don’t have resources to fight pirates. It’s a temporary solution that a shipper has hired a warship from another country, but there’s no alternative,’ said Jan Fritz Hansen, vice-president of the Danish Shipowners’ Association.

(more…)

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