Feral Jundi

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Company Spotlight: Nexus Consulting Group

Filed under: Company Spotlight,Maritime Security,Somalia — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 10:52 AM

O’Keefe said Nexus hires former U.S. military operatives such as Navy Seals who could disable a pirate skiff before it comes within range to launch a rocket-propelled grenade, the preferred weapon of pirates.

Having a proven deterrent aboard “is actually lowering the cost of kidnap and ransom insurance by as much as 40 percent” for the shipping lines who hire them, she said. -Elizabeth R. O’Keefe, a lawyer in Woburn, Mass., who represents Nexus and Murphy.

***** 

     I salute Shane Murphy and Nexus Consulting Group for not beating around the bush, and calling it like it is.  Mr. Murphy has witnessed first hand how these pirates operate, and the conclusions that he and his company have come to as to how to deal with these pirates and protect boats is spot on.  You must have weapons that give the boat standoff distance, so that these clowns can’t get in close and use their RPG’s.  Worse yet, the PKM can reach a boat at an even further distance, and the DShK can reach even further. All of these weapons are floating around in Somalia, and I guarantee that these pirates are investing in even better stuff with all of that money they have been making off of ransoms. You get the picture with this kind of arms race, and as these pirates become more desperate and more ruthless, the boats must have the kind of weapons and skills that will give the boat overwhelming fire superiority and the crews and security must have sound naval warfare strategies to deal with this stuff.

    By the way, they are looking for guys to put in their database, and just go through the link for their company here. –Matt

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Somali group puts out call to Seekonk’s Murphy

November 19, 2009

By Thomas J. Morgan and Donita Naylor

SEEKONK, Mass. — Attention Shane Murphy: The Somali Community Association of Ohio wants to take you out to dinner and ask for your help in protecting the Indian Ocean from pirates.

Murphy, of Seekonk, was chief officer of the Maersk Alabama in April when Somali-based pirates took over the ship. He no longer works for Maersk, but is still a merchant marine and consults for a private marine security company.

Bashir Haji, vice president of the Columbus, Ohio, Somali group, tried to reach Murphy on Wednesday after pirates attacking the Maersk Alabama were driven off by the ship’s crew armed with guns. Haji said the group wants to ask Murphy “to come to Columbus to give a speech about his ordeal with the pirates.”

(more…)

Maritime Security: ‘Duncan Falconer’ and the Company FSI Maritime

Filed under: Industry Talk,Kidnap And Ransom,Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 12:38 AM

“In Somalia, you know what the threat is: they sees ya, they chases ya, they shoots at ya and they climbs on board. That’s their technique. How do you mitigate that? Well, we’ve got intelligence sources from many recent incidents in the area; after that, it’s training the crew, preparation and reaction. Preparation is all the things you do before leaving port – training the crew, putting bars on windows, locks on the strongroom, mesh up to stop people climbing and so on.” But, he says, non-lethal force can only accomplish so much.

“At the end of the day, if you have 40 guys with RPGs and machine guns, they’re going to take your boat. And so your other option is lethal. This is where you have four or five men, with AK47s, and shoot anyone that comes near.” -Duncan Falconer

***** 

   What a background, and ‘Duncan’ has certainly been busy over the years.  What I found interesting about this article, is that if you track the history of guys like Duncan, you can see the trend lines for the industry as a whole.  Guys go where the money is, and as you can see from this story, kidnap and ransom, along with maritime security are the two big gigs that Duncan has been involved with. Obviously Iraq and Afghanistan have been big as well.

   The focus here though is on FSI Maritime, and Duncan’s quote up top.  It is the voice of reason coming from a professional.  For those of you that continue to tell shipping companies not to defend self or use armed guards, doom on you.  Force is the only thing these thugs understand. –Matt

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Fighting words

November 20, 2009

By Nick Ryan

Duncan Falconer has drawn upon his former life as a special forces soldier to become a best-selling author. Warren van Rensburg

After 10 years as an elite soldier, Duncan Falconer left the British Armed Forces to use his expertise to combat and negotiate with pirates and terrorists around the world. In his downtime he writes bestselling books. Nick Ryan meets the multi-talented man of action.”Kidnapping is the big business,” says Duncan Falconer. “You’ve got to understand that 86 per cent of the planet is below the poverty line. All these poor countries with a high criminal element – most of Africa, South America, etc – the Colombians taught us many years ago there was a lot of money to be made in kidnapping. Iraq – there were kidnapping rings set up all over the place: they weren’t kidnapping westerners, they were kidnapping rich Iraqis.”

Welcome to the sometimes deadly world of the private military contractor. PMCs, sometimes also known as private security contractors (PSCs), are modern-day mercenaries, earning vast sums protecting corporate interests in all the war-torn corners of the world. There are, or have been, tens of thousands of PMCs operating in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan, sometimes with controversial results – such as the slaying of 14 innocent Iraqis by the American outfit Blackwater, in Baghdad in 2007 (for which five men are facing charges in the USA); or the infamous video available on YouTube, showing PMCs from one British contractor shooting at passing cars from the back window of their vehicle.

(more…)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Maritime Security: Maersk-Alabama Gets Attacked Again by Pirates, Security Contractors Repel the Assault

Filed under: Industry Talk,Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 7:05 AM

“This is a great example of how merchant mariners can take proactive action to prevent being attacked and why we recommend that ships follow industry best practices if they’re in high-risk areas,” Gortney said in a statement.

However, Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at the London-based think tank Chatham House, said the international maritime community was still “solidly against” armed guards aboard vessels at sea, but that American ships have taken a different line than the rest of the international community. 

*****

   If I knew what company was being contracted to provide the security, I would totally credit them in this deal.  So if any of the readers have a clue, let me know and I will edit this thing.  Bravo to the security team for sticking it to these booger eaters. Also, I think Mr. Middleton should re-think his opinion on armed guards.  Every company out there has the right to defend itself, and in the face of this threat, bad language or LRADs do not work.  Pirates only understand the language of superior firepower. –Matt

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Maersk-Alabama Repels Suspected Pirate Attack

November 18, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease #195-09

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer

MANAMA, Bahrain – Motor Vessel (M/V) Maersk-Alabama came under attack from suspected pirates today at 6:30 a.m. local time while transiting 560 nautical miles off the northeast coast of Somalia.

Four suspected pirates in a skiff came within 300 yards of M/V Maersk-Alabama and used small arms weapons in an attempt to board the ship.

The security team embarked aboard Maersk-Alabama responded to the attack by using evasive maneuvers, Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs) and small arms fire, causing the suspected pirates to break off their attack.

“Due to Maersk Alabama following maritime industry’s best-practices such as embarking security teams, the ship was able to prevent being successfully attacked by pirates,” said Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. “This is a great example of how merchant mariners can take pro-active action to prevent being attacked and why we recommend that ships follow industry best practices if they’re in high-risk areas.”

No injuries or damage were reported aboard M/V Maersk-Alabama.

M/V Maersk-Alabama is proceeding to the ship’s initial destination of Mombasa, Kenya.

Suspected Somali pirates briefly seized M/V Maersk-Alabama off the coast of Somalia on April 8 and held the ship’s skipper, Capt. Richard Phillips, hostage for five days on a skiff. U.S. naval forces rescued Phillips on April 12, killing three suspected pirates and taking one into custody.

Story link here.

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Vice Adm. Bill Gortney of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said the Maersk Alabama had followed the maritime industry’s “best practices” in having a security team on board.

“This is a great example of how merchant mariners can take proactive action to prevent being attacked and why we recommend that ships follow industry best practices if they’re in high-risk areas,” Gortney said in a statement.

However, Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at the London-based think tank Chatham House, said the international maritime community was still “solidly against” armed guards aboard vessels at sea, but that American ships have taken a different line than the rest of the international community.

Read the rest here.

 

 

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Jobs: Maritime Support, OCONUS

Filed under: Jobs,Maritime Security — Tags: , , — Matt @ 12:14 PM

   Wow, talk about cool?  Back to back maritime security work!  I guess you can say that we are definitely starting to see a trend here.  The thing to remember with this stuff, is that as soon as it becomes acceptable practice to have security contractors on boats, then everyone is going to want them.  Simply because no one wants to have the boat that doesn’t have ‘security’.  The pirates will always go after the weakest boat, and doom on you if you don’t have security.

   Probably the next wave we will see, is that as soon as all the boats do get security on them, then you will see more kinetic attacks by the pirates.  They will get desperate, and they will try to take on one of these boats with armed security.  My fears are that the pirates will have weaponry that will outmatch that of a basic security detail on a boat, and overpower the vessel.

    Remember, you need an excellent defensive plan that accounts for all the what-ifs, and you need the right tools for the job in order to defeat the pirate and protect your vessel.  In essence, you need to be a hard target while floating out there on that lonely sea, and you have to plan on no one coming to your rescue in a timely manner.

   Also, I am not the POC or recruiter for this gig.  Follow the directions below, and apply on NEK’s website.  This is a good company folks, and I wish you all the luck if you apply. –Matt

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NEK

Title: Maritime Support

Post Date: 11/11/2009

Description:

NEK has an immediate requirement for individuals with extensive maritime tactical and operational experience to serve on a Maritime Support Team.

Qualifications:

– Special Operations and Maritime Operations background with extensive tactical and planning experience (US DOD or other recognized SOF organization). Must have operational knowledge in Security Survey, and Security Assessment Processes.

– Graduate of the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course or a Class 1 Sniper Course equivalent desired.

– Individual must have a current Passport and Medical Readiness paperwork complete and available to deploy OCONUS at a moment’s notice.

– Be physically fit and willing to live in austere environments for long periods of time.

All applicants must provide a current reference list, and all points of contact will be screened and must pass vetting process.

Hires will deploy for 30, 60, or 90 day rotations, all expenses paid. Pay will be equivalent to experience and skill sets provided and contract requirements.

Apply here.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Jobs: Team Leaders for Maritime Security, Gulf of Aden

Filed under: Jobs,Maritime Security,Somalia — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 12:42 AM

   I am not the POC or recruiter for this, and please follow the directions below if you want to apply for this job.  Oh, and do not post your resume in the comments section, because I will just delete it.  Good luck and let me know how the contract goes if you get on. –Matt

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TSL Consulting

TSL Consulting ltd. recruiting now few TL for a long term contract in Maritime Security .

We are looking for experienced Team Leader with:

– SIA license

– SSO course

– Previous experience in Armed escort mission in Maritime Sec.

– Experience GoA and Somalia coast

– Reference

We offer a one year contract, pay monthly, work on rotation, start immediatlly .

Please apply to cv@tslconsulting.com.

Please not apply without the requirements.

Thank you.

Website for TSL Consulting here.

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