Global Maritime Crime Update: 6 – 14 January 2011

PERU:

• Vehicle carrier was robbed 9 Jan at Callao anchorage, Peru.

NIGERIA:

• Chemical tanker robbed and hijacked 11 Jan 15NM off  Lagos, Nigeria.
• Two fishing trawlers were attacked and boarded on 10 Jan 11 while at the Fairway Buoy off of Bonny, Nigeria
• Chemical tanker was boarded and robbed 9 Jan while at anchorage 7NM off Lagos, Nigeria.

RED SEA:

• Bulk carrier (ORIENT CRUSADER) was fired upon 10 Jan approximately 31NM NE of Al Hudaydah, Yemen.

INDIAN OCEAN:

• Vessel (LEOPARD) was fired upon and boarded 12 Jan approximately 263NM ESE of Salalah, Oman
• Tanker (ALPINE PERSEFONE) was attacked 11 Jan approximately 380NM west of Goa, India
• Tanker (BARBAROSA) was fired upon 11 Jan approximately 290NM east of Salalah, Oman.
• Bulk carrier (HONG OCEAN) was chased 8 approximately 115NM SE of Salalah, Oman
• Tanker (BW BAUHINIA) was attacked 7 Jan approximately 180NM ESE of Ras al Hadd, Oman
• Bulk carrier (ACHILLEAS) was fired upon 6 Jan approximately 220NM ESE of Ras Al Hadd, Oman.
• LPG Carrier (BW AUSTRIA) was fired upon 6 Jan at approximately 205NM ESE of Ras Al Hadd, Oman.
• Tanker (FRONT WARRIOR) was fired upon 6 Jan approximately 503NM NE of Mumbai, India.

GULF OF ADEN:

• Oil supply ship (BOURBON HESTIA) was chased 12 Jan approximately 50NM SW of Aden, Yemen
• Oil supply ship (BOURBON HECTOR) was chased 12 Jan approximately 50NM SW of Aden, Yemen

Further details can be found in the ONI Report posted in the Forum.

US able to destroy North Korea missiles

WASHINGTON — The United States would be able to destroy North Korea’s long-range missile capabilities if it decides they pose too great a threat, the top US general in South Korea said in an interview released Thursday.

The comments come after US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, on a visit this week to North Korea’s main ally China, warned that Pyongyang was expected to be able to hit the continental United States within five years.

“What we have to be prepared to do is to be able to, number one, deter. But if deterrence doesn’t work, be prepared to respond,” General Walter Sharp, commander of the US forces in Korea, told the “PBS Newshour” on US public television.

Asked if the United States could destroy North Korea missile sites if it chose to, Sharp said: “The alliance has that, that capability to be able to do that.”

Iran commissioned new coastal defense missile systems

New coastal defense missile systems were commissioned in Iran, report Iranian news agencies. 

Iranian defense minister Ahmad Vahidi and naval force commander Admiral Habibollah Sayari attended the commission ceremony held on Jan 3, reports ITAR-TASS. 

"New systems are products of the national defense industry. They are equipped with state-of-the-art radar systems and are capable to detect, track, and hit several targets at once", said the defense minister at the press conference. He reminded about Iran's long sea border which needs reliable protection. 

There was not reported about operational range of new Iranian missiles. 

When on June 9, 2010 UN Security Council adopted a resolution introducing additional sanctions against Iran, Russia canceled obligations of contract signed in 2007; that contract provided deliveries of Russian SAM systems S-300 to Iran. Afterwards, Iranian military officials said they would apply all energies to develop their own long-range air defense systems.

Photo Release: First Vertical Landing For BF-2

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Fred Schenk pilots F-35B test aircraft 

BF-2 for its first vertical landing in short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) mode on January 6,

2011. The F-35B is undergoing testing and evaluation during the program’s system design 

and development phase at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Photo courtesy Phaedra Loftis

(Lockheed Martin).

Japan to hold naval drills in East China Sea

TOKYO (BNS): Japan will hold a naval drill involving US warships in the East China Sea on Monday, the Defence Ministry has said.

The exercise to be held to the west of the Kyushu Island will involve USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), a US Navy Nimitz class super carrier capable of carrying 90 fighter jets and helicopters, and US destroyers, it said.

According to media reports, the drills are aimed at deterring possible naval operations by North Korea and China.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following the shelling of South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island by the North in November last year.