The Triton - A good source of information for Florida yachtsmen

The folks at Triton (http://www.thetriton.com/) put out a great monthly paper.

This month, they remind us of the TWIC deadlines, and a host of other topics.

Highly recommended reading. Part of the job of security is awareness and knowledge, and this is a good place to start.

Somalia still in the news

Folks, there seems to be several stories regarding Somalia and the pirate gangs thereabouts. They seem to be focusing on holding the yacht/ship and crew for ransom, vice stealing the vessel or goods.

Lots of international attention, and implications in some of the cargoes being taken.

One sample link I found interesting: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,429663,00.html

Jobs: Armed Security, Louisiana and South Texas

Jobs: Armed Security, Louisiana and South Texas

from feraljundi.com by headjundi

I got this from Jeff, so thanks. -Head Jundi

—————————————————————–

As most of you know FEMA has contracted out for security in Louisiana and Texas. here is the requirement I have. They say they will take as many bodies as I can provide. Call me at the office so we can talk. Feel free to share this email with your other contacts.

Armed Security needed for post Hurricane recovery efforts in Louisiana and South Texas. Transportation provided. $1700 week Immediate requires for 30 days, billeting provided as well. Interested parties contact undersigned send me a resume if available in softcopy. Should have a handgun permit or security license from U.S. State or municipality and driver?s license.

VR

James Mattes

Director Special Operations Branch

Metropolitan Protective Service, Inc.

5001 Forces Blvd. Suite 200

Lanham Md. 20706

Phone 301-772-8278/3097/2412

Fax: 301-772-5099

Cell 301-442-2476

e-mail: mattesmps@yahoo.com

Good news from the Yemeni Government?

More visibility is a good thing in regards to building awareness. I just tend to be a bit leery of great, international efforts.

From the Noonsite news. (http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2008-09-18-1)

Yemen to establish three regional anti-piracy centers along the Gulf of Aden

The Yemeni government approved on Tuesday 9 September the establishment of three regional centers to combat maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Bab Al-Mandab Strait and to protect international maritime traffic in these areas.

The government declared that the three centers would be established in the port cities of Aden and Mukkalla, on the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea Port of Hudeidah. They would work to “enhance security and stability in the region and protect different ships from piracy.”

Sail-World.com report that Yemen will host the second regional meeting on combating piracy on 27-30 October, with 20 countries participating. Diplomatic sources said that Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Djibouti, Jordan, Somalia, Comoros, France, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, The Seychelle Islands, South Africa, Tanzania, Eritrea, Mozambique and Yemen would sign a memorandum of understanding to combat piracy.

Since the beginning of the year, over 34 ships, tankers and yachts have been hijacked in the region of the Horn of Africa and in the Gulf of Aden. Eight of these piracy acts have taken place since July and have aimed to sieze goods and kidnap crews of the ships in order to demand ransom.

For his part, Shuja Al-Deen Mahdi, general director of Coastguard operations, told the Yemen Times that international support for the three new anti-piracy centers would include providing them with equipment, modern liaison devices and boats, as well as new maritime platforms.

“We are in need of international support, especially from Gulf countries, to secure the coast of the Arabian Sea along the Abyan and Al-Mahrah governorates,” said Al-Mahdi, pointing out that most drug-smuggling operations from Africa and Asia cross this area on their way to Gulf countries.

He confirmed that Yemen was “currently unable to secure international navigation routes”, noting that this was despite the Yemeni Coastguard running five anti-piracy centers in Aden, Al-Buraiqah, Ras Amran, Khawr Al-Umrah in the Lahj governorate and in the Shaqrah region of the Abyan governorate.

He maintained that the Yemeni Coastguard Authority needs ten new fighter boats in order to be able to undertake its task properly and stay out at sea for weeks without coming back to the mainland for fuel. He said that the fighter boats available to the Yemeni Coastguard at present are incapable of carrying out long-term maritime tasks.

Watch out for "shady deals"

In the aftermath of the storms on the Gulf Coast, be aware of the market for "great deals:. Have your boat surveyed, and ensure a good ownership check is done. I have a feeling there are people who will attempt to take advantage of the situation.

Ike's victims: "Many hundreds, if not thousands, of vessels sunk"

By IBI Magazine (http://www.ibinews.com)

A BoatUS catastrophe team coordinator surveying the damage caused by Hurricane Ike told IBI this morning that "many hundreds, if not thousands," of boats were sunk by the winds and tidal surge. Ike roared ashore near Galveston, Texas, last Saturday, and left a path of devastation in marinas along the entire coast.

Officials have closed Galveston, which was hardest-hit, after tens of thousands of residents created a traffic nightmare yesterday while attempting to return to the barrier island southwest of Houston. The Associated Press reported that Texas search and rescue teams have pulled out of Galveston after checking on almost 6,000 people and performing more than 3,500 rescues. Fearing the possible onset of disease, town managers are pleading with residents still holed up in their homes to leave.

Galveston is also a major boating centre. Mike McCook, head of 15 members of the BoatUS catastrophe team on the ground in Texas, says that many hundreds of boats on the island were severely impacted by the hurricane. "If any survived undamaged, I would be surprised," he told IBI.

McCook estimates that "many hundreds, if not thousands" of boats were sunk by last weekend's hurricane. "The damage to boats and marinas is very broad, spread out about 400 miles along the coast," said McCook. "But it also went inland quite a ways, all the way north to Ohio and Pennsylvania, where boats were sunk because of flooding."

McCook says that, beyond Galveston, boating-intensive areas along the coast were also heavily damaged. "I spoke to the manager of the Watergate Marina and he said that of the 1,200 boats in his marina, 300 were sunk," said McCook. "I've also heard that dozens of boats in the Houston Yacht Club in La Porte were badly damaged."

Joel Rubin, owner of the Gulf Coast Marina and Boat Storage facility in Surfside, told IBI that he and his workers had heeded orders, boarded up their dry-stack facility and left town. When they returned, he had a pleasant surprise. "We took minimal damage," said Rubin. "It could've been a whole lot worse."

Rubin said that his building was rated for a category 2 hurricane and withstood the intense winds and surge. But he said that surrounding marinas and bridges did not fare so well. "Just looking at them, I can see they took a pretty good hit," he said.

IBI will provide further coverage as details emerge.

(18 September 2008)

Good news!

French forces rescued two recently kidnapped yachtsmen in Somalia in the last few days.

I hope we see more efforts like this.

Fatal Attack on French Cruising Couple in Venezuela

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2008-09-17-2/view

A French Catamaran skipper was shot dead during an attack last Sunday night – 14 September – on board his yacht at anchor outside Marina de Caraballeda, situated on the Central Litoral coast between La Guaira and Cabo Codera, Venezuela.

Caracas newspaper "El Universal", report that four robbers attacked French yacht "Chrisalide", using a pirogue to reach the yacht at anchor. In resisting the attack, Skipper Philip Armand Leudiere, age 61, was shot several times in the head. The second crew member on board, Philip’s wife Catherine Marie Therese de Leudiere, remained captive until the robbers had finished their looting, taking an undisclosed quantity of money and equipment.

It appears that the pirogue driver was scared on hearing the shooting down below and fled, leaving the remaining robbers to swim ashore. Mrs de Leudiere alerted police by firing a red flare when the robbers had left. It appears the couple did not hear the robbers board their yacht until they were down below.

This is not the first robbery or attack on a boat near Marina de Caraballeda, which frequently suffers petty theft and occasionally violence towards crews during robberies. However it is the first with this sad outcome.

Alfredo Penso of SV Irie, currently waiting for repairs to be finished to his yacht in Marina de Caraballeda, advises the following; "A note of caution to fellow sailors who visit our waters: Never, under any circumstances, anchor in the bay of Marina de Caraballeda for overnight stays. Please call VHF channel 16 to speak with the Marina Commodore or his assistant (they remain on duty during the daytime) and ask for help in anchoring. They will probably assign you a slip or even allow you to anchor inside the marina where they have security personnel".

Marina de Caraballeda is for public use and state owned and is officially closed for repairs due to the damage suffered during the 1999 land slides. However a lot of boats remain in the marina waiting to finish their repairs.

Sad news.

Our prayers go out to the family and friends.

Avast, me hearties!

At times, we need to not take ourselves so seriously 100 % of the time.

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

Enjoy Talk Like A Pirate Day.

Two links for Amel Super Maramu Carre D'as IV

Here are two links regarding a yacht seized off Somalia.

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2008-09-08-3/view

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2008-09-08-2

Please be cautious when dealing with other mariners in distress. The same principles governing helping people in distress on land (and scuba diving) should come into play - ensure you don't become a victim also.

Render assistance, just be smart and safe about it.

Again in Somalia

Reports of another yacht and crew taken off Somalia.

Be safe and aware wherever you travel the world, on land or sea. Sometimes shit happens, usually there are indicators and warnings. Be vigilant at all times - you'll probably enjoy the experiences a lot more, too, by paying more attention to the surroundings.

Drop me a line, let's start some dialogue going.

From "Soundings"

In the Sept 2008 issue, there are a couple of security-interest stories.

On page 12-13, a small story about the complexity/scope of security against the small boat threat.

On page 22, a few paragraphs about the pirate situation in Somalia.

On page 2 of the Florida Homewaters section, there is a small story about the airships that patrol the Straits. And a James Bond sighting in Panama.

Train hard, train smart. Be aware.

CODA news

http://www.nationalterroralert.com/updates/2008/08/11/new-underwater-anti-terrorism-technology-to-patrol-san-francisco-bay/

Coda Octopus Group, Inc. said today the Company’s Underwater Inspection System™ (UIS), developed in cooperation with the US Coast Guard, has been purchased by the Sheriff’s Office of Contra Costa County, CA. Contra Costa County will be the first on the West Coast to permanently deploy the UIS, developed after the 9/11 attacks to address the need for a new generation of port security technology to respond to underwater threats.