Please Note
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Regards
Snooper
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THE ZAC SUTHERLAND UPDATE
Zac's Blog
My name is Zac Sunderland and I am 17 years old. I departed 14th June 2008 from Marina del Rey, California in an attempt to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the world alone by yacht.
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Further tales from our long haired solo sailor !
Photo : Jen Edney,
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Fun Zac Video
Hello All, Mom here...
Just had a nice talk with Zac who was unpacking groceries from the rental car and checking off a list with way too many things to do today. He apologizes for the bloglessness.
Laurence is heading out today so they are prioritizing and scheming how to spend the morning.
Meanwhile, Skype's blogger, Howard Wolinsky, stayed up late to videotape his interview with Zac. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and hope you do too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei-ZSKvK354
Blog with photos soon!
posted by Zac at 11:11 PM
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Visit www.zacsutherland.com
YouTube Videos http://www.youtube.com/zacsvideos
Blog http://www.zacsunderland.com/blog/
Email zacsworldadventure@yahoo.com
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Mike Perham aged 16, the youngest person to sail across the atlantic solo now has his eye's on an even more adventurous challenge.
To become the youngest person to sail around the world solo in an open 50 racing yacht.
No Updates ……..
Visit : http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/
Blog : http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/?cat=5
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Navy Warship to Be Sent to Lebanon
Indonesia will deploy a warship in a United Nations peacekeeping mission for the first time when the Sigma-class corvette KRI Diponegoro sails for Lebanon on Monday, the Navy announced on Wednesday.
The Navy spokesman, First Adm. Iskandar Sitompul, said the ship, now at Surabaya’s Dermaga Ujung Naval Base, would join warships from France, Greece, Spain, Germany and Turkey in the UN’s Maritime Task Force.
Sitompul said the Navy chief, Adm. Tedjo Edhy Purdjiatno, had visited Surabaya earlier this week for a final inspection of the Diponegoro, and a UN team had earlier visited to check its suitability for the deployment.
“The ship and all the crews have completed the preparation procedures and are now ready to go,” he said.
The Diponegoro will carry 100 crew members.
“All of them will enter naval history,” Sitompul said. “It is the first time we have sent a warship on a UN mission.”
The Diponegoro carries a 76-millimeter multifunction cannon, antisubmarine torpedoes and a helicopter.
Sitompul said the task force’s main role was to provide support for a UN resolution aimed at blocking dangerous weapons and related materials from entering Lebanon.
“The ship will be deployed in Lebanon for six months and will come home in September,” Sitompul said. A replacement ship would then be sent if the UN requested one, he said.
More than 1,100 Indonesian soldiers are already participating in the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, which has a total of 13,000 personnel.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s son, Capt. Agus Harimurti, served in a previous mission from 2006 until 207.
Over the years, Indonesia has deployed soldiers to UN peacekeeping missions in conflict zones, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Egypt, Georgia, Iraq, Kuwait, Mozambique, the Philippines and Somalia.
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/national/article/8631.html
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Protests as US warship docks in Nagasaki
2 hours ago
TOKYO (AFP) — A US warship docked Thursday in Nagasaki to the protests of residents and a boycott by local leaders who said the visit was in poor taste in a city obliterated by a US atomic bomb.
The USS Blue Ridge, which is stationed in Yokosuka near Tokyo, sailed to Nagasaki with a stated goal of promoting friendship between Japan and the United States.
Hundreds of residents including atomic bomb survivors chanted, "We are opposed to the port call!" as the 19,600-ton vessel arrived in the southwestern city.
"We don't want to see the US flag flying at this port and this feeling will not change until the United States takes a policy towards the elimination of nuclear weapons," Osamu Yoshitomi, an official at Nagasaki city, told AFP.
Nagasaki's mayor and regional governor both refused to take part in the welcome ceremony after unsuccessfully asking Japanese and US authorities to cancel the visit.
The United States stations more than 40,000 troops in Japan under a post-World War II alliance. Under a 1960 agreement, local authorities do not have the right to refuse US warships' port calls.
It was the seventh visit by a US military vessel to the city of Nagasaki. The US Navy also maintains a major base in the nearby city of Sasebo, part of Nagasaki prefecture.
Nagasaki Mayor Tomohisa Taue regretted the timing of the visit, saying that atomic bomb survivors had been optimistic that newly installed US President Barack Obama would move towards nuclear abolition.
"Nagasaki cannot accept a port call which rouses anxiety in a city hit by an atomic bomb," Taue said in a statement.
Some 70,000 people died on August 9, 1945 when US forces dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Three days earlier, another atomic bomb killed more than 140,000 people in Hiroshima.
Japan surrendered on August 15, ending World War II.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h2ythQz1593qkDYkd0OJ0kq_IWUg
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USS San Antonio Sailor Missing
Last Edited: Wednesday, 04 Feb 2009, 10:31 AM EST
Created On: Wednesday, 04 Feb 2009, 10:10 AM EST
MANAMA, Bahrain - The Navy is searching for a missing sailor from the USS San Antonio after an incident Wednesday morning in the Gulf of Aden.
According to officials, an 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) flipped while it was being lowered into the water from the San Antonio.
Three sailors from the boat were thrown into the water.
The Navy says the incident happened as the San Antonio was preparing to conduct routine personnel transfers to another U.S. ship operating in the Gulf of Aden. The tending line and the RHIB crane cable became hooked, causing the boat to flip over.
Two sailors were recovered and were not injured, a third sailor is still missing.
The ship is currently conducting search and rescue efforts.
The name of the missing sailor is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The accident is under investigation and no further details are available at this time.
The San Antonio, the first ship in its class, is the command ship for Combined Task Force (CTF) 151. The multinational task force conducts counterpiracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
This is the San Antonio's first deployment.
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/military_wavy_bahrain_USSSanAntonioSailorMissing_20090204
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Somali pirate says colleagues quit Ukrainian ship
1 hour ago
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Somali pirate says some pirates have left a Ukrainian ship carrying tanks they have held for five months.
The move comes a day after the pirates reportedly received a ransom.
Aden Abdi Omer tells The Associated Press 14 gunmen disembarked from the MV Faina with their commander Thursday. He says the group has sent two boats to collect more than two dozen other pirates still on board.
Mikhail Voitenko, a spokesman for the ship's owners, has said the pirates received their ransom Wednesday. Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency put it at $3.2 million. The pirates originally demanded $20 million.
The MV Faina was carrying 33 tanks and other weapons when it was seized in September.
Pirates attack some 100 ships off Somalia last year.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gB7YMEDuCwwY9ncDOtPAkEI4-H2wD96593NG0
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EU mulls Baltic Sea strategy
PHILIPPA RUNNER
Today @ 08:11 CET
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission and the upcoming Swedish EU presidency are planning to generate fresh political momentum for cleaning up the Baltic Sea and connecting Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to EU energy grids.
The "Baltic Sea Strategy" - the EU's first regional-level policy - is to create a new club for the eight Baltic coastal countries which may in future meet regularly at foreign minister level to push forward local-interest projects.
The club will not have its own budget or secretariat but is likely to be supported by a new cell in the commission's regions department, which is responsible for spending the lion's share of EU annual funds.
The move "seeks to fulfill the potential of the 2004 enlargement" in the words of the commission's draft policy blueprint, which suggests that existing regional organs like the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) have seen little action in past years.
The commission aims to present a final Baltic Sea "communication" to EU states in May in time for adoption by the Swedish EU presidency's autumn summit. Implementation could begin in 2010.
Quirks of geography make the Baltic Sea vulnerable to pollution. Just 50 to 60 metres deep on average, it is linked to the oceans by the narrow Kattegat strait, meaning its waters are renewed once every 30 years.
The sea is ringed by heavily-industrialised countries like Germany and Poland and at any given time hosts 15 percent of the EU's entire trading fleet, with oil and liquid gas tankers prominent among the traffic.
Summertime algae blooms feeding off badly-treated sewage already make swimming a poor prospect in areas such as the Gulf of Finland or the Gulf of Riga.
To make matters worse, German and Russian WWII-era ammunition - including up to 350,000 tonnes of chemical weapons - litters the sea bed. Germany and Russia plan in spring to start laying the "Nord Stream" gas pipeline across the submerged minefield.
Meanwhile, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are cut off from the EU's electricity grids. With a looming shutdown of Lithuania's nuclear facility, the post-Soviet countries fear becoming wholly dependent on Russia for powering factories and homes.
Phosphates and power cables
The commission's emerging wish-list of projects includes building a string of new sewage plants around the Baltic rim, banning the use of phosphates in detergents and the use of hazardous metals such as mercury and cadmium.
Other ideas could see the development of a common surveillance system for Baltic coastguards to prevent ship collisions and collisions with ice.
Shipwrecks containing toxic chemicals are to be cleaned up. The WWII-era ordnance is to be more accurately mapped and, where possible, taken up or sealed in concrete.
The policy will not address the viability of Nord Stream, which has become a matter for national environmental courts and foreign policy.
But it will accelerate laying power cables from the post-Soviet EU countries to Sweden, Finland and Poland. Electricity-trading is to be made easier by the creation of an "integrated internal market for energy in the Baltic Sea region."
The autumn signature of the EU leaders is seen as vital for getting work done in an area that has seen countless "recommendations" fall by the wayside in recent years.
"We really need a high-level commitment, a sense of responsibility from entire governments," an EU official said, adding that the policy launch will also generate public pressure.
"The [energy] inter-connector plan is already important in the Baltic states [Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania], but it needs political weight in Sweden and Finland."
http://euobserver.com/9/27545
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Medvedev vows aid as Kyrgyzstan looks to close US base
By Isabel Gorst
Published: February 5 2009 02:00 | Last updated: February 5 2009 02:00
Kyrgyzstan's government asked parliament yesterday to approve its decision to close a US military base on its territory after Russia offered $2bn of emergency aid to the impoverished central Asian country.
Russia also said it would write off Kyrgyzstan's debt in exchange for control of a secret torpedo plant that equips the Russian navy. Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Kyrgyz president, said the deal would help to underpin the economy.
Moscow denied a connection between the $2bn (€1.6bn, £1.4bn) package to combat an economic crisis - the equivalent of about half of Kyrgyzstan's gross domestic product - and Bishkek's decision to close the Manas base.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russian president, said: "In the conditions of an economic crisis, this [package] is a serious and important contribution to the economic growth of Kyrgyzstan."
Mr Medvedev distanced himself from the Kyrgyz announcement about closing the base, saying it was "within the competence of the Kyrgyz republic" to decide how Manas functioned.
Grigory Karasin, Russia's deputy foreign minister, described the move as "a sovereign and well thought out decision by Kyrgyzstan".
The US base was established with Russia's blessing in 2001 to support the campaign to overthrow the Taliban in Afghanistan. However, Russia has since called for the removal of US bases from central Asia, an area traditionally in its zone of influence.
Moscow was prepared to co-operate with the US coalition to stabilise Afghanistan, even if Manas were closed, Mr Karasin said.
Geoff Morrell, Pentagon spokesman, said Manas was a hugely important airbase. "It provides us with a launching-off point to provide supplies to our forces in Afghanistan . . . We are actively involved in discussions with the Kyrgyz government about the continued use of Manas."
He added that David Petraeus, commander of US central command, and Duncan McNabb, commander of the US's transportation command, had both travelled to Kyrgyzstan as part of Washington's efforts to continue using the base.
Mr Morrell added: "I have seen nothing to suggest, other than press reports, that the Russians are attempting to undermine our use of that facility."
Robert Simmons, Nato's special representative for the Caucasus and central Asia, said it would be "regrettable" if the base closed.
Kyrgyzstan threatened to evict the US from Manas in 2006, but backed down after Washington agreed to increase the rent.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5f46b5f8-f324-11dd-abe6-0000779fd2ac.html
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50 Dominican Republic Migrants Rescued Off Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN -- The U.S. Coast Guard command in Puerto Rico told Efe that it rescued Tuesday 50 undocumented immigrants that fell in the sea from the boat they were traveling in and that the search for survivors continues.
Spokesman Ricardo Castrodat said that maritime security agencies intercepted the rickety yawl in which the undocumented aliens were trying to reach Puerto Rico illegally when weather conditions worsened and the homemade boat foundered.
An undetermined number of undocumented immigrants fell in the sea and Coast Guard helicopters are still overflying the area looking for survivors along with rescue craft from other security agencies.
For the moment it is still unknown how many people were on the boat or where the immigrants were coming from, although most are thought to be from the Dominican Republic.
"Helicopters will continue searching the area until all the people are accounted for and we're sure that everybody has been picked up," Castrodat said, adding that information is being gathered among those who were rescued to find out how many people were on the boat.
Every year, thousands of Dominicans try to reach the U.S. commonwealth of Puerto Rico, risking their lives rather than remain in poverty in their homeland. Scores, if not hundreds, are believed to drown annually during the journey across the shark-infested Mona Passage. EFE
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=327008&CategoryId=14092
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Maritime security 'a top priority'
Manama: Wed, 04 Feb 2009
Bahrain and its coalition partners must step up maritime security to protect vital installations from terrorist attacks, a senior US military official said.
US Fifth Fleet Commander vice-admiral Bill Gortney called for more training and testing exercises to build up regional expertise and prevent the sea being used as a launch pad from which to attack.
He said among the assets which required most protection were ports, desalination plants, oil and gas facilities and power generation plants.
'Many of these assets are not isolated but near or in larger cities and economic centres and you can imagine the local and global impacts if some of these key sites were successfully attacked,' he said.
'Due to the large amount of regional maritime infrastructure, particularly in the Gulf, business and regional nations alone cannot defend and protect everything without help, nor should they be expected to.
'The vast majority of the world's proven oil reserves and nearly 20 per cent of natural gas reserves are found here.'
'Simply put, the Middle East region provides fuel for the world's engine and is absolutely crucial to global economic stability,' he stated.
'Additionally more than 10,000 ships, dhows and fishing boats are active day to day within the area, carrying millions of tonnes of raw and finished goods.'
Vice Admiral Gortney was speaking at the opening of the second annual Maritime Infrastructure Protection conference, at the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel, Residence and Spa.
It featured speeches from industry experts, including navy officials on the key issues surrounding maritime security.
Around 300 people are attending the event, including representatives from 15 countries, which concludes tomorrow with a series of private discussions between military and government representatives.
The three-day conference aims to improve the defence and crisis response of coalition and infrastructure related organisations.
Vice Adm Gortney said the only way to minimise the threat of terrorism was to increase co-operation between navies and share more intelligence.
'The best way to become better navies is to conduct 'real world' operations and work as a team,' he said.
'As we've learned time and again nothing enhances performance like conducting operations together.'
'It is this constant cycle of learning, assessing and evolving that will eventually create a maritime infrastructure security force that cannot be breached.'
Vice Adm Gortney said maritime security was of critical importance to the region's tourism industry and a failure to embrace regional co-operation could lead to disastrous consequences.
'Some people think that critical infrastructure is only offshore oil and gas,' he said.
'It comes down to host nation's responsibility. They need to define what they want to protect and then they need to figure out how they want to protect it.'
'We work with all nations out here. We are the outer layer of defence and we can provide the first layer of surveillance,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service
http://www.tradearabia.com/news/DEF_155977.html
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Cyprus ship saga - latest
By FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE ONLINE STAFF 05.FEB.09
The Republic of Cyprus says it has accepted neither pressure nor any suggestion from foreign governments on the issue of a Cypriot-flagged ship, of Russian interests, which allegedly was carrying arms, Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou has said.
Speaking on Wednesday, after a meeting with the Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs of Egypt Fatma Al Zahraa, Kyprianou assured that all foreign governments, interested in this issue, have respected fully the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.
“There has not been any kind of pressure or intervention by foreign governments, as the Media have indicated," he said, adding that all moves made on the matter are within the legitimate contacts Nicosia maintains with foreign governments.
Asked if the Israeli Foreign Minister has demanded from Cyprus the confiscation of the ship’s cargo, Kyprianou stressed that “no government has indicated to Cyprus what to do, and no government has demanded anything more than to act in accordance with international law and the relevant UNSC resolutions."
The minister stressed that the issue is sensitive and delicate, pointing out that it is very important to handle the issue in a subtle way.
Replying to questions, he said the contents of the report the Republic of Cyprus has submitted to the competent UN Security Council Sanctions Committee is confidential.
The government decisions on the issue, as well as the time of its conclusion depend firmly on the UN, Kyprianou said and concluded: “depending on the UN reaction, we shall act accordingly."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a team of experts from the Republic of Cyprus proceeded with two inspections of the cargo of ship, "Monchegorsk" on January 29 and February 2.
The government submitted a report on the findings of the inspections to the competent UN Security Council Sanctions Committee. The ship remains docked at Limassol port.
http://www.famagusta-gazette.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=69&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=7565&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2350&hn=famagusta-gazette&he=.com
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Overdue Navy vessels set to sail
05.02.2009 by Peter de Graaf
The Whangarei-built patrol boats - finally set to sail. Picture/Michael Cunningham
Four Whangarei-built Navy patrol boats are finally about to go to sea after languishing by a wharf at the end of Port Rd for up to 18 months.
New Defence Minister Wayne Mapp has laid the blame for the hold-up on "penny-pinching" by the previous government, and says the inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) will soon be handed over to the Navy.
Whangarei MP Phil Heatley, who pushed hard for the IPV contract to be awarded to a Whangarei-based firm, also expected the handover was not far away - but would not be drawn on a date or the cause of the delay.
"Whangarei tradesmen have done a great job on these vessels, and the sooner they're out on the sea working for New Zealand the better.
I'm sure the resolution is not far off," Mr Heatley said.
The first of the IPVs was launched in August 2007 with the fourth following a year later, part of a $550 million project to rebuild the Navy's capabilities. Each 250-tonne vessel is 55m long with a crew of 35, built in Whangarei by Melbourne-based shipbuilders Tenix and designed to patrol up to 24 nautical miles from the coast.
Project Protector included another three overseas-built ships, but so far only one - the multi-role, 9000-tonne Canterbury - has been commissioned.
That vessel has been dogged by problems, including a fatal accident off Cape Reinga in 2007. All seven ships were supposed to be handed over by the end of last year.
In May last year, the IPVs failed Lloyds Certification - required before ships can put to sea - on seven mostly minor safety faults. Those included shortcomings with the fire detection and firefighting systems, sound system, ventilation and insulation.
But the main hold-up seems to be the sea boats, the 7.4m rigid-hulled inflatables carried aboard each IPV and designed for quick sea rescues.
Two sea boats are also carried on the Canterbury and will be replaced, along with the faulty launching systems that led to a young sailor's death, in that ship's $20 million fix-up job.
Who foots the bill is the subject of delicate negotiations between the Government and the contractors.
A review of the Canterbury's woes pinned the problems on the project team, which did not have the manpower or skills needed to do the job properly.
Bad relationships between the Ministry and the Defence Force exacerbated the problems, the report found. Dr Mapp has blamed the previous Government's ``penny pinching' for the Canterbury's design defects.
http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3794587&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=
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UAE ship not missing in Somali waters - owner
February 05 2009 at 06:44AM
United Arab Emirates-based Al Rashid Shipping Dubai denied on Wednesday a report one of its vessels was missing in Somali waters and said it was docked in Mogadishu port.
A Kenyan maritime official had told Reuters on Tuesday it had been reported a ship owned by the company could be missing.
"The ship is not missing. It is in the port of Mogadishu and has been there for two months with all the crew," a company official, who identified himself as Abu Ahmad, told Reuters.
"Some of the cargo is damaged, and there is an insurance claim being processed. It takes some time."
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20090205063825274C979891
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Pirates start leaving hijacked Faina vessel - maritime bulletin
11:39
05/ 02/ 2009
MOSCOW, February 5 (RIA Novosti) - Somali pirates have begun leaving the Faina after receiving a ransom for the Ukrainian cargo ship seized in September, a Russian maritime news website editor said on Thursday.
Mikhail Voitenko of the Sovfracht Maritime Bulletin said citing foreign media that the pirates had been paid $3.2 million and promised to release the vessel after checking and dividing the money.
"The first group of pirates left the vessel this morning after receiving their cut," said Voitenko, who spoke to the Faina's owner early Thursday.
Voitenko said the pirates were most likely to leave in groups, one after another. "There are approximately 80 pirates on board the Faina," he added.
"After the last pirate leaves, a U.S. warship will approach the Faina to provide fresh water, food and medical assistance if required and subsequently accompany the vessel to Mombasa," Voitenko said.
He said the vessel would unload its cargo of tanks and weapons at the Kenyan port.
The Faina, with a crew of 17 Ukrainians, three Russians and one Latvian, was hijacked off the Horn of Africa on September 25. The vessel's Russian captain died of a heart attack in the early days of the hijacking. The pirates initially demanded a $35 million ransom for the vessel, which was carrying tanks and weapons.
Some media claimed that the intended destination for the weapons was southern Sudan's rebel Dafur region, and not Kenya as was announced. Both the Ukrainian and Kenyan authorities have denied the claims.
According to the UN, Somali pirates carried out at least 120 attacks on ships in 2008, resulting in a yield of around $150 million.
Up to 20 warships from the navies of at least 10 countries, including Russia, are involved in anti-piracy operations in the area off Somalia which has no coast guard or navy and has had no functioning government following 15 years of civil war.
http://en.rian.ru/world/20090205/119990654.html
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Shippers react to idled vessel news
Patrick Burnson -- Executive Editor -- Logistics Management, 2/4/2009
WASHINGTON, DC—Shipping analysts are reporting an all-time low in active container vessel traffic on all the major trade lanes, signaling further consolidation in the industry.
According to AXS-Alphaliner, a Paris-based consultancy, total available capacity on the three main east-west routes has dropped by 15 percent during the six-month-period extending from August 2008 to February 2009. This represents a weekly decline, falling from 916,000 twenty-equivalent units (TEU) to 780,000 TEU, and suggests that some carriers may be put out of business this year.
“The Far East-Europe route is the most affected, and the capacity deployed has even fallen under the Far East-North America capacity,” said Alphaliner analysts. “During December and
January alone, the closure of several FE-Europe loops removed 50,000 TEU of weekly capacity over the course of just two months.
The latest statistics, while grim, were not particularly alarming for all major U.S. shippers.
“One has to be careful when evaluating this news,” said Peter Gatti, executive vice president of the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL). “Our members have noticed the pull back in capacity, but at the same time, new vessel orders seem to still be on track. If some carriers get out of the game, others will come in to pick up that tonnage when the economy recovers.”
EU shippers may not be quite so circumspect, however, Alphaliner analysts noted.
“The amplitude of this rise and fall is significantly larger than on the FE-North America route,” they said, adding that a combination of factors explains it :
*The US market started suffering from the subprime mortgage crisis in mid- 2007, denting US consumer confidence, while the Euro zone was not affected yet.
*The Euro climbed continuously against the USD until the summer 2008, giving European buyers a relatively high purchasing power, and it also created incentives to fill stocks in the Euro zone.
*Eastern Europe and the Black Sea economies witnessed an unprecedented boom.
“These three factors alone have created an import ‘bubble’ which suddenly burst in the second half 2008, as the financial crisis unfurled with the consequences for the world economy that we presently witness,” analysts concluded.
http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/CA6634629.html
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2009/02/04 20:44:32
SA Arms probe sabotaged
PAUL KIRK
JOHANNESBURG - The department of justice prevented German investigators from obtaining the assistance of the Scorpions in probing alleged corruption over the sale of submarines and frigates to the SA Navy.
The Citizen yesterday learned the contents of a submission to Parliament by the National Prosecuting Authority.
Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) was to have met yesterday to deliberate submissions sent to them regarding irregularities in SA’s R60 billion arms deal. After agreeing to investigate any new evidence relating to the deal Scopa called for submissions from interested parties late last year.
But Scopa resolved not to discuss the submissions as many members hadn’t had time to study the documents. The committee was adjourned to next Tuesday.
Several of the submissions were left on tables in the committee room after the meeting.
Late last year the Sunday Times published an article that former President Thabo Mbeki had received a R30 million bribe from a German ship-builder who had received contracts related to SA’s submarine purchases. The article claimed Mbeki gave a portion of this bribe to Jacob Zuma and then handed the rest to the ANC.
German publications such as Der Spiegel had reported German investigators had obtained evidence of bribes being paid to SA by German arms dealers. German newspaper reports claimed German authorities had seized evidence of these bribes during raids conducted on various German shipbuilders. The German authorities confirmed the raids were mounted to search for evidence of arms deal corruption linked to the sale of weapons to SA.
German authorities also confirmed asking SA authorities for help in probing arms deal crooks. Nobody was ever prosecuted.
The NPA submission to Scopa reveals official arms deal investigators were never allowed access to the German requests for help in probing arms deal corruption. The German “Request for Mutual Legal Assistance” reportedly contained much of the information their investigators had uncovered during raids on shipyards.
It is not clear whether the department of justice ever allowed any law enforcement agency to assist the Germans. The effect was that the Scorpions were never allowed to share information they had on arms deal crimes – and were also denied access to information and evidence the German authorities had collected.
Late last year the German authorities announced they had closed their probe of the SA arms deal but gave no reason why.
http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=88238,1,22
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Published: 02/05/09, 5:04 AM
Israel Intercepts Lebanese Ship Bound for Gaza
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
(IsraelNN.com) The Israeli Navy halted a Lebanese ship intended to break the Jewish State's sovereignty over Gaza's coastal waters, a condition it implemented as part of the withdrawal from Gaza more than three years ago.
The ship had docked in Cyprus, where local authorities said they inspected it to determine to make sure its 60 tons of medicine, food, toys and books did not include weapons destined for Hamas.
Two Israeli helicopters were reported in the area at the time of the interception, approximately 32 kilometers (20 miles) from the Gaza coast.
Among those on board were a reporter for the Arabic-language Al Jazeera network, human rights activists and former Greek Catholic archbishop of Jerusalem, Monsignor Hilarion Capuccci.
Israel previously had warned that the ship would be breaking international law by trying to reach Gaza, where pro-Arab activists have landed four times since last August despite Israeli threats to stop them. The government reversed its policy and ordered the Navy to stop more activists' ships from reaching Gaza during Operation Cast Lead.
The Navy stopped the ship, named The Brotherhood; activists said that the Navy fired on the boat, but the IDF has not commented on the report.
The boat was forced to sail to the Lebanese port of Tyre.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129782
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Russia to supply more Krivak-class warships to India
IANS
First Published : 05 Feb 2009 08:55:00 AM IST
INS-Tabar-F44
Copyright © Indian Navy
MOSCOW: Russia and India are negotiating a new contract on the delivery of additional warships for the Indian Navy, the head of Russia's arms exporter said Wednesday.
Currently, Russia is building Krivak IV-class guided missile warships for the Indian Navy at the Yantar shipyard in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad under a $1.6 billion contract signed in July 2006, Rosoboronexport's general director Anatoly Isaikin said in an interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
A delegation of Indian military officials led by India's deputy chief of the naval staff, Vice Admiral Raman P. Suthan, had visited the Yantar shipyard in October last year and said it was satisfied with the pace and the quality of the construction. 'The contract deadlines are very tough and there were indeed some disruptions in the construction,' Isaikin said.
The official said most of the problems were related to advanced weaponry and electronics installed on the frigates to meet the requirements of the Indian navy. Russia previously built three Krivak-class frigates; INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar for India and delivered them all in late 2004.
All of the frigates will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile systems and not the Club-N/3M54TE missile system, which was installed on previous frigates.
The Krivak-class frigate has deadweight of 4,000 metric tonnes and a speed of 30 knots, and is capable of accomplishing a wide range of maritime missions, primarily hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines. 'In terms of firepower it (the Krivak IV-class frigate) has no rivals in the world in its class,' Isaikin said.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Russia+to+supply+more+Krivak-class+warships+to+India&artid=0X5s248tWCQ=&SectionID=oHSKVfNWYm0=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=VfE7I/Vl8os=&SEO=India,%20Russia,%20warship
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Bataan ESG Partners With French
February 04, 2009
Navy News|by MC1 Christina Shaw
NORFOLK - The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and embarked Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed Norfolk Feb. 3 to participate in a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina.
COMPTUEX is the second of three at-sea training evolutions designed to prepare the strike group for its scheduled deployment later this year.
"While fleet units must be able to operate and fight effectively during major combat and high-end deterrence operations, they are also called on to operate in smaller units, often individually, in support of global maritime security operations," said Capt. Jack Sotherland, Bataan ESG commodore. "COMPTUEX helps us address the divergent nature of our tasking by training to the standard of major combat operations to ensure that we will dominate and deliver access through the sea, while providing broad deterrent capabilities from the sea."
In addition to the ships from the Bataan ESG, a host of other U.S. ships and two French ships will participate in COMPTUEX.
"Working with the crew of French Naval ship FS Tonnerre (L 9014) and FS La Motte-Piquet (D 645) will ensure increased interoperability with other countries Navies and prepare the Bataan ESG for future maritime partnerships," said Sotherland. "No one nation can do it alone. The success of our maritime strategy depends on continued interaction with the world's navies."
The Bataan ESG is comprised of Bataan; amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce (LPD 15); amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43); guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68); guided-missile destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78) and USS James E. Williams (DDG 95); the Los Angeles class fast-attack submarine USS San Juan (751); a Marine Landing Force from 22 MEU; Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, Tactical Squadron 21, Fleet Surgical Team 6, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU 4 and Beachmaster Unit 2.
Also participating in COMPTUEX are the French ships Tonnerre and La Motte-Picquet, USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196), USS Carr (FFG 52), USS Simpson (FFG 56), USS Boise (SSN 764), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Hawes (FFG 53), USS Kauffman (FFG 59), USS Doyle (FFG 39), USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Nicholas (FFG 47).
http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-news/bataan-esg-partners-with-french.html?col=1186032311124
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Coast Guard Seizes 1.5 Tons of Cocaine
February 04, 2009
U.S. Coast Guard
COAST GUARD ISLAND, ALAMEDA, Calif. - While on a counter narcotics patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Chase detected a small contact traveling in excess of 30 knots northbound off the coast of Colombia. The Chase immediately began preparations to interdict the suspected go-fast vessel. A go-fast vessel is usually a powerful, custom-built, fiberglass boat with at least three outboard motors to traffic drugs at high speeds throughout the coastal and open ocean waters between South and Central America.
With Chase's small boat and pursuit team geared up and ready for the pursuit, the Captain gave the word to begin the chase. Hopes were high and adrenaline pumping as Chases over-the-horizon cutter-boat slipped into the darkness on an intercept course. The night was pitch black, but with the strong guidance of the operations officer from deep within Chase's Combat Information Center (CIC), the boarding officer and team were confident of success. The whine of the gas turbine roared to life as Chase surged ahead through the night hunting its prey.
Moments before sighting the go-fast vessel the pursuit team picked up the smell of gasoline, then suddenly came upon the wake of the high-speed boat. A pursuit crewman lit up the go-fast with a spot light. The engagement was on. Battling the crests and troughs of four-foot seas, the small boat was slammed with up to four Gs trying to maintain the pursuit; snapping an antenna and smashing a spotlight. The go-fast darted and dodged, maneuvering erratically, like a frightened gazelle with a cheetah on its heels.
Constantly vying for position through the darkness, the team relayed critical information about the vessel back to CIC onboard the Chase. The go-fast vessel conducted several maneuvers intended to reduce weight onboard the go-fast and increase its speed. The smugglers also began to jettison their valuable cargo. They threw the 50-pound bales (along with poles, tarps, and other debris) toward the pursuit team in an attempt to stop or disable their determined pursuers. "I thought they were going to throw a kitchen sink at us, since they'd thrown practically everything else." said the pursuit coxswain who was at the throttles ensuring the safety of his team members.
Armed with all of the information being passed by the small boat on scene, Chase's operations officer obtained permission to use force on the non-compliant vessel. The pursuit team fired a stitch of warning shots across the bow of the vessel. At speeds in excess of 35 knots and in seas of three to four feet, this was no easy task and required extensive training and practice.
"Leading up to using the warning shots I really had to collect myself to ensure I was stable, since we were in four-foot seas, and concentrating on getting my stitches across the go-fast's bow since they were maneuvering erratically," the pursuit gunner said.
Ultimately the go-fast reached Colombia's territorial waters before disabling fire could be employed, but with the go-fast having jettisoned nearly 100 percent of its contraband, the Chase disrupted approximately more than 2,000-2,500 pounds of cocaine from reaching its destination. With a street value of approximately $31 million, this is only one of three successful intercepts so far this patrol. Chase is home ported in San Diego.
http://www.military.com/news/article/coast-guard-news/coast-guard-seizes-15-tons-of-cocaine.html?col=1186032366581
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Feb 6, 2009
Russia anchors ties with India
By Roger McDermott
Russia, using all means at its disposal, wants to urgently convince the world community that it has re-emerged as a force to be reckoned with, demanding increased recognition and power in the world.
Ostensibly conducting joint naval exercises with India to help combat terrorism and piracy, Moscow also had a sub-agenda in its planning. In fact the "sub-agenda factor" is becoming an ever-present variable in appreciating Russia's foreign policy conduct.
The Indra 2009 exercise, held for the fourth time since 2003, allowed both countries to jointly practice the protection of shipping and combating piracy at sea and terrorism, while strengthening interoperability and focusing on their communications, joint maneuvering and artillery and rocket firing.
Russia's contribution to the naval exercises, held off the coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, was comparatively small, officially only consisting of five ships drawn from the Northern and Pacific fleets. These were: the Pyotr Velikiy (Peter the Great), the flagship of the Northern Fleet and a nuclear-powered battle cruiser; the Admiral Vinogradov, an anti-submarine warfare ship tasked with escorting merchant ships at the Horn of Africa; the Fotiy Krylov, a rescue tugboat; and the tankers Pechenga and Boris Butoma.
Russia's Naval Main Staff did not confirm the participation of two large landing ships from the Black Sea Fleet, the Azov and the Yamal, which left Sevastopol on January 16, stating instead that there were "reinforced sub-units of naval infantry on board all the Russian ships". India contributed two destroyers, including the INS Delhi, and a small number of other vessels.
The Russian naval grouping rendezvoused off the Gao coast, commencing the first stage of the joint naval exercises on January 26, spending two days in the port of Marmagao before the final stage of Indra 2009 off the coast of Somalia.
On January 31, Russian Defense Ministry's Zvezda TV reported that the Pyotr Velikiy had left the Indian port of Marmagao in the state of Goa, having completed its two-day visit, especially highlighting that this marked the first visit to India by a ship from Russia's Northern Fleet.
For two days in the Arabian Sea off the Goa coast, the Petr Velikiy practiced "coordination of maneuvers and conducted communications drills" with the Indian destroyer Delhi. The Pyotr Velikiy is equipped with Granit anti-ship missiles, a 130mm automatic cannon, Kashtan, Kinzhal and S-300 air defense systems, helicopters and machine guns, though its participation in the exercises was more likely calculated to send a political message internationally that Russia has restored its great power status. After Indra 2009, the Pyotr Velikiy will make stopovers in Indonesia and China.
India's interests in Russia
Russia's ambassador to India, Vyacheslav Trubnikov, witnessed the exercises, which he claimed had involved "several difficult maneuvers", including a rehearsal to destroy aircraft carriers for the benefit of the Indian navy. Trubnikov noted the long-standing defense cooperation between the two countries, and that India's armed forces had been equipped in large quantities by both the Soviet and Russian defense industries.
Since 2004, India has sought to procure an aircraft carrier from Russia, which has experienced rising costs and numerous delays. The Admiral Gorshkov, renamed Vikramaditya, is due to replace India's INS Viraat carrier, which is 50 years old though still in service. Originally ordered for US$750 million and scheduled for delivery in 2008, the actual price of the carrier has been estimated at $1.2 billion and has caused disputes over the final price: Russia reportedly now hopes to receive $4 billion.
Russia and India agreed in February 2008 to raise costs for the aircraft carrier, currently docked at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia, by an additional $800 million. This covers an overhaul of the ship and equipping it with modern weaponry, including MiG-29K Fulcrum aircraft and Ka-27 Helix-A and Ka-31 Helix-B anti-submarine helicopters. Delivery of the aircraft carrier is now rescheduled for 2012.
Sending the Pyotr Velikiy not only signaled a departure from the pattern of previous exercises with India's navy, it pointedly drew attention to Russia's largest destroyer while serving as a gesture of Moscow's commitment to strengthen India maritime security capabilities.
Previous Indra exercises were conducted in the Bay of Bengal, off Visakhapatnam port in Andhra Pradesh, India's eastern naval command headquarters and a submarine base for its Eastern Naval fleet. These exercises took on new significance in light of the increased threats to maritime security from piracy and in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008.
Yet, although the planning for the exercises may have been adjusted to take into account these developments, the underlying symbolic significance in dispatching the Pyotr Velikiy to India fits a wider pattern of using the navy to support the image of a resurgent Russia.
This also coincides with the planned relocation of the naval headquarters from Moscow to St Petersburg, at an estimated cost of $1 billion, which has already commenced and is scheduled for completion later this year. Given Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's links with St Petersburg, taking every opportunity to appear at sea, it is highly likely that he played a major part in the decision to move the headquarters back to what was once home to Russia's imperial navy.
Russia's navy and the ambitions of the political elite
The navy is assuming greater strategic importance as Russia seeks to maximize its resurgence as a great power. President Dmitry Medvedev, visiting the Nakhimov Naval Academy in St Petersburg on January 27, reassured the cadets that despite Russia's financial downturn, its plans to reform and modernize the navy will go ahead.
Aware of the promise made last July to introduce new aircraft carriers and Borey-class submarines, Medvedev said Russia had turned away from the difficult times in the 1990s when the government failed to adequately invest in the navy and would honor the commitment to modernize; even if it means over a longer period than originally planned. He appeared to single out the navy as being a crucial part of plans to reform the country's armed forces, asserting forcibly, "Without a proper navy, Russia does not have a future as a state."
These plans are encountering delays caused partly by Russia's economic troubles and also the lack of highly skilled workers in its defense industry capable of designing new weapons systems. The introduction of the new Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile has recently been delayed due to failures in its testing program.
Raising the flag abroad
In the meantime, appearances by the Russian navy in the Caribbean and South America, as well as joint naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea with Turkey and these latest exercises with India, all serve as cheaper interim mechanisms to promote Russia's great power status. This is coupled with negotiations involving undisclosed countries to secure foreign bases for Russia's navy. Colonel-General Anatoliy Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of the General Staff, confirmed that talks are ongoing, but would not identify the states concerned.
However, the Naval Main Staff seem less discreet, suggesting that future naval bases would be located on the island of Socotra, Yemen, and in the ports of Tartus, Syria and Tripoli, Libya. "The political decision on the given issue has been made. It is difficult to say now how much time we will need to create bases for our navy in these countries, but it will undoubtedly be done in a few years," a source in the Main Staff explained.
To achieve this, the Russian navy would have to repair, modernize or rebuild piers and design and build essential shore infrastructure with repair facilities. Yemen's President Ali Abdallah Salih suggested locating a naval base there to Federation Council speaker Sergey Mironov, during the latter's visit in October 2008. As alluring as this may prove to the Russian political elites, its military value is more open to question. Such foreign bases may be about convincing themselves and a domestic audience of Russia's naval capabilities while reflecting its position in the world.
Thus, under the guise of promoting greater inoperability and the coordination of its navy with those of other states to facilitate an international response to piracy and counter-terrorism, Russia is actually advancing its image as a resurgent great power that will once again make its presence felt around the world.
While a gap exists between these political aspirations for its navy and its actual capabilities, the likelihood is that the pattern of cost-effective temporary deployments and joint exercises will be followed meticulously. In the longer term, Medvedev will face more serious challenges in implementing the type of ambitious modernization of the navy that he has touted.
Roger N McDermott is an honorary senior fellow, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Kent at Canterbury (UK) specializing in defense and security issues in Russia, Central Asia and the South Caucasus.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/KB06Ag01.html
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Gunmen attack oil security vessel off Nigeria
Thu Feb 5, 2009 10:37am GMT
LAGOS (Reuters) - Gunmen attacked a security vessel off the coast of Nigeria on Thursday in an oilfield operated by Canada's Addax Petroleum, the latest in a series of attacks on the country's deepwater oil industry.
Two private security sources working in the oil sector said a gang in two boats attacked the vessel at around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT) off the coast of southern Nigeria's Akwa Ibom state.
One source said the captain of the vessel, a retired army major, had been killed and another crew member wounded. There was no independent confirmation of this.
The attack took place in OML 123, a 370 sq-km licence area operated by Addax. Several similar attacks took place in the area last year and there have been at least 10 such raids in the wider Niger Delta offshore region since the start of January.
Some industry executives say if the rise in piracy is not checked, smaller oil services firms -- which are vital to the smooth operations of the offshore industry -- may consider withdrawing.
"If they pull out, it will cripple the industry," one industry source said.
The Niger Delta has long been plagued by insecurity, particularly since militants saying that they are fighting for a fairer share of the region's natural resources began blowing up oil pipelines and kidnapping expatriate workers three years ago.
But the offshore industry, on which Nigeria is depending to raise output from around 2 million barrels per day (bpd), had been considered relatively immune from the unrest because of the long distance such operations are located from land.
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE51409S20090205
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Crew of Gaza aid ship beaten
February 05 2009 at 12:26PM
By Reuters
Dubai - The Israeli navy opened fire in the direction of a Lebanese vessel heading towards the Gaza Strip on Thursday and assaulted some of the people on board the ship carrying humanitarian aid, Al Jazeera television reported.
The Israeli military did not have an immediate comment on the incident.
"They (Israeli navy) are opening fire towards the vessel ... there are Israeli soldiers who have actually boarded the vessel," said Salam Khoder, an Al Jazeera correspondent on board the ship.
"Three of them are pointing their weapons at us ... They are beating those on the vessel, they are beating and kicking us," Khoder said in a frantic voice before the telephone interview was terminated.
Jazeera said attempts to re-establish contact with Khoder had failed. It did not say how many people were on board the boat.
The boat was carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip where thousands of people were left homeless after Israel's 22-day offensive, which ended on January 18, during which about 1 300 Palestinians were killed and hundreds of houses destroyed.
The aid on board the ship came from mainly Lebanese and Arab charities. The shipment was organised by the Palestinian National Committee Against the Siege in cooperation with the US-based Free Gaza Movement.
In December, the Israeli navy clashed with a small boat, Dignity, carrying international activists with aid for Gaza and forced it to divert to Lebanon's waters.
Israel declared the Gaza coastal territory a closed military zone after it started the offensive on December 27 to stop Palestinian militant group Hamas firing rockets at Israeli towns and settlements.
Hamas defeated Fatah forces loyal to Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 leaving the Fatah faction controlling the West Bank. - Reuters
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?sf=2749&click_id=2749&art_id=nw20090205122627945C817606&set_id=6
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Nigeria: Maritime Security Task Force Timely - Imoke
5 February 2009
Lagos — Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, has described formation of the Inter Agency Maritime Security Task Force on Acts of Illegalities in Nigerian Waters as a timely decision.
While receiving members of the task force, led by its Chairman, Rear Admiral Joseph Dele Ezeoba, during a courtesy visit, Imoke said the state which is located within the maritime zone, stands to benefit from the expertise of the task force, because of the quality of its composition.
Imoke said Cross River is strategically located with historical antecedent, and has contributed to the socio-economic development of the nation, as well as being headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command and Zone Six of the Nigeria Police.
He highlighted that the incidence of piracy came to the fore with the handing over of Bakassi to the Republic of Cameroon, which has enhanced proliferation of arms between Ikang and Bakassi waters, and stressed the need to police the territorial waters to curb the ugly incident.
Imoke said the significant trade between Nigeria and Sao Tome, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea with Calabar as the gateway, also calls for concern, as there have been reports of piracy within the routes and promised to collaborate with the task force by implementing its recommendation, to ensure safety within the region.
Ezeoba, in his speech, said the task force was formed following reports of piracy within Nigerian territorial waters, adding that they were mandated to check all acts of illegal activities and security breaches in the coastal areas and take immediate action to address them.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200902050273.html
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Thursday, February 05, 2009
Nigeria - Customs agents may ground operations over excessive ports charges, others
By Odita Sunday
Ports operations in the country may be grounded going by the resolve by Customs agents to withdraw their services from Monday if assessed anomalies in the maritime sector are not corrected .
Under the aegis of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the agents told newsmen in Lagos yesterday that the cost of doing business in Nigeria ports today calls for concern as Nigerians now pay heavily for commodities in open market due to the excessive charges by port operator popularly called "concessionaires".
"Sequel to several stakeholders meetings and dialogue regarding the smooth flow of international trade, port operations and cargo clearance process in our ports, we observed that no serious implementation; and lack of compliance by the shipping companies to the joint communique issued at the last stakeholders meetings held at Sheraton Hotel.
"In view of this, the association of Nigerian Licensed Custom Agents has finally made a unanimous resolution to withdraw our services in all the nations' ports and borders until the appropriate government authority is able to solve the problems and meet our demands", in a statement jointly signed by the Vice President of the association, Mr. Adedayo Azeez, Chairman of Western zone, Chief Richard Ogundele and Chairman of Apapa chapter, Mr. John Ofobike.
Other officials who addressed newsmen at ANLCA office in Apapa, also spoke in the same vein.
They listed the problems causing an impediment to smooth port operations which they want addressed as:
.Sudden and arbitrary increase of terminal handling charges by AP Moller terminal without consultation with freight forwarders, Licensed Customs agents, ports users and other shipping practitioners;
.lack of adequate and spacious container freight station (holding bay) for the swift discharging operation of empty containers; thereby causing serious delay in quick turn around of container truck carriers and consequently the unjustified deduction in the container deposit account against the importers and this is as a result of the negligence of Maersk Line Nigeria to facilitate the off-loading of empty containers. And moreso, long delay of container refund processing system and in turn tying down importers capital unnecessarily, thereby affecting the re-ordering level of goods in the global trade;
.delay in customer billing\invoicing and payment receipt operation system at Maersk Line Ijora container Terminal and other shipping lines. Sometimes, it takes 5 days to get an invoice for payment and also the importer would still have to pay the number of days he has been on queue to get invoice for payment;
.inadequate cargo handling equipments and poor pot planning thereby causing cargo stockpile in the port and delay of incoming vessels to berth;
.the lackadaisical attitude of the AP Moller Terminal and Maersk Line Nigeria Management staff to act promptly in order to reduce cargo stockpile and delays and;
. Poor customer care and lack of competent port planners and terminal operations staff. In the light of the above facts and precisely as part of your objectives and contributions towards international trade facilitation we hereby supplicate for your swift action and intervention in this matter.
"The demands of the agents which were quite numerous, if granted by government, would turn around the ports system for good" said a stakeholder who pleaded anonymity.
"We want complete removal and abolition of container deposit charge, final stoppage of irrational deduction on the container deposit charge without cogent reasons, prompt refund of container deposit process, abolition of double transfer charges and terminal handling charges. All containers stemmed to bonded terminals must be transferred to the destinations within five working days, all shipping lines must have adequate and spacious container freight station of holding bay for the swift discharging operation of empty containers outside the port . "Also, all shipping companies should waive all demurrage for containers stemmed but not yet transferred to bonded terminals and the empty containers that were delayed before they could be discharged", they said.
They also demanded that AP Moller and other terminal operators should reverse the terminal handling charges and return back to the status quo among other several demands.
They gave 72-hour ultimatum to government and port operators to meet their demands failure which they threatened to withdraw their services.
Their words: "We hereby give a 72-hour ultimataum to the Federal Government of Nigeria to act fast and meet our demands. However, failure to meet up with our deadline, we are resolute to withdraw our services in all the nations' borders, seaports and airports".
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/business/article01/indexn2_html?pdate=050209&ptitle=Customs%20agents%20may%20ground%20operations%20over%20excessive%20ports%20charges,%20others
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The Mysterious Monchegorsk
February 5, 2009: Last month, a U.S. warship in the Gulf of Aden spotted a former Russian merchant ship, the Monchegorsk, that was now flying a Cypriot flag. Currently the ship is sitting off a Cyprus port, having all its containers searched for weapons. No one is saying what has been found. It's all something of a mystery, so far. It's believed that the ship is carrying weapons for Syria, or Hezbollah, or Hamas, or all three.
The Monchegorsk had originally been spotted leaving an Iranian port, and heading for the Suez canal. Egyptian authorities were alerted and the Monchegorsk was forced into an Egyptian port to be searched. Munitions, believed headed for Gaza, were found hidden in the cargo. But the Monchegorsk was released because Department of Defense lawyers were uncertain if the weapons found are sufficient evidence that Iran was in violation of UN resolution 1747, and, even so, did anyone have the authority to seize anything. But once the ship exited the Suez canal, the U.S. persuaded Cyprus (which, technically, has control over the ship) to seize it when it passed Cyprus, and do a thorough search.
UN resolution (1747) prohibits Iran from exporting weapons. The exact wording of the resolution is; " Decides that Iran shall not supply, sell or transfer directly or indirectly from its territory or by its nationals or using its flag vessels or aircraft any arms or related materiel, and that all States shall prohibit the procurement of such items from Iran by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, and whether or not originating in the territory of Iran. " The U.S. is apparently using 1747 as a license to mess with Iranian efforts to export weapons to its terrorist customers.
U.S. warships in Task Force 151 (the anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden) has been ordered to watch for ships that have taken on cargo in Iran, and then head through the Gulf of Aden for the Suez canal. Iran is believed to be increasing its efforts to smuggle weapons into Gaza for Hamas, a terrorist organization that has been supported by Iran since the 1990s. Such Iranian cargo ships have been caught carrying weapons to Gaza before. The Iranians try to either land the weapons on the Gaza coast, or smuggle them into Egypt and then through the smuggling tunnels under the Gaza/Egyptian border.
The recent ceasefire in Gaza included Egypt agreeing to use American sensors, and U.S. technicians, to detect and destroy these tunnels. The sensors and technical experts began their work at the end of January. Israel has, for several years, increased it security along the Gaza coast, making the tunnels the main route for Iranian weapons and munitions. But material found off the Gaza coast recently indicates that Iran still uses waterproof containers, that float just under the surface, to get weapons to Palestinian fishing boats, and then into Gaza.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htproc/articles/20090205.aspx
# MONCHEGORSK
# MMSI: 210558000
# IMO: 8013039
# Call sign: P3NL5
# Flag: Cyprus
# Vesseltype: cargo ship
# Width: 24 m
# Length: 173 m
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Activist ship and whalers collide
The Sea Shepherd activists' anti-whaling ship, the Steve Irwin, has collided with Japan's Yushin Maru 2 harpoon vessel in Antarctic waters.
Japan condemned the collision as an "unforgiveable act of violence". The activists said it had been unavoidable.
Damage occurred to the ship's railing but no injuries have been reported.
The radical anti-whaling group has been pursuing the Japanese whalers since December and confrontations have increased in recent days.
Japan is allowed by the International Whaling Commission to harvest 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales this season for research purposes.
Activists say Japan kills the whales for commerce, not science.
Collision
Paul Watson, captain of the Steve Irwin, said his crew was trying to block the transfer of a dead whale from the harpoon vessel to the whalers' factory ship, the Nisshin Maru.
"We were in the process of blocking the transfer from the Yushin Maru 2 when the Yushin Maru 1 moved directly in front of the bow to block us," Mr Watson said in a statement.
"I could not turn to starboard without hitting the Yushin Maru 1. I tried to back down but the movement of the Yushin Maru 2 made the collision unavoidable," he said.
"It is an act of violence and it is unforgiveable," said Shigeki Takaya, an assistant director of the Far Seas Fisheries Division at Japan's fisheries ministry.
"We will ask concerning countries, including Australia, to immediately stop them from carrying out such horrendous acts," he said.
Chiharu Tsuruoka, a Japanese foreign ministry official, noted that the Steve Irwin is a Dutch-registered ship.
"We have repeatedly asked the Dutch government to stop them from harassing us, but so far it's been so unsuccessful," Mr Tsuruoka said.
Chaos and friction
The incident caps several days of increasing friction between the activists and the whalers.
On 6 February, two protesters said they had been injured in the Antarctic after they clashed with Japanese whalers, but a whaling official said the ship's crew only used water cannon in self-defence.
Japanese officials said the Sea Shepherd group had been throwing bottles of butyric acid, a product of rancid butter, at the Japanese ships.
Mr Watson said the Japanese had responded by blasting his crew with a water cannon, hunks of metal and a "military grade" noise weapon that can cause deafness and vomiting.
He said several of his crew have experienced headaches from the noise device.
"The situation down here is getting very, very chaotic and very aggressive," Mr Watson told the Associated Press news agency, speaking by satellite phone from the boat.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has been blamed for collisions with the Japanese Antarctic whaling fleet in recent years, as well as high-seas boardings and stink bomb attacks.
Both the Australian and New Zealand governments oppose the Japanese whale hunt, but have called on whalers and anti-whalers to remain peaceful in the dangerous Southern Ocean.
Although Japan officially stopped whaling under a 1986 global moratorium, it continues to take hundreds of whales under a loophole allowing whaling for research purposes.
Much of the meat ends up on supermarket shelves and dinner tables.
Protesters set off from Australia in early December, chasing the whaling fleet for about 3,200 km (2,000 miles) before stopping two weeks ago in Tasmania to refuel.
The group found the whalers again on Sunday and resumed their pursuit.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/7873685.stm
Published: 2009/02/06 05:19:36 GMT
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Chairman Cummings Statement on Piracy Hearing
2/5/2009 9:36:45 AM
On Feb. 4, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, released the statement below following today’s Subcommittee hearing on International Piracy and the High Seas:
“While the term ‘pirate’ may for many conjure romantic images of swashbuckling adventurers, there is in fact nothing romantic about a poor individual from a failing state waiting in a small skiff to attack vulnerable cargo ships with a rocker-propelled grenade launcher. Piracy threatens the lives of innocent mariners and threatens to increase shipping rates at a time of deepening economic recession.
“As we learned in today’s hearing, international piracy on the High Seas is a complicated issue that cannot be resolved overnight. The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy have been critical in preventing and intervening in pirate attacks through Combined Task Force 151 and its Coast Guard law enforcement detachment, and the contributions of the international community to patrol the Horn of Africa region have been instrumental in helping our cause. It is only through the united effort of the international community that we will be able to bring peace to our seas.
“It is imperative that we continue to garner regional support in the Horn of Africa to assist us in the difficulty of handling pirates once they have been detained. There are currently several efforts underway to increase regional and international cooperation on the arrest, detention, and trial of pirates, and we must be quick in implementing any agreement that is reached to this end.
“Unfortunately, we can have the best system in place to capture and detain pirates, but the structure will never be complete if we ignore the underlying problems that are leading individuals down the road of piracy. Although pirate attacks have decreased overall in recent years, the number of attacks in the Horn of Africa has increased dramatically. In fact, nearly half of the world’s pirate attacks last year occurred in this region. There is no doubt that the political and economic conditions of Somalia have fueled these incidents, and we must unite as an international community to help bring stability to that nation.
“Although no U.S.-flagged vessels have been attacked or seized by pirates, the consequences of piracy in the Horn of Africa—a highly traveled region—will undoubtedly spill over onto our shores and threaten an economy already in recession. Many vessels carrying U.S.-bound cargo have already been targeted, as well as ships owned by U.S. citizens. Additionally, many shipping companies have been forced to divert away from the Horn of Africa, adding additional time and fuel costs, and many ships have seen insurance rate increases. Additionally, at least one shipping line has been forced to add ‘pirate premiums’ to their shipping costs. This is a very serious issue, and we must do everything we can to put an end to it.”
http://sname.marinelink.com/snamestory.aspx?stid=214402
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Panama ships face new pollution rules
02-06-2009 | MARIJULIA PUJOL LLOYD
mpujolstar@laestrella.com.pa
Ship owners will have to pay for environmental damages
Panama Star The administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority AMP (Autoridad Marítima de Panamá), Fernando Solorzano said that Panama ratified the Convention about Civil Responsibility for damages caused by Hydrocarbons products coming from Ships, last month.
Therefore ships under Panamanian flags will have to have additional insurance that will cover fuel contamination.
According to the administrator, in the past the conventions covered contamination due to spillage of crude oil as in the case of the Exxon Valdez, but not that caused by fuel.
The new legislation closes the loophole.
The convention known as Bunker 2001, makes the ship owner responsible for the damages caused by contamination and the cost of preventive measures to avoid them.
http://www.laestrella.com.pa/mensual/2009/02/06/contenido/60830.asp
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Maersk cuts 08 forecast after Danske profit tumble
Friday, 06 February 2009
Danske Bank A/S yesterday released the Annual Report for 2008 showing a net result for 2008 of DKK 1 billion with a negative result in the 4th quarter, significantly affected by considerable provisions against losses on loans and impairment loss on goodwill. The A.P. Moller - Maersk Group owns 20% of Danske Bank, and the lower result for Danske Bank will reduce the expected financial result for 2008 for the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group with approx. DKK 1.4 billion corresponding to USD 280 million.
The A.P. Moller - Maersk Group's share in Danske Bank is included as an associated company at the share of equity value including goodwill on acquisition. As a consequence of the difficult conditions for the financial sector, the recognised goodwill on shares in Danske Bank is written down to zero. This impairment loss amounts to DKK 1.1 billion corresponding to USD 220 million.
For the Group's business units the operation in 4th quarter generally developed as expected. A number of these business units will, however, also be affected by the lower global growth, lower oil prices and declining asset values. In connection with the preparation of the annual report for 2008, so-called impairment tests are being made for certain assets. Based on this, it is expected that the annual report for 2008 will include impairment losses on non-current assets of approx. USD 300 million after tax.
With the above impact from Danske Bank of USD 500 million and the expected impairment losses of USD 300 million, in total USD 800 million, which do not affect the cash flow for the year, the expected net result for 2008 for the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group will change to be in the order of USD 3.4 billion (2007: USD 3.4 billion) corresponding to DKK 17 billion (2007: DKK 18.7 billion) compared to the expectations announced on 12 November 2008 in the order of USD 4.0 – 4.3 billion corresponding to DKK 20 – 22 billion.
The annual report for 2008 has not yet been finalised. The report will be released on 5 March 2009.
Source: AP Moeller Maersk
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35007&Itemid=79
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Sea Shepherd's ship the Steve Irwin collides with the stern of Japanese harpoon whaling ship, the Yushin Maru No. 2 while factory ship the Nisshin Maru (background) processes a newly caught minke whale.
Photo: Adam Lau/Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/whale-watch/protest-ship-rams-whaler/2009/02/06/1233423457965.html
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Storage on VLCCs 'weighing heavily' on crude prices
Friday, 06 February 2009
The storage of an estimated 80 million barrels of crude oil on-board VLCCs is proving a decisive factor in current crude oil prices and the spread between near and long term future prices. “The amount of crude being stored on VLCCs currently is immense enough to weigh in heavily on prices,” a Singapore-based crude futures trader told Tankerworld.
“Already on-shore storage volumes are effectively pressing prices down. I don't see any significant increase [in crude oil prices] until this bulk of floating storage is cleared-off.”
“It makes sense anyway because the charterers of these VLCCs are holding on to the crude for sale at a much better price,” he added.
Storage on VLCCs became attractive from late last year with near-term futures contracts cheaper than contracts further into the future.
Latest reports indicate that more than 35 VLCCs have been booked to store crude and some players are estimating that up to 80 million barrels of crude are either being moved to land-based storage aboard a supertanker or already locked in floating storage.
An oil consultant said in December that the present contango was the biggest for a 12-month span of futures since 1998.
Such a deep forward discount reflects a supply surplus in the market, and now players are saying that the amount of crude taken into floating storage has built up to such an extent as to prevent a permanent narrowing of that discount.
“You can almost describe it as an accordion effect,” a senior executive at a New York energy brokerage was quoted saying. “For floating storage to come out you want to see these spreads tighten up. When the oil comes out...(the spreads) widen.”
“This floating storage is now among the biggest impediments to oil prices recovering any of the ground lost over the last six months,” said another source.
“Companies are quick to sell cargoes at the hint of a turnaround in the oil market, unleashing a flood of oil onto a near-saturated landscape,” reported Dow Jones.
And these “barrels at sea present OPEC's real challenge,” said Michael Wittner, global head of oil research at Societe Generale, refering to the oil producing cartel's attempts to cut supply and push up prices.
According to Wittner, “the tankers can be sold wherever supplies begin to tighten, countering OPEC's intentions and preventing any flattening of the futures market curve.”
OPEC's cuts have so far not resulted in lower inventories. US crude oil stocks continued to increase last week and are now 17% higher than this time last year, according to weekly data released by the Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday.
Though stocks are not at a record in the US or worldwide, Wittner believes they approach all-time highs once floating storage is factored in.
OPEC members however have reportedly been gaining ground in terms of effecting their pledged cuts and some have proposed even deeper cuts soon if stockpiles remain un-depleted and prices stay low.
“OPEC will eventually win the battle, but what floating storage does is it delays the victory,” Wittner was quoted saying.
Source: TankerWorld
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35011&Itemid=79
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Feb 5, 2009
Gene Taylor sets out Navy shipbuilding plan
Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS), Chairman of the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee released the following statement on the future of Navy shipbuilding.
"For far too many years I have watched as the size of the Navy fleet has decreased. Each year the Navy changes its plan on how many ships will be built and delays the procurement of ships to future years. The Bush administration's failed strategy of trying to build 'transformational' ships, such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and the DDG 1000 destroyer, has crippled the Navy shipbuilding budget and forced years of delays in providing needed capability to the Fleet.
"In particular, the failure of the LCS program to deliver on the promise of an affordable, capable, and reconfigurable warship only puts the exclamation point on a Bush administration's strategy that was neither well envisioned nor properly executed. As for the DDG 1000, we will not know the true cost of that program for a number of years but significant cost growth on that vessel will require diverting funding from other new construction projects to pay the over-run.
"Lacking the expectation of increased funding available for ship procurement, it is more important than ever to set the Navy on an affordable strategy for ship procurement. Continuing resistance from outgoing Bush administration officials to the common sense strategy of restarting the DDG 51 destroyer class is not helpful to the Navy and the nation. The shipbuilding plan needs less meddling, not more. In my opinion there is absolutely no value in spending even more precious shipbuilding funds to re-design the DDG 1000 as a ballistic missile capable platform when the affordable vessel already exists in the DDG 51 destroyer.
"I hope that the new officials within the Obama administration will reach out to the Congress for ideas and suggestions on shipbuilding programs before creating even more imbalance and uncertainty in the shipbuilding master plan. To achieve an affordable, stable shipbuilding plan I recommend the following to the new administration:
Restructure the LCS program with common combat and propulsion systems between the two variants of ships. Divorce from the use of the defense firms as Lead Systems Integrators and bid a fixed price contract directly on a "build to print" basis with any shipyard that possesses the industrial capability to build the vessels.
Truncate the DDG 1000 program. The ship is unaffordable.
Restart the DDG 51 program. Not only is it the finest destroyer in the world but it possesses the capability for strategic missile defense, area air defense, and highly capable anti-submarine defense. Build these ships in quantity. If it improves efficiency to computerize the ship's design into a 3-D modern ship design tool, then Navy should request that non-recurring engineering funding.
Build combatant amphibious assault vessels, vice the non-combatant versions of the proposed Maritime Pre-Positioning Force (Future) or MPF(F). Use the basic LPD or LHD hull form for any other future large ship, including the next generation cruiser, instead of designing a new hull.
Build a frigate on the common hull of the Coast Guard National Security Cutter. This is an affordable ship (without Navy making wholesale changes in the design) which is exactly the type of vessel necessary for 80% of the Navy's core missions, including anti-piracy and homeland defense.
"I look forward to working with the administration and the Department of the Navy in discussing these issues and implementing the ones that provide the best capability for the Navy. In my opinion, the worst thing that the Department can do is continue the policy of the previous administration and not seek any guidance from the Congress prior to submitting shipbuilding plans that were unacceptable in cost and quantity."
http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMIX/2009feb00051.html
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Scrap yards full as owners cut their losses
Friday, 06 February 2009
A flurry of scrapping deals recently has seen a variety of tonnage heading to breakers in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and China. And, although scrap prices are dramatically lower than the peaks of 2008, they appear to have found some stability in the $260-270/ldt range. Not for long, though, according to some market sources. They point out that most scrap yards are full, at least for the moment, and the substantial volume of tonnage now probably destined for demolition will give breakers plenty of tonnage to choose from. The indications are that prices are likely to fall further in the weeks ahead, with some re-negotiations likely, as yards make the most of their unaccustomed upper hand.
Recent demo deals include two car carriers – the Wilhelmsen-owned Takayama, built 1983, has been sold to Chinese breakers and the 1980-built Gardenia Ace, an Excel Marine vessel, has gone to Bangladesh. Bulk carrier sales include two Panamax vessels – the 1982-built Good Faith vessel Smart 1, 17,790 ldt, and the older 14,227 ldt Athos, built 1977. Both have been sold to Bangladeshi breakers. Other recent sales include around a dozen multipurpose tweendeckers, mostly built in the 1970s, several ageing reefers and a couple of bulk/oil combination vessels.
Source: SeaTradeAsia-Online
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35010&Itemid=79
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S. Africa Struggling to Meet Coal Exports, Anglo Says
Friday, 06 February 2009
South Africa is “severely challenged” in maintaining coal export volumes at required levels because the country’s mines are ageing and in need of “major funding”, said Ben Magara, the head of Anglo American Plc’s South African coal unit. “Our coal fields are at very advanced stages in their lifecycles,” he said at a McCloskey coal conference in Cape Town today. While South Africa has “very substantial” coal resources, bringing these deposits into production requires “major funding” with “slow payback implications,” Magara said.
More than a quarter of Europe’s energy coal is shipped from Richards Bay Coal Terminal, the world’s largest export facility for the fuel. Shipments from Richards Bay fell for a fourth straight year in 2008 as erratic rail services in South Africa curbed supplies.
While the terminal’s annual shipping capacity is being expanded to 91 million metric tons from 76 million tons, new coal supplies must also be brought into production, Magara said.
Exploiting the coal-rich Waterberg region, northwest of South Africa’s economic hub of Gauteng, has been slow, he said. The Waterberg field, estimated to hold 40 percent of South Africa’s coal resources, is big enough to supply as many as 10 power plants with the fuel, Exxaro Resources Ltd. said on May 14.
South Africa did not take full advantage of the last minerals boom to invest in its mining infrastructure, Magara said. “We have to prepare and capitalize on the next boom when it comes, because it is going to come,” he said.
Source: Bloomberg
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35001&Itemid=79
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Backgrounder: China's Military Power
By JAYSHREE BAJORIA
Published: February 5, 2009
Scope of the Threat
Since the 1990s, China has dramatically improved its military capabilities on land and sea, in the air, and in space. Recently, China has begun to project its military power beyond the Pacific Ocean by deploying a flotilla of small warships in December 2008 to the Gulf of Aden to aid in international efforts to fight Somali piracy. Historically, the United States is most concerned about the possibility of a conflict between China and Taiwan, though tensions between the two have lessened since 2008. But looking decades ahead, U.S. military planners clearly see the potential for China to develop as a "peer competitor." The U.S. Defense Department's 2008 report on China's military power says "much uncertainty surrounds China's future course, in particular in the area of its expanding military power and how that power might be used."
But experts say China is still decades away from challenging U.S. military's preeminence. Its ground forces field 1980s vintage armor and suffer from significant shortcomings in command and control, air defense, logistics, and communications. Its air force, too, lags behind those of Western powers, though China flies about one hundred top-end Russian Su-27 warplanes and has contracted to purchase newer Su-33s, which are capable of carrier-based operations. China plans to build aircraft carriers domestically, but currently has none under construction.
None of this, however, adds up to an arms race. James Mulvenon, director of the Washington-based Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis, says China's military modernization "makes perfect sense to me as a natural evolution commensurate with China's rise as a great power." The concerns expressed by Western military experts focus on longer-term motives. Kerry Dumbaugh, a specialist in Asian affairs at the U.S. Congressional Research Service, sums up these security concerns (PDF) in a 2008 report, citing China's lack of transparency in military funding and operations; recurring instances of espionage directed at obtaining U.S. military secrets; evidence of China's improving military and technological prowess; and Beijing's military and technological assistance to states like Zimbabwe, Myanmar, and others viewed as repressive or international pariahs. Many of these issues may become less contentious through a better military-to-military relationship and improved trust between the two powers, say experts. For instance, the increasing economic interdependence of the United States and China should provide a solid basis for avoiding conflict. But accidents between the two militaries, such as the midair collision between a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter in 2001, or the accidental missile strike on China's embassy in Belgrade in 1999, could still spark a conflict neither side desires.
China's Modernization Agenda
China says it pursues a national defense policy solely aimed at protecting its territory and people, and in keeping with its concept of "peaceful development." The government's latest white paper on national defense says it will "by and large reach the goal of modernization of national defense and armed forces by the mid-21st century." The paper stresses China's hopes to create a more technologically advanced, capable military that will allow it to conduct and sustain operations at a greater distance from its border and says the country will make much progress toward that goal by 2020.
As part of this modernization agenda, China is acquiring advanced weapons systems from foreign suppliers as well as trying to develop its own. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, in a statement to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee in January 2009, said the areas of greatest concern are cyber- and anti-satellite warfare, anti-air and anti-ship weaponry, submarines, and ballistic missiles. "Modernization in these areas could threaten America's primary means of projecting power and helping allies in the Pacific: our bases, air and sea assets, and the networks that support them," he said.
China caused an international uproar in January 2007 when it launched a ballistic missile and destroyed one of its own satellites. The anti-satellite test displayed the growing prowess of China's space program and raised questions about China's intentions and civil-military relations within the country. In February 2008, U.S. destruction of a crippled U.S. spy satellite demonstrated that space may emerge as the new contested domain between the great powers. Yet the United States' relative space advantage will probably shrink as China strengthens its space capabilities over the next ten to twenty years, writes Bruce W. MacDonald in a September 2008 Council Special Report. The United States should champion an approach to space that emphasizes deterrence, he suggests, as well as consider new diplomatic initiatives aimed at preventing space from becoming a potential conflict zone.
The United States has also accused China of hacking into government computer networks at the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, and Defense. Chinese electronic espionage has been alleged against British companies, as well as government agencies in France, Germany, South Korea, and Taiwan. In its November 2008 report to Congress, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission noted that cyberspace is a critical vulnerability of the U.S. government and economy. The report warns: "China is aggressively pursuing cyber warfare capabilities that may provide it with an asymmetric advantage against the United States. In a conflict situation, this advantage would reduce current U.S. conventional military dominance."
China has been modernizing its nuclear weapons systems and continues to emphasize its "no first use" policy on nuclear weapons. However, nonproliferation expert Henry Sokolski, in May 2008 testimony (PDF) before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said if China were to increase its nuclear weapons deployment, it could prompt its immediate neighbors--South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan--to initiate nuclear weapons programs. Mulvenon says it is a concern for Washington that China has now finally deployed the DF-31--a solid-fueled, nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile to replace its aging liquid-fueled missiles. The DF-31 provides China with credible and secure second-strike capability, the ability to respond to a nuclear attack with powerful nuclear retaliation.
Beyond specific areas of concern, analysts express worry about discrepancies in China's defense budgets. China says its defense expenditure for 2007 was around $52 billion and its 2008 defense budget is $61 billion. However, the Pentagon says these figures are grossly underreported. In its annual report to Congress, it estimated China's total military-related spending for 2007 to be between $97 billion and $139 billion. China argues that its military budget was only 1.38 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007, while U.S. defense expenditure was 4.5 percent of GDP. Experts also point to the absolute size of the United States' defense budgets to show the asymmetric comparison. The 2008 U.S. defense budget was $ 481.4 billion plus $141.7 billion for the "Global War on Terror."
U.S. Policy Response
While economic and trade relations between the United States and China have been growing, military to military relations remain relatively underdeveloped. Military conflict between the two is highly unlikely, but "not impossible" according to CFR Senior Fellow Adam Segal. Misperception or misunderstanding over an incident in the Taiwan Strait or the sudden collapse of North Korea might be the spark of a conflict neither side wants, he says.
The April 2001 "spy plane" debacle is an example of such a misunderstanding. Experts are worried there could be more incidents as the Chinese Navy and Air Force counduct exercises and patrols farther away from China and come into more frequent contact with the United States, Taiwan, and Japan.
But some experts see little prospect of a closer military relationship between the two countries in the near future. Admiral Timothy J. Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, told CFR.org it would be a "giant leap of faith" to believe the United States and China could develop a close military partnership any time soon. To improve the relationship, Keating says, will require "more transparency, a better understanding of intention on our part of the Chinese, and to get there we would need more active cooperation with the Chinese."
The United States has followed a two-pronged strategy in the military-to-military relationship, says Mulvenon. It engages with the Chinese military through senior-level exchanges, and it has sought to modernize and reform its own forces. A 2007 CFR Independent Task Force report (PDF), which was cochaired by Dennis Blair, the Obama administration's director of national intelligence, recommended a sustained high-level military-strategic dialogue to complement the "Senior Dialogue" started by the deputy secretary of state in 2005 and the "Strategic Economic Dialogue" launched by the treasury secretary in 2006. It also recommends that Washington strengthen its security partnerships with China's neighbors. As this Backgrounder notes, the United States has been forging closer relations with countries in the region, including India, another regional power. It concluded a groundbreaking nuclear deal with New Delhi in 2008, lifting a three-decade U.S. moratorium on nuclear trade with India. The United States has also been upgrading forward deployed naval and air forces in Guam.
How U.S. defense planners will respond to China's military buildup going forward is also dependent on the ongoing debate over the biggest threats to U.S. national security in the twenty-first century. Writing in the latest Foreign Affairs, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates says the country now faces both conventional adversaries and irregular conflicts from insurgents and non-state actors, and it should "seek a better balance in the portfolio of capabilities it has--the types of units fielded, the weapons bought, the training done." However, in a situation of finite Department of Defense resources, some analysts argue that "striking the correct planning balance" between operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war on terror, and China's military modernization will be a key defense planning challenge.
"striking the correct planning balance" http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33153_20081119.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/cfr/world/slot3_20090204.html
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US Military 50 Percent Robotic By 2015
Posted on: Thursday, 5 February 2009, 10:10 CST
The US military will be half machine and half human by 2015, a military expert told an audience on Wednesday.
Speaking before a group at the Technology Entertainment and Design (TED) conference, military expert Peter Singer said the implementation of robot soldiers was near.
"We are at a point of revolution in war, like the invention of the atomic bomb," Singer said.
"What does it mean to go to war with US soldiers whose hardware is made in China and whose software is made in India?"
The US military has already made great strides in unmanning the battlefield. The US uses attack drones and bomb-handling robots, and custom war video games have been used as recruiting tools.
But the introduction of compassionless robots to the battlefield is strangely similar to terrorism, said Singer.
"You don't have to convince robots they are going to get 72 virgins when they die to get them to blow themselves up," Singer said.
Singer also referred to so-called “war porn” – videos captured by robots on the battlefield that gets distributed on the Internet.
"It turns war into entertainment, sometimes set to music," Singer said. "The ability to watch more but experience less."
David Hanson creates robots with human features in hopes to achieve more “empathy.”
"The goal here is not just to achieve sentience, but empathy," Hanson said.
"As machines are more capable of killing, implanting empathy could be the seeds of hope for our future."
Image Caption: The MATTRACKS T4-3500 robot uses track technology that provides mobility and traction in mud, sand, snow, swamp and tundra conditions. US Army
http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1634688/us_military_50_percent_robotic_by_2015/
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Iran Satellite Causes Fear
Obama, Biden Opposed Missile Defense System
By Michael P. Tremoglie, The Bulletin
Published: Thursday, February 05, 2009
By MICHAEL P. TREMOGLIE
The Bulletin
Iran successfully launched its first domestically made satellite in orbit Monday. This has caused concern among the U.S. and other world powers because this technology can also be refined to deliver warheads.
The Iranians have been working for the past decade to develop a national space program. The telecommunications satellite called “Omid,” or “Hope,” in Farsi was launched after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave the order to proceed, according to a report on state radio.
Iranian media praised the launch as part of festivities marking the 30th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which brought hard-line clerics to power.
But it has created worries in the United States, Europe and Israel about ties between the satellite programs and missiles technology.
“There’s almost always a link between satellite programs like this and military programs and there’s almost always a link between satellites and nuclear weapons. It’s the same delivery vehicle,” said James Lewis, an expert on defense technology at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
State Department spokesman Robert A. Wood accused Iran of using the space-launch program as a technological stepping-stone to develop long-range ballistic missiles.
“Iran’s ongoing efforts to develop its missile delivery capabilities remain a matter of deep concern,” Mr. Wood said.
“Iran’s development of a space-launch vehicle capable of putting a satellite into orbit establishes the technical basis from which Iran could develop long-range ballistic missile systems U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718 prohibits Iran from engaging in missile-related activities.”
This advance in orbital technology by Iran poses an early dilemma for the Obama administration. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden, along with congressional Democrats, who routinely and vehemently criticized former President George W. Bush’s plans for a missile shield.
The International Herald Tribune reported last August, “As the Bush administration speeds ahead with plans to construct a missile defense system in Eastern Europe, some Democrats in Congress want to put on the brakes, saying it has not been adequately tested. Democrats are now questioning all that spending as premature.”
Last spring the Democratic-controlled House Armed Services Committee withheld authorization for most of the requested funds for the missile shield construction in Poland. They proposed language that would have barred spending to build the system, until the Defense Secretary certified that it was reliable. They took this action despite the warnings of Lieutenant General Henry Obering III, director of the Missile Defense Agency.
He said that the system, called the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System, should not be deployed in Europe until the testing was complete - about 2010 - but construction should proceed, he said.
Gen. Obering said, “We can’t wait until the Iranians launch a long-range missile and then start worrying about building out the site. If you do that, you are way behind the curve.”
But waiting is what the Obama-Biden campaign said they wanted to do. During the presidential campaign the Obama-Biden website declared their opposition to missile defense. It said, “An Obama-Biden administration will support missile defense, but ensure that it is developed in a way that is pragmatic and cost-effective; and, most importantly, does not divert resources from other national security priorities until we are positive the technology will protect the American public.”
Mr. Biden’s more than three decades opposition to missile defense is self-evident.
During the 1980s Mr. Biden opposed President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) saying at the time,”The president’s continued adherence to [SDI] constitutes one of the most reckless and irresponsible acts in the history of modern statecraft.”
In 1999, Mr. Biden opposed the National Missile Defense Act, which would have allowed deployment of the yet undeveloped and untested National Missile Defense system. He said the bill was “a political document, not a substantive piece of legislation that adds anything to the concept of what our strategic doctrine should be.”
During a September 10, 2001 speech at the National Press Club Mr. Biden said, “Missile defense has to be weighed carefully against all other spending and all other military priorities. And in truth, our real security needs are much more earthbound and far less costly than national missile defense.”
The Obama administration’s strategy for dealing with Iran is also quite clear. It relies on sanctions.
During the campaign the Obama-Biden team said it “would offer the Iranian regime a choice.” They would give Iran incentives like “membership in the World Trade Organization, economic investments, and a move toward normal diplomatic relations” for abandoning its nuclear program and support for terrorism.
The campaign said Iranian non-compliance would be met by increased economic pressure and political isolation.
During a June 2000 speech at the Cato Institute Mr. Biden said, “Similarly, in Iran, while conservative clerics still view America as the Great Satan, other clerics with overwhelming popular support - are slowly moving Iran toward a more rational view of the world.”
Despite misgivings and threats of increased sanctions from European nations, Iranian Presiden Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday the satellite launch will enhance the country’s standing in the world. He said developments in nuclear and space programs as a matter of pride and a sign of its independence from Western countries.
Michael P. Tremoglie can be contacted at mtremoglie@thebulletin.us
http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/02/05/top_stories/doc498a6c49919ae781809471.txt
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Charges Against USS Cole Bombing Suspect Dropped, Gitmo Trials End
February 6, 2009 1:23 a.m. EST
Windsor Genova - AHN News Writer
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The Pentagon on Thursday dropped terror charges against the suspected mastermind of the USS Cole bombing in Yemen effectively ending military trials of al Qaeda suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Susan J. Crawford, Pentagon's senior judge and the convening authority for the Guantanamo military commissions, dropped the charges against Saudi Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri in compliance with President Barack Obama's Jan. 22 order to close the controversial prison and stop the trials there.
However, the move will not prevent the U.S. government from pursuing its case against Nashiri in the future through alternative means, said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell.
Also, Nashiri will remain in the Guantanamo prison until his case is reviewed by a Cabinet-level team, Morrell said.
Meanwhile, Obama will meet Friday the families and relatives of the 17 USS Cole sailors who died in the 2000 suicide bombing attack of the ship while it was docked at a Yemeni port. Obama will explain his decision to close the prison and review the cases of Gitmo detainees to the victims' families, who are disappointed about the suspended trial of Nashiri.
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013972261
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EU shark laws 'toothless' - conservationists
February 05 2009 at 10:52PM
Brussels - The EU Commission on Thursday proposed tighter fisheries rules to protect shark stocks, including obliging fishing boats to throw back sharks caught accidentally, but Green groups expressed doubts about the moves.
One of the other key measures proposed is banning fishing boats from hacking off the valuable shark fins on board then throwing the rest of the carcass back in the water.
However the fin hacking would be able to continue as long as the carcass was kept on board.
The Action Plan also includes possibility of setting up temporary fishing exclusion zones to protect young or reproducing sharks as well as tightening rules on fishing gear to minimise unwanted catches and ensure such catches are released back into the water.
'Sharks are slow-growing and produce relatively small numbers of young'
"Sharks are very vulnerable to overexploitation and the consequences of depleting their numbers may have very serious consequences not only for sharks but also for marine ecosystems and for fishermen themselves," EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg said.
However, Green groups were unimpressed, saying the package, which must yet be approved by member states and the EU parliament, already lacks teeth.
"Sharks are slow-growing and produce relatively small numbers of young. Many of these species are already threatened with extinction," said Aaron McLoughlin, head of the WWF's European Marine Programme.
"The plan lacks a solid commitment to seek mandatory collection of data on shark catch, a critical element if the EU is to succeed in the conservation of these species," he added.
A recent study by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature suggests that as many as one-third of the shark species caught in EU waters are threatened by excessive fishing pressure.
'It appears to have been published out of political obligation'
The Madrid-based Oceana group saw "big plans but little action" in the proposals.
"We got a vague document which does not contain measures to achieve the goal of conservation and sustainable management of sharks. It appears to have been published out of political obligation," complained Ricardo Aguilar, Oceana Europe's director of investigation. - Sapa-AFP
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=31&art_id=nw20090205191759556C348792&set_id=
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High stakes remain on Somali high seas
By Juliet Njeri
BBC News, Nairobi
The release of the MV Faina by Somali pirates after almost six months in captivity will be received with mixed feelings by the different players in the high stakes, high seas drama.
The crew of the Ukrainian freighter will be savouring freedom, while the ship's owner will no doubt be ruing the high cost paid for its release.
But it is perhaps the pirates who will walk away from the saga with the most to smile about as they count their loot, reported to be $3.2m (£2.2m).
The MV Faina is the second high-profile ship to be released by pirates this year. In January, a Saudi oil tanker, the Sirius Star, was released after the hi-jackers reportedly received $3m as ransom.
This means that the gangs of modern day buccaneers operating off the Somali coast have "earned" at least $6.2m in just over a month.
Officials say that pirates were paid some $150m in ransoms in 2008.
This is a handsome reward by any standards, and in a country ravaged by war, is likely to tempt even more gangs of desperate men to join the potentially lucrative trade.
Most of the pirates are young and reportedly live lavish lives - they marry the most beautiful girls, live in big houses and drive big, flashy cars.
It is said that piracy has now become "socially acceptable, even "fashionable".
Treacherous waters
Although some of the pirates who hi-jacked the Sirius Star reportedly perished at sea soon after receiving their huge ransom, the gang that released the MV Faina are assumed to have made off safely.
With so much money at their disposal, it is likely that some of it will be spent re-investing in the instruments of their trade - more powerful weapons and speedboats.
Horn of African analyst Roger Middleton told the BBC that the capture of the MV Faina and the Sirius Star shows the pirates have upped their game and become more brazen.
However, they have also attracted the world's attention, along with a flotilla of warships, which now patrol the Indian Ocean.
He says the military operation has had some success - many pirates have been arrested and several attacks foiled.
But the international commitment must not flag.
"If the military presence stays for a long time, it could have a long-term impact on piracy," said the analyst from the Chatham House think-tank.
"But if it only lasts a year or so, we are likely to see the number of pirate attacks rise."
Some also suggest that the decline in pirate attacks could be attributed to the winter weather and unfavourable sailing conditions.
Ships have started staying clear of the waters off Somalia, considered the most dangerous in the world, and this means longer and more expensive journeys.
But those delivering aid to Somalia and the East African region have no choice but to sail through the treacherous waters, where the warships have been providing escort.
Arms controversy
Kenya, which neighbours Somalia, will also be paying close attention to the ship's release.
For the Kenyan government, which has been lurching from crisis to crisis over the last few months, the ship's release is certain to turn into yet another unwelcome controversy.
The MV Faina, which was hijacked in Kenyan waters on its way to the port city of Mombasa, was delivering a shipment of military tanks, rocket launchers and small arms.
The ship's manifest suggests that the cargo was heading for South Sudan. But the Kenyan government has repeatedly denied this, insisting that the arms are theirs, while the Government of South Sudan has also rejected the claims.
Now that the ship is free and about to deliver the arms, the world's focus will now shift to the shipment's final destination.
Many will be waiting to see that will happen to the weapons once they are loaded off the ship.
But Mr Middleton says the mystery is likely to continue.
"It's hard to see that anyone is going to want be open about who these are for.
Unless, of course, the weapons are destined for Kenya, as the officials maintain.
"I don't think we'd expect the southern Sudanese minister of defence welcome them at the port."
But if the weapons are indeed headed for South Sudan, the Kenyan government will find itself in deep waters answering some very uncomfortable questions.
Kenya played a crucial role in brokering an end to the war between South Sudan and the government in Khartoum in 2005.
If the erstwhile negotiator is now helping South Sudan buy arms, it would be a violation of the peace deal it helped broker, which states that weapons purchases must be approved by a north-south Joint Defence Board.
"There is a delicate diplomatic game going on," Mr Middleton suggests.
As it struggles to deal with its own internal issues, including a famine, two recent fire tragedies and political wrangling over the prosecution of those involved in the 2008 post election violence, the Kenyan government might be thinking that the ship's release couldn't have come at a worse time.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7872946.stm
Published: 2009/02/05 17:40:24 GMT
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Somalia - Pirate kingpin killed
5 Feb 5, 2009 - 12:44:30 PM
GAROWE, Somalia Feb 5 (Garowe Online) –
One of the most notorious pirates in Somalia was killed Monday in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, a self-governing region in northeastern Somalia.
Bi'ir Abdi, described as a pirate master, was killed alongside a fellow pirate named Khame Mohamud Arale after two gunmen opened fire on their vehicle, officials said.
Garowe police commander Ahmed Dheere told Radio Garowe that the suspected killers were apprehended moments after the fatal shooting.
Abdulkadir Osman "Food-Adde," Garowe's city mayor, congratulated the local police force for capturing the killers, who are being kept under police protection to prevent possible retaliation.
Some reports said the group of pirates disagreed over financial shares, forcing one group to prepare a sneak attack on the other.
Pirate gangs have turned against each other several times in recent months, but this marks the first time a well-known pirate was killed.
Inside sources said the late Bi'ir was involved in numerous ship hijackings ever since pirate attacks surged in 2007.
Puntland's new president, Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole," has pledged that his government's top priorities include improving security and fighting piracy.
Source: Garowe Online
http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_Ukraine_weapons_ship_freed_pirate_kingpin_killed.shtml
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Destroyer to go to Somalia
The 4,200-ton destroyer Moonmu the Great has been selected as the ship the Navy will send to the Somali waters to fend off pirate attacks, officials said yesterday.
"Following our latest visit to discuss cooperation with the international naval force already operating in the area, we have decided to send Moonmu the Great," said Rear Admiral Choi Soo-yong of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Moonmu -- one of the Navy's three KDX-II class destroyers -- is to be despatched as early as February following last-minute preparations.
A military team was sent to nearby Bahrain and Djibouti from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4 to meet with naval officials there. The Navy plans to set up a base at Djibouti when Moonmu is dispatched for its mission.
Choi said it was in agreement with the international naval force over what kind of support they would share. Officials from the relevant military departments will meet to sign the official documents for confirming their discussions.
"We are ready to go. All we have to is ignite our engine," said Navy Capt. Yoo Young-shik.
Last month, the government passed a motion to send a destroyer to the waters off Somali to fight the rampant piracy. The motion is expected to soon receive parliamentary approval.
The bill was presented on Foreign Ministry urgings last year for the military to deal with the spiraling volume of piracy. Over 100 pirate-related incidents took place in the sea of Somalia last year, according to ministry records.
Citing the Navy's frequent brushes with North Korean ships, officials yesterday assured that Moonmu the Great would be a significant addition to the international naval forces in the Somali waters.
"Our Navy has long since developed the expertise to deal with North Korean boats seeking infiltration, which accounts for our superb close-range combat capabilities," Choi said.
By Kim Ji-hyun
(jemmie@heraldm.com)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/02/07/200902070019.asp
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Regards
Snooper
NNNN
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