Merlin Global Maritime Weekly MarSec Brief & August Monthly Report

ASKET Operations Team
Aug 31, 2020
3 min read

SUMMARY

Please find attached the weekly MarSec briefing report as well as the August review.

WAF

In WAF region there has been 3 reported incidents in the last 7 days. Two attempted attacks, one 114 nm SE of Tema where the vessel managed to evade and a second attack off Freetown Port which the ships crew resisted the boarders and several were injured. Attacks in this region are volant and ships crews need to be prepared accordingly.

IOR

After the last week of activity in the region including a vessel being boarded in suspicious circumstances off Scrota Gap and an Armed Guard first taking the vessel he was supposed to protect hostage and then taking the floating armoury hostage, last 7 days have been quiet in the region. Civil War in Yemen still causing issues within the Gulf of Aden, especially for Saudi Flagged vessels whilst political issues within the Arabian Gulf meaning that transit of the Straits of Hormuz needs to be taken with precautions, especially for vessels with USA and allies connections.

LIBYA

This week The Libya's National Oil Corporation's (NOC) proposal to resume production and export of oil and to freeze sales revenues in NOC accounts in the Libyan Foreign Bank. Revenues should remain frozen until a comprehensive political agreement is reached in line with the recommendations of the Berlin Process. NOC reiterates its call for all oil facilities to be freed from military occupation to ensure the security and safety of its workers. Once this has been done, NOC should be able to lift force majeure and re-commence oil export operations. However meantime , according to information received from our local correspondents in Libya, the situation in the Libyan oil export terminals that were placed under force majeure by Libya's National Oil Corporation's (NOC) in January 2020 remains unchanged. The port situation in Libya as at 28th August 2020 is reported to be as follows: Working: Farwah, Bouri, Melittah, Zawia, Tripoli, Al Khoms, Misurata, Marsa El Brega (only non-oil cargoes), Benghazi and Tobruk Under force majeure by NOC: Es Sider, Ras Lanuf, Marsa El Brega, Zueitina and Marsa El Hariga Closed: Sirte and Derna

YEMEN - PORT SITUATION

While there have been no recent changes to the status of Yemeni ports, port authorities are now implementing strict quarantine and control measures to prevent the spread of COVID19.

According to information received from our correspondent Gulf Agency Co. (Yemen) Ltd. (GAC), the port situation in Yemen as at 30 July 2020 is as follows:

Working: Aden, Rudhum Oil Exporting Terminal, Mukalla, Ash Shihr Oil Exporting Terminal, Nishtun, Saleef and Hodeidah

Closed: Mokha, Ras Isa Marine Terminal (Safer), Ras Isa Petroleum Products Reception Facility and Balhaf LNG Terminal

BEIRUT - PORT SITUATION

Following the initial closure of the port of Beirut after the recent explosion, some container operations have now resumed where vessels have been allowed to discharge their cargo at the local container terminal.

FAR EAST

Ships transiting the Singapore Strait should remain vigilant and maintain an adequate anti-piracy watch as the number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Strait with 37 incidents 2020 YTD, 17 in the last 3 months.

Contact us today (remember to mention ASKET) to discussing performing Due Diligence and Risk Assessments for any High-Risk Area to ensure peace of mind for your fleet and to discuss possible mitigations or further information on regions or port calls. These are produced by experienced Maritime Operations Officers who have experience of sailing in the region as well as commercial and technical operations of vessels in the regions and understand your and your charterers requirements.

Capt David Lockwood

Operations Director

Merlin Global Maritime

www.Merlin-Global-Maritime.co.uk