Strategic Insights No 5
Too early for a nightcap for ReCAAP: Navigating the Regional Agreement on Combating Armed Robbery and Piracy (ReCAAP) through heavy seas
Karsten von Hoesslin
International cooperation is needed to effectively combat piracy, but it is a question how this should be carried out in the real world environment of nation states. The ReCAAP agreement among a number of Asia’s maritime nations has provided a theoretical basis for multi-national counter-piracy operations, but it remains to be seen if it will unfold as a inter-government series of talks or an instrument that will benefit security of shipping.
Bangladesh: A country of political unrest and increasing threats to supply chain and maritime security
Hans Tino Hansen
One of the high climbers of piracy hot spots this year is Bangladesh, which has reemerged on the top list of the IMB. At the same time Bangladesh is in political turmoil with violent political confrontations. This article looks at the connections between internal politics and threats to shipping.
Somalia on the verge of war
Atle Mesoy
Somalia and the Horn of Africa was the topic for an article in Strategic Insights No. 3, but many things have happened with Somalia since. Piracy has dropped dramatically and the country has entered a major confrontation between the different stakeholders in and around the country. Atle Mesoy updates the situation in this article.
LNG shipping trade: How safe?
Micheal Richardson
Michael Richardson looks into the issues concerning security and LNG transport. Australia’s LNG export to China is becoming an ever-increasingly important source of revenue and the LNG is transported through some water lanes close to areas controlled to terrorist organisations. Several so-called experts have addressed the threat from LNG tankers in connection to terrorism and the Hollywood movie “Syriana” even illustrated this, but while it may be interesting as dramatic effects in a picture the real threats are much different.
Strategic Insights No 4
Bringing security to the attention of the board
Hans Tino Hansen
In today’s competitive world, the focus on security is often ranked very low in the corporate order of business. This may lead to a reactive rather than a proactive approach to security, where incidents perhaps could have been avoided by awareness, planning and proper implementation. The question is how the organisation can bring security into the board room agenda. Hans Tino Hansen looks into this issue.
The Malacca Straits: Not a high-risk zone?
Catherine Zara Raymond
During the last year, one of the highly debated issues concerning piracy and insurance has been the classification of the Malacca Straits as a War Risk Zone by the Lloyd’s Market Association. From Singapore, Catherine Zara Raymond discusses the justification of this decision.
Nigeria: Offshore and oil industry in peril
Jesper Melchior Hansen
One of the existing but increasingly hot spots is Nigeria and recently there have been several incidents reaching the international media. While piracy in its traditional form perhaps is not the most notable threat, the threat in the Niger Delta from a range of local groups are increasingly dangerous to the offshore and oil industry. Jesper Melchior Hansen gives an introduction to these threats.
Opportunity knocks: counter-piracy initiatives within the private sector in the post-September 11 era
Karsten von Hoesslin
The private sector has historically always been involved in counter-piracy, but the recent years have even seen a surge in private companies in this domain. A view of the sector is complicated, if not muddy, and includes everything from consulting firms providing intelligence such as Protocol over a range of ISPS-related companies to specialist security companies providing armed escorts and other physical security services. This article addresses the private sector and gives an overview of some of its services and products, and analyses how the ISPS code has had an effect even if the code was not intended for counter-piracy.
Strategic Insights No 3
The Dubai ports controversy
Robbin Laird
The case of the takeover bid from Dubai for the P&O Ports have stirred up many emotions that give flashbacks to the 1980s, when another ally, Japan, wanted to takeover a US firm of strategic value. Robbin Laird gives an insight into this controversial issue in the editorial for edition.
The pirates of the Horn: State collapse and maritime threat
Stig Jarle Hansen and Atle Mesoy
For many monitoring the threats from piracy, probably the most interesting article in this issue will be the in-depth analysis in this article that presents for the first time an analysis of the piracy attacks in the Somali waters. This analysis goes beyond a simplistic view of Somali politics, and examines the relationship between factions, peace negotiations and piracy.
Southeast Asia's vital shipping straits: Are coastal states and major users finding common ground?
Michael Richardson
The many stakeholders in maritime security have different agendas and the question is if they will carry on in the right direction. Michael Richardson gives an overview of the cooperation of coastal states and involvement of other leading players in South East Asia in this article.
The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI): An assessment of its strengths and weaknesses
Michael Richardson
As indicated in the previous issue and much in-demand, Michael Richardson presents and in-depth analysis of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). The article looks into the background and the aim of the PSI and then turns to the weaknesses and effectiveness of the initiative. Finally, the article addresses some of the issues relating to the recent amendments to the SUA Convention.