PLANETDATA / MARITIME SECURITY NEWS

PlanetData - The Security News Network is a free news and information resource focused on maritime, global, corporate, cyber, homeland and aviation security, law enforcement and intelligence. PlanetData hosts timely and comprehensive content gathered from over 1,000 online sources, as well as from our editors, contributors and members. This newsletter entry carries a summary of PlanetData’s weekly maritime security roundup.

• United States: Coast Guard Looking for Hoax Caller in Great Lakes Region

Oct 6, 2009 — The U.S. Coast Guard announced last week that its "Investigative Service is requesting assistance from the public to identify a suspected hoax caller who contacted U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste Marie on VHF-FM Channel 16 [multiple times] between Sept. 12-27, 2009."

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• United States: Illegal Entrants Busted on California Coast

Oct 5, 2009 — Early last Friday (10/2) morning U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested 21 Mexican nationals who are suspected of illegally entering the country. Border agents witnessed the Mexicans arrive on the beach near Carlsbad, California in a smuggling boat, which then went back out to sea with two people aboard. The Border Patrol was unable to find the smuggling boat.

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• Somalia: Owners Pay Ransom for Ship and Crew

Oct 5, 2009 — Somalia pirates have released the Turkish ship MV Horizon-1 and her crew of 23. The Turkish media reported Monday that the owners paid an undisclosed ransom for their ship, which was hijacked on July 8.

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• Somalia: Spanish Fishing Boat Hijacked in Indian Ocean

Oct 5, 2009 — Last Friday (10/2), the Spanish fishing trawler Alakrana was hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean between Somalia and the Seychelles. The ship has an international crew of 36 men. The ship is currently anchored near the Somali coast and is being monitored by a pair of warships - one Spanish and one French. On Sunday, the Spanish navy arrested two of the alleged pirates as they left the Alakrana on a small skiff.

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• United States: Coast Guard Helicopters Now Armed in Northwest

Oct 2, 2009 — As of October 1, the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station at Port Angeles, Washington has helicopter crews flying upgraded MH-65C helicopters outfitted with M-14T rifles and M-240 machine guns. The crews have been training since the spring of 2008 and are now ready to take to the skies. According to a statement from the Coast Guard, the "aircrews who conduct this mission are hand-selected, highly trained individuals specifically chosen for their maturity, judgment and sound decision making skills."

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