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.
• Indian Ocean Nations Hold Tsunami Warning Drill
Oct 14, 2009 — Wednesday (10/14) morning 18 countries bordering the Indian Ocean participated in an unprecedented tsunami drill, as the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System was tested in full for the first time. The exercise includes Australia issuing a simulated warning to participating nations about a 9.2 magnitude earthquake.
The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System was established by United Nations scientific body UNESCO after the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia. According to UNESCO, the architecture of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System is based on establishing national tsunami centers capable of issuing warnings in each of the participating countries.
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• Mexico: Tropical Storm Patricia Nears Southern Baja California Peninsula
Oct 13, 2009 — The U.S. National Hurricane Center expects Tropical Storm Patricia to make landfall sometime later on Tuesday or Wednesday (10/14) morning. The storm is not likely to reach hurricane strength, but it will temporarily affect the local cruise, sport fishing, and tourism industries in and around Cabo San Lucas.
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• Somalia: French Marines Deployed to Fishing Trawlers Repel Pirates
Oct 13, 2009 — In order to protect its fishing fleet from pirates operating in the Indian Ocean and around the Horn of Africa, France is putting contingents of well-armed Marines aboard fishing trawlers. And in the last four days the Marines have repelled two attempted hijackings.
The first occurred Saturday (10/10) about 220 miles from the Seychelles. The second came Tuesday (10/13) morning about 560 miles off the Somali coast. In both incidents, Marines aboard two trawlers fired upon two pirate skiffs. The pirates eventually turned and fled.
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• NYC to Host World Maritime Day Next Weekend
Oct 12, 2009 — Each fall the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) World Maritime Day is held on different dates by different countries. But, the IMO does have an "official" World Maritime Day, and this year it was September 24. On this day the IMO recognized this year's theme of "Climate change: A challenge for IMO Too!".
Here in the U.S., the Coast Guard will host the 2009 IMO World Maritime Day Parallel Event from Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18. The festivities will primarily take place in New York City, but other ports across the nation will host simultaneous events as well.
The Parallel Event is co-sponsored by the Department of State, Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Maritime Administration (MARAD), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
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• North Korea: N. Korea Tests Missiles, Issues Maritime Navigation Ban
Oct 12, 2009 — North Korea issued a ban on maritime activity off its east and west coasts between October 10 and 20, and then test-launched five short-range missiles into the East Sea on Monday (10/12). Presumably with the navigation ban in place for 8 more days, the North plans to conduct additional weapons tests.
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