Hull Would Avoid Worst Effects of Terrorist Attack or Serious Accident Involving LNG Ships

Hull residents would escape the most deadly effects of a liquefied natural gas spill at a proposed terminal on Outer Brewster Island, but the town could still be in danger from a terrorist attack or serious accident, experts said.

Officials from AES Corp., which wants to build the terminal on a state-owned island 2.1 miles from the Point Allerton section of Hull, have said Outer Brewster’s remote location and distance from populated areas make it an ideal location for the project.

While experts agree that the terminal would be far safer than an existing one in Everett, which requires massive tankers carrying highly flammable LNG to pass within a few hundred yards of tightly packed neighborhoods, they said any absolute claims that Hull would be protected during a catastrophe are too bold.

‘‘Whether or not the nearest residents in Hull fall within the harmful zone is going to be established by further study, but it’s not true to say there’s no possibility of harm at that distance,’’ said James Fay, professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a leading expert on LNG safety. ‘‘Given a big enough fire, it may well be.’’

Partriot Ledger: http://patriotledger.com/articles/2005/10/10/news/news02.txt

Antiterrorism Maritime Homeland Security Barriers For LNG Tankers, LNG Plants & Terminals

The heightened focus upon maritime homeland security has led to increased scrutiny of the security measures that are in place to protect our nation’s key infrastructure elements. The LNG Terminal infrastructure that has been created over the last 50 years is vital to our country’s economy and welfare; consequently they represent a high value target for terrorists.

The terrorist acts against the United States on September 11, 2001, have increased the need for maritime port safety and maritime port security measures on U.S. ports and waterways. In response to these terrorist acts, and in order to prevent similar occurrences, the United State Coast Guard has established temporary maritime security zones around all LNG terminals.

Read: http://www.whisprwave.com/lng-terminal-security.htm

Tamil Tigers Resume Fight

Sri Lanka’s military fought a fierce artillery duel with Tamil Tigers in the island’s restive east early on Tuesday, just hours after the rebels said they were resuming their two-decade independence struggle.

Read story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061128/wl_nm/srilanka_battle_dc_2

New Navy Ships Designed to Combat Modern-Day Pirates

The U.S. Navy awarded a $208.1 million contract modification to Maine shipbuilder Bath Iron Works to design and build a Littoral Combat Ship, a new breed of speedy and easier-to-maneuver Navy vessel.

The Navy’s long-range plan calls for 55 Littoral Combat Ships, which are designed to meet threats posed by modern-day pirates and terrorists who turn speedboats into suicide weapons.

U.S. Navy Leader Lauds Asian Countries

The head of the U-S Navy praised three nations bordering the once pirate-infested Malacca Strait in Southeast Asia for progress they’ve made ousting the sea robbers.

Read: http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=9785

Pirates Attack Ship Off Somali Coast

Somali pirates have hijacked a commercial vessel off the coast of the lawless nation, raising fears of resurgence of piracy after several months of lull activity.

Reports from Mogadishu said Saturday the United Arab Emirates- flagged MV Veesham carrying charcoal with 12-member crew on board was seized near Adale, 95 km northeast of Mogadishu on Thursday night.
Read:
http://english.people.com.cn/200611/05/eng20061105_318455.html

Bangladesh Most Dangerous Port

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Bangladesh's Chittagong port is the world's most dangerous with more than 30 pirate attacks reported in the first nine months of this year, an international maritime watchdog said Wednesday.

Read:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/01/asia/AS_GEN_Asia_Piracy.php

Pirate Attacks Continue Worldwide Through 2006

As of September 30, the International Chamber of Commerce reported 168 attacks against shipping worldwide, the majority as usual along the coasts of India, Malaaca Strait and Indonesia.

There have been 40 reported attacks in Indonesia and 20 in the Malacca Strait. The west coast of Africa has had 26 attacks and there were 17 attacks around South America, with nine off the southern coast of Brazil.

NATO Combating Terrorism at Sea

NATO ships patrol the Mediterranean to protect shipping against sea-going terrorists.

Read more: www.nato.int/cocu/briefing/terrorism_at sea2006/terrorism_at_sea2006-e.pdf

Security Tightens in Manila in Fear of Bombing Campaign

Security in and around Metro Manila has been tightened amid reports that extremists are planning a bombing campaign against civilian targets, security officials said Monday. Two bomb makers from the Rajah Solaiman Movement, a group of Christian converts to Islam, were believed to be hiding on the outskirts of Manila and could be constructing bombs, said the city’s military commander, Brig. Gen. Ben Dolorfino.

Fighting in Mindanao Intensifies

Officials said the fighting had escalated even as they announced that government troops found a camp believed belonging to the bandit Abu Sayyaf group in Patikul town in Sulu.
They said 30 members of the Indonesian Jemaah Islamiyah group were still holed up in Sulu and fighting side by side with the Abu Sayyaf.

From Voice of America: Pirates May Be Popular in Books and Movies, But Piracy Remains a Threat

In the first three months of 2006, 61 successful or attempted pirate attacks were reported. Fifty-six such attacks were reported in the same time period the year before. Still, many pirate attacks go unreported each year.

In 2005, 35 pirate attacks were reported in Somalia. The International Maritime Bureau says the pirates target both passenger and cargo ships.

In March of 2006, Somali pirates seized 20 Filipino seamen on an oil ship at a southern Somali port. The pirates demanded money from the ship owners for their release. The men were released in July following negotiations for their freedom.

Reports say modern pirates use high-speed motor boats. Most pirates force their way on to the ships, take what they want and are gone within minutes. Sometimes they kill or injure crew members.

Modern-day pirates are difficult to catch. They return to small rivers or ports where there is little or no law enforcement. In some areas, pirates pay local officials to hide them from the law. And many times it is difficult to take any legal action against pirates because their attacks may take place outside any country’s territorial waters.

Pirates are still a major concern for most countries. International efforts continue to catch them and bring them to justice.