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Maiden’s eagerly awaited departure on the 2021-2024 World Tour took place on Saturday 15th January when the iconic yacht left the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club on her 90,000nm journey, skippered by the legendary Marie-Claude Kieffer Heys and sponsored by the global logistics leader, DP World. Together with DP World, Maiden and her new crew will build on the successes of the previous World Tour, raising awareness and funds for girls’ education. Engaging with schools, charities, outreach programmes and organisations that are committed to the education of girls through empowering and inspiring girls around the world and changing the narrative around what a girl can achieve. Click here to get the full update. Read More

  Philippines: Robbers board chemical tanker at  General Santos Harbour Anchorage 11 March Philippines: Robbers board chemical tanker at  General Santos Harbour Anchorage 11 March The duty officer and duty able seaman on routine rounds onboard a Singapore-flagged chemical tanker anchored at General Santos Harbour Anchorage saw an unspecified number of robbers on the forecastle at 0157 hrs local time. The duty officer informed the master who activated the general alarm. Upon hearing the alarm, the robbers escaped in a small boat. Ship security conducted a search and found that the padlock to the bosun store was broken. All crew were reported safe and nothing was reported stolen.   Select Maritime News   Philippines: Robbers board chemical tanker at  General Santos Harbour Anchorage 11 March Philippines: Robbers board chemical tanker at … Read More

Gulf of Aden: Suspicious approach Bab el Mandeb 25 February A MV was approached on 25 February at 13.41 hrs LT in position 12 13N 044 06E by 6 skiffs with approximately 5 persons on board  to within 0.5nm within the MSTC Bab el Mandeb. Ladders were sighted but no weapons. Whilst the vessel showed that guards were embarked it is unknown whether any warning shots were fired.   This is the third incident of suspicious approach reported in the last 5 days in this area, but there is no evidence they are connected.   Western Gulf of Aden: Suspicious approach 22 February An underway MV reported a suspicious approach at 0748UTC in position 12:10N - 043:31.3E off Djibouti coast, western Gulf of Aden. Eleven skiffs with 4-5… Read More

  China: Hong Kong to quarantine travellers from mainland, close cruise terminals 05 February Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced the territory will close two cruise terminals and put anyone coming from mainland China into compulsory quarantine for 14 days. The move came as thousands of passengers and crew on a cruise ship that docked in Hong Kong on 5 February were being kept on board while they were tested for the coronavirus. The measures are aimed at curbing the cross-border flow of people to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus which originated in mainland China in December 2019. There have so far been 21 confirmed cases in Hong Kong. Analysis: Expect increased vigilance around all far east ports   Japan: Australia to evacuate… Read More

Yemen: Mine kills 3 Egyptian fishermen in Red Sea 07 February A mine planted by Yemen's Houthi rebels killed three Egyptian fishermen in the Red Sea's international waters, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said. The coalition added that the Houthis had planted sea mines across the Bab al-Mandeb strait and the Red Sea. Analysis: expect increased activities both on land and in littoral territorial waters by groups affiliated with Ansar Allah and other aligned Houthi movements. Morocco: Authorities seize 2.4 tonnes of cannabis in Tangier 07 February Authorities seized 2.4 tonnes of cannabis in the northern port city of Tangier. The narcotics were destined for international trafficking by sea. Police arrested four people in connection with the seizure. The suspects were also operating a migrant-smuggling network,… Read More

Japan: Authorities quarantine 3,500 people on cruise ship in Yokohama 04 February Authorities quarantined a cruise ship carrying 3,500 people to test passengers for coronavirus, after a passenger who departed in Hong Kong on 25 January tested positive for the virus. Quarantine officers entered the Diamond Princess cruise ship at the port of Yokohama and passengers were told their departure from the area would be delayed by 24 hours. The health ministry said that 20 people in Japan have tested positive for the virus.   Analysis: It is unclear if this incident forms a policy or is a specific and robust reaction to the single case of coronavirus from the vessel. In any case, vessels can expect increased controls in and around Chinese waters… Read More

Singapore: Pirates target vessel in Singapore Strait, steal scrap metal 20 January Pirates on sampans targeted a barge twice in the Singapore Strait within five hours, according to local media. The pirates were able to escape with several pieces of scrap metal. No injuries were reported. The first incident was reported at about 1130 hrs local time, when seven pirates were spotted on the barge being towed from Singapore to Vietnam. The second incident was reported at about 1600 hrs when seven pirates were spotted again on the same barge.   Analysis: It is unclear if the same group of pirates was involved in both attacks. There has been a sudden spike in incidents in the Singapore Strait reported since December 2019.   Nigeria: Vessel attacked 21… Read More

For those of you looking to get out on the water we have put together an information piece on negotiating the Suez Canal and Indian Ocean from a Superyacht Security perspective.. Choosing a route across an ocean can be highly personal. Cruising seems to be so much about preparation that it can be easy to miss the adventure of simply setting sail and seeing where life takes you. Here at Halcyon we are happy to help you with your planning and will endeavor to answer any of your questions however big or small. You can contact us here, on the Superyacht Captains Forum, via our website or email us at the Halcyon office contact. To read the report click here   Read More

Somalia: President Erdogan says Mogadishu invited Ankara to explore oil in its seas 20 January Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that Somalia invited Turkey to explore for oil in its seas after Ankara signed a maritime agreement with Libya in 2019. Erdogan said Turkey would take steps in line with the Somali invitation but did not elaborate further. Turkey has been a major source of aid to Somalia following a famine in 2011, but the statement comes two days after a suicide car bombing targeted Turkish contractors near Mogadishu. Malaysia: Armed attackers kidnap 5 from fishing vessel off Sabah 16 January An underway Malaysia-flagged fishing vessel was attacked by six armed persons wearing dark clothing and masks in a grey-coloured speed boat at 2000 hrs… Read More

    UK/Straits of Hormuz: British Royal Navy increase escort capability for British shipping in Straits of Hormuz 10 January The British Royal Navy will increase the complement of Royal Navy vessels to escort British-flagged commercial ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions in the region. The Royal Navy previously escorted British ships in the area between July and November 2019, after the seizure of a British vessel by Iran. The decision comes following the increase in tensions between Iran and the US (and her allies).   Analysis: Following the response by Iran to the US airstrike killing a senior Iranian General, tensions in the Straits of Hormuz will increase significantly with the risk of sympathetic, proxy or possibly Iranian attacks and seizures of… Read More