Focus on Maritime Security

By Baird Maritime - May 22, 2023.

MARITIME SECURITY WEEK

This week, we review five recently completed maritime security vessels in two continents, namely, Australia and Europe. A police boat enters Australian federal service, hybrid patrol vessels commence operational sailings in one of Belgium’s major ports, and three new surface combatants are handed over to the Polish and Russian Navies.

Assault Craft • Interceptors • Patrol • Police • Coast Guard • Naval

Also featured is a new intelligence-gathering ship that will sail under the Swedish flag. The vessel is notable for being larger and more capable than the ship it will replace as well as for being the product of a multi-national cooperation with the Polish government. This ship will operate primarily in the Baltic Sea.

Keep visiting Baird Maritime for the latest news, vessel reviews, and other developments in the ever-important global maritime security sector.

Vessel Reviews:

Features and Opinion:

COLUMN | Sanction-busting “dark ships”: anarchy at sea? [Naval Gazing]

– “It is therefore unsurprising that international sanctions against the export of oil from Russia and Iran have spawned a vast network of operations by cheaply acquired, overage, inadequately manned, and frequently decrepit tankers.”

– by Trevor Hollingsbee, former UK Royal Navy officer and Baird Maritime‘s resident maritime security expert and columnist

OPINION | The Quad needs to talk security for subsea cables

– “The world will increasingly struggle to balance open standards for data sharing in support of democratic systems with the rise of extravagant claims to digital sovereignty.”

– by Aishwarya Acharya, Research Intern at the Centre for Air Power Studies, New Delhi

News and Gear:

Recent Important Features:

OPINION | The cost of crime and corruption on Pacific fisheries

– “Advancements in monitoring technology, law enforcement training, and testing capabilities on landed catches will all limit the opportunity for IUU fishing to go unnoticed.”

– by Dr Jade Lindley, criminologist based at The University of Western Australia Law School and Oceans Institute

COLUMN | Mass irregular migration poses growing maritime security challenge for Europe [Naval Gazing]

– “So far in 2023, organised crime groups have reaped fortunes by facilitating the passage of about 45,000 IMs by inflatable craft – or usually decrepit wooden vessels – with the prime IM crossing season yet to begin.”

– by Trevor Hollingsbee, former UK Royal Navy officer and Baird Maritime‘s resident maritime security expert and columnist

OPINION | How Japan could quickly build up its submarine force

– “Converting a submarine for training every few years involves removing combat equipment, much reducing Japan’s warfighting capability.”

– by Bradley Perrett, defence and aerospace journalist

Remember to come back every day to see the latest news, opinion and vessel reviews!

Call for content!

Any news or views about the global maritime security sectors? Send it through to [email protected] ASAP (between now and May 26), so we can add it to this current edition of Maritime Security Week!

We are after:

Vessels – Orders, new deliveries, under construction
Gear – Latest innovations and technology in the maritime security vessel sector
Interviews – Owners, operators, water police, navies, coast guards etc.
Reminiscences – Do you have any exciting, amusing or downright dangerous anecdotes from your time in the maritime security world? (example here)
Other – Any other relevant news