A diverse selection for you today. We begin with an unexpected launch: Best Management Practice (BMP) 5, the shipping industry security guide for vessels using the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) was released yesterday, along with a new web-based resource for shipping companies where the latest advice can be accessed. The updated guide contains useful new sections on extremist groups and possible conflict spillover, as we've seen in the waters around Yemen.
In Somalia itself, the government has called on EUNAVFOR and others to assist in its fight against the illegal charcoal trade. Yes, charcoal. It's raised millions in revenue for terror group Al Shabaab, and now the authorities are cracking down. 
Elsewhere in the IOR, the Bangladesh and Indian navies have launched joint patrols in the Bay of Bengal, a crime hot spot that is rarely covered by the media, yet where kidnap and armed robbery are commonplace for local fishing fleets.
In the Mediterranean, merchant marine concerns about migrant rescues were underlined this week when the Alexander Maersk picked up a group of migrants and had to wait before being allowed to disembark them at an Italian port. 
We also hear calls from the industry for better maritime cyber reporting. Funnily enough, there's a site which does exactly that. It was created by CSO Alliance and Airbus. Visit maritimecyberalliance.com and have a look!
We close with news that Nigeria still doesn't have any sort of effective anti-piracy legislation on its statute books. Still sounds bizarre to say it out loud after so many years of maritime crime…

Regards,
David Rider                  
Editor