MSR Weekly Newsletter, March 16th

Dear Readers,

An interesting week for piracy watchers, as Nigeria and Southeast Asia identify new concerns. NIMASA, the Nigerian shipping organisation, released its own maritime crime figures this week. Or at least the ones that are reported officially; it's generally believed that a significant percentage remain unreported by companies unwilling to go through the hassles of investigation and the time they would lose as a result. 
In Southeast Asia, a number of new kidnap-for-ransom gangs have been identified by the authorities in Sabah, underlining the risk to the maritime industry in the region. 
In the Philippines, it's been revealed that armed Coast Guard operatives have been transiting with vessels in the Moro Gulf to ward off armed robbers and the threat posed by Abu Sayyaf Group terrorists. They've also been given a number of ScanEagle drones by the US, which should improve information gathering.
In the Indian Ocean Region, Pakistan has announced a new joint maritime information organisation (JMIO) to boost information sharing between maritime agencies and aid efforts against piracy and smuggling gangs.
Closer to home, allow me a moment of self-indulgence by including a piece I wrote on maritime cyber security and the real risks to shipping, rather than the fear mongering seen in certain quarters.