A calmer week in the political world, but things don't stop on the water. 
The Combined Maritime Forces have been particularly busy this week, with CTF 150 seizing two large narcotics shipments in the Arabian Sea. The first, around 400kg of heroin and then the second, just under 2000kg of hashish, were seized by the French Navy ship, La Fayette. Proof once again that there are an awful lot of drugs being smuggled through the Indian Ocean.
In the Gulf of Guinea, Ghana hasn't ignored recent pirate incidents in its waters, and has been arresting vessels suspected of illegal bunkering and other activities. There are calls for new legislation to further suppress maritime crime in the nation's waters. 
In Nigeria, the 'Maritime Security Agency' (yet another body) has called for the creation of a Maritime Security Agency Act. If anything, Nigeria needs to take a hard look at the multiple agencies vying to protect its waters and streamline it significantly in order to ensure a proper hierarchy. Or maybe create a Coast Guard at long last. 
Southeast Asia has seen some sabre-rattling this week, as China's PLA Navy hold a live fire drill near Taiwan. No message being sent there…
In the Sulu-Celebes region, plagued by the threat of Abu Sayyaf terrorists, Malaysia has called for an expansion of the INDOMALPHI trilateral patrols. This would no doubt be welcomed by vessels transiting the region.
Finally, we look at the latest tech being tested by the US Navy: Common Unmanned Surface Vehicles.

Regards,
David Rider                  
Editor