Dear Readers,
Welcome back. It's a very piracy-themed newsletter this week. We begin with Oceans Beyond Piracy presents its latest report on maritime crime. As expected, they noted a significant rise in reports in 2017, with Somalia once again popping its head above the parapet. EUNAVFOR has warned merchant vessels that the threat of attack from Yemen remains a possibility, although Saudi and coalition vessels remain the main target for Houthis in the region. Concerns emerge from Somalia over the high level of IUU fishing in the nation's waters. As more foreign fleets move in, it risks the return of piracy as fishermen take the law into their own hands. In Nigeria, some good news as the crew kidnapped from the FWN Rapide is freed following a ransom payment. Additionally, the Nigerian Air Force has announced plans to deploy drones to monitor oil facilities in the Delta to ensure their security. We close with a look at piracy in China, something not often discussed. We've seen an increase in robbery reports from the region's ports, so it's a timely examination.
Regards, David Rider Editor
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