The recent suspected hijacking incident involving an oil tanker near the Isle of Wight was a “lucky escape” for the shipping industry because it occurred in British waters, according to former Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani.
In a new report for Policy Exchange, published today, the Conservative MP says that “the UK has excellent policing, coastguard and defence resources, with authorities that can cooperate with one another effectively and are well-equipped to deal with such incidents. Many other nations do not have such resources at their disposal.”
In the wake of the suspecting hijacking, Ghani says the UK should use its role as host of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) – the only UN body headquartered in Britain – to improve global shipping security.
The former Transport Minister writes:
“When incidents like this occur elsewhere in the world, they can often lead to a protracted stand-off. It is also fortunate that the Nave Andromeda was a Liberian-flagged vessel; it is easy to see how the situation could quickly have developed geopolitical complications if the vessel had been flying a Russian or Chinese flag, for example.
The IMO is in theory responsible for the safety and security of international shipping, but in practice it lacks the capacity to deal with incidents such as this. IMO guidelines mandate that vessels are searched prior to departure, but in developing countries with less stringent security measures stowaways are able to slip through.”
She also issues a stark warning about the state of the UK maritime sector during the Covid-19 pandemic:
“The Government risks overlooking the Maritime sector in its economic response to the Coronavirus crisis. Thus far, the Department for Transport has focused its attention primarily upon the aviation industry. There has not been comparable, or even near-comparable, engagement with the maritime sector. Both are key to British prosperity, to the movement of freight and people, and to the livelihood of many communities. The Government cannot choose between the two of them.”
The Policy Exchange report, ‘A Global Maritime Power: Building a Better Future For Post-Brexit Britain’, co-authored by Nusrat Ghani, also argues that:
- The maritime sector is crucial to the UK economy, and risks being overlooked by the Government in its response to Coronavirus;
- The Government should invest in shipbuilding and port infrastructure to ensure that the ‘levelling up’ agenda benefits coastal communities;
- The Government should review EU-derived rules governing the maritime sector after the end of the transition period;
- ‘Free Ports’ will only be successful in the UK if they include tax and regulatory incentives, and are not overseen by local authorities;
- The Government should seek to liberalise trade in maritime services when striking new trade deals after Brexit;
- The Government should fast-track funding and testing for emerging maritime technologies, such as drones and unmanned vessels;
- The Government should support investment in low emission shipping in order to achieve Net Zero by 2050, and use the upcoming COP26 climate change conference to encourage other countries to do the same.
The paper has been endorsed by Labour peer Admiral Lord West, former First Sea Lord and former Security Minister, who said:
“For many years successive governments have failed to understand that the maritime sector is one of the nation’s greatest assets. It is crucially important both strategically and economically, being fundamental to energy and food supply and the manufacturing industry. Global shipping is still effectively run from London in terms of insurance, arbitration and other shipping services.
Despite this it has been overlooked by policymakers and having been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t received the same attention as other industries. This excellent new report by Policy Exchange highlights the importance of the sector, the challenges it faces, and the practical steps that can be taken to support it. Its proposals should be taken seriously at the highest levels of Government.”
The UK maritime sector: 95% of all UK goods trade by volume is transported by sea, as is 25% of UK energy and 48% of UK food supplies.
According to MaritimeUK, the sector supported a total of £46.1 billion to the UK’s Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2017 and employed 220,000 people. Each year UK ports handle nearly 500 million tonnes of freight and 60 million international and domestic passenger journeys.
No worries, the hijackers are already out on bail
They are bailed, but still in custody.
Yeh, that’s what bail means. Clearly hijackers are honourable folk. What a relief!
Ah, in custody to HMBF
Sorry for the sarcastic tone yesterday, Trevor, it was unbecoming. Case of shooting from the lip without engaging brain. Should know better as I worked for them for years! Still, even I thought that hijacking with SBS involvement would lead to more than basically standard illegal immigration controls. Somehow threatening the crew and interfering with the operational procedure of a commercial vessel does not fit with a picture of poor downtrodden refugees pleading for succour. We went from reports that the situation ‘could possibly lead to life imprisonment’, albeit clearly never going to happen of course, to ‘bailed’ in the blink of an eye. Gov resist attempts to establish % of absconders under national public interest clauses, but in this case the public really need to know the final outcome – a post trial incarceration period for some or all seven, ideally. Did not appreciate how frustrated I’d got.
A more considered response at least.
Regards
OK
And in a nice warm hotel somewhere
Agree. No wonder the UK is seen as a soft touch. Enter legally and one should be fairly treated until their claim is shown to be legitimate or false. Enter illegally and one should be deported. It’s very simple.
Would I be put up in a hotel if I illegally entered another’s property?
Unfortunately the HR lawyers will drag the process out, even timing an intervention as deporteees are on the plane.
So they join the thousands stuck in the system, which is undermined to start with.
Let’s hope they don’t do another Reading, Nice, Manchester, or Glasgow. They’ve already shown capacity for violence.
I predict someone will now take offesnse and this post will vanish. Yet all I’m doing is pointing out reality. It’s they who will be hiding their heads in the sand while singing loudly.
Looks as if no one has taken ‘offesnse’ Daniele 🙂
Morning H. Good Lord, I re read that and missed that mobile phone spelling. Apologies. Lol
Where is the edit function?
I was once asked to proof read someone’s dissertation (pre-spell check)….I wasn’t asked again. It’s so easy to miss errors…its as if, at times, the brain isn’t registering what the eyes are seeing. I call it the Carol Vorderman effect!
Morning H. To be fair, I would miss much if Carol Vorderman was in view….another in that category is Nigella Lawson!!!!
There is also a strong case to say not everyone trying to enter the UK is a terrorist or planing dastardly deeds. Many are trying to simply try for a better life, and are desperate to do so. We don’t know the desperation of trying to flee a war revagaged country. like these poor bastards trying to cross the channel, or the med, things must be pretty grim to take that kind of risk.
Of course Robert, no-one is disputing that.
I have some of an idea, at least. My own father came to England penniless in 1962 on a ferry, looking for a job. He knows what being hungry means. He was in wartime Rome, I can appreciate this.
Question. Do you really think they are all fleeing war? Because if they are why are there not a majority of women and children amongst them ? ( Yes I know of the poor lad the other day) They are mostly young adult males on the boats crossing the med from Libya and the columns who marched across the Balkans who were on Hungary’s borders. They appear to have left families behind. Of course, under our rules one can become a dozen or more once they are reunited here with family who are then flown over for reunification if they get leave to remain.
Fleeing war? Really?
Question: I know some millions have ended up in Jordan and are now in refugee camps. Where are the millions in Saudi? And why Europe? Do they are Europe as richer, and thus a better place to live?
Question: Do you think the UK and, by extension, Western Europe, should accept EVERY person that fits your description?
Whether an economic migrant trying to better themselves or fleeing from any war zone, anywhere in the world?
Because if you do, that raises a whole load of questions that follow.
There is no denying the wests foreign policies and wars in the Middle East and intervention in Libya has caused much of this issue.
I’m actually glad that I won’t be alive in 100 years time to see the long term consequences of this. Someone here the other day was saying there’s plenty of room for assimilation. What? Like in France at the moment? Its not going too well there. We have beheadings, and women topless on beaches, which is the French way, being told to cover up as they were offending. Assimilation? Or the west needing to change its culture to appear acceptable to newly arrived migrants many whom are not assimilating at all. Is that correct? Or are we just ignoring the issue for fear if the dreaded R word, used to shut down any discourse and serious discussion?
What parts of the countryside will be left in 100 years to house the ongoing 250,000 plus increase in population in this country ? That’s 1 million every 4 years.
All built on Brownfield sites? Impossible.
What of the environmental consequences? Ignored.
We on UKDJ constantly bemoan lack of forward thinking by HMG and short term thinking on defence. Well, let’s see where the money is coming from for the hundreds of new towns and villages, millions of new job placements, sewage, wellfare, transportation, doctors surgeries, and all the other infrastructure needed for this over the next century, and that’s not even starting on the social consequences, or even whether the population accept a movement of people on such a scale long term.
I suggest what should be happening is that nations should be, ideally, reducing populace. Not adding yet more to an ageing population who will be a majority in the not too distant future.
Sooner or later these nations where these migrants are coming from need stabilising and rebuilding so that the populace can live in safety.
I bet now not one person here will be able to answer all these issues, or will just scream race and ignore my points.
Like I said in my first post above, which H so kindly looked for a spelling mistake for me, and then highlighted, it is not dealing with the issues, but burying your heads in the sand.
HMG are good at that…
the year ending March 2019, 612,000 people moved to the UK (immigration) and 385,000 people left the UK (emigration). Long-term immigration, emigration and net migration have remained broadly stable since the end of 2016. Those figures are both EU and none EU citizens. The peak was in 2015 apparently. I’m not denying at all the long term population challenges (globally) but to lay the blame at the door of people a lot worse off then ourselves, males, females, whole families is not telling the whole story. Countries closer to home do need to do a lot more to help, but I don’t blame people at all for wanting to settle in the EU or the UK instead of Saudi ect. Many want to come to work, to get educated, and many move back home in time. I’m simply trying to say that not all who come here have bad intentions. Two Many people in the UK forget what a fantastic country we live in, and do ourselves down, our image abroad is a much more positive one, and not because of our benefits system, France & Germany Netherlands, Denmark ect are all more generous. People want to come because of our open and fair and tolerant society, the English language, our job and education opportunities, we are the capital of the world in many respects. And many who shouldn’t be hear do get deported. We are not as soft as many think.
I don’t forget what a wonderful nation we have Robert… I worry too many of the world’s poor don’t forget either. There is only so much a nation can accept.
Yes, I can accept and get your point that not all have bad intentions. The minority of course. The point is that minority get the chance to act because of it. The Southfields bomber was another I believe.
How many get deported? I’d like to see accurate figures vs those whom have no right to remain but due to PC and action by the HR lobby, and funded by the taxpayer, their status is waived and given amnesty to remain, to not “rock the boat”
And I’ve not even mentioned the estimated 1 million plus illegals that have entered without being stopped. That number is of course impossible to quantify.
Just my opinion. And I’m not laying the blame on immigrants door, that’s the point! I’m blaming the system that is letting this happen, en masse, ongoing, without end.
That is my issue.
And it will not go away.
There are really two separate issues. First is the risk to security posed by the entry of migrants from Muslim countries, eg the Libyan mass murderers in Manchester or more recently the Tunisian butcher in Nice. No-one who might pose a risk to UK people should ever be allowed in, no matter what sob story they concoct. We must operate on a presumption of threat.
The second issue is the scale of general immigration. The official net totals amount to a city the size of Southampton every year. Britain, and more particularly England,is one of the most densely populated countries on Earth, unable to feed its own people. To see how serious this is, look at the table of “Global hectares” which attempts to measure sustainability.
Better policing of the system will make no difference. The only answer is to end the right to asylum altogether.This would not prevent citizens of other countries living and working here within an overall target of net zero. But it would stop the flow of aggressive beggars and the abuse of public funding it entails.
Great post Daniele. The population of South Africa has doubled in the time I have lived here. Virtually every town and city in the country is blighted by’informal settlements’. This situation is echoed throughout the Third Word. It is unsustainable and by allowing such people to enter stable First World countries, the disease is spread. The answer is simple-it is the primary and urgent duty of each country individually to stabilise its population. Those that wont such as nations in Africa and in particular(and inexplicably) the great civilisation of India, will pay a terrible price and must bear the responsibility for what is coming. China achieved the necessary and deserve huge credit for pointing the way.
Nothing to do with race at all but the stark reality-minorities who will not assimilate and with much higher rates of reproduction will radically alter the character of the receiving country.
Its now come out in the wash, that the Spanish and French refused to take action against the stowaways and simply allowed the ship to continue to British waters.
Stowaways’ tanker was denied port access by France and SpainThe vessel spent 24 hours off the French coast near the Donges refinery from October 20, before sailing north, vessel-tracking data show
Despite passing through the jurisdiction of France, Spain and Portugal, Nave Andromeda ended up becoming the responsibility of British authorities. Amid claims that France denied a request from the master to berth, Spain has confirmed it was contacted about access to Las Palmas port. FRANCE and Spain refused a request by the master of an aframax product tanker to allow seven Nigerian stowaways found on board to disembark.
The appeals were made just days before the incident on board Nave Andromeda that resulted in the vessel being boarded by British special forces and the arrest of seven men at gunpoint.
The Liberia-flagged tanker, operated by Greece-based Navios Maritime Holdings, sailed from Nigerian waters on October 5, and spent 24 hours off the French coast near the Donges refinery from October 20, before sailing north, vessel-tracking data show.
Prior to arriving in French waters, it had spent two days off the Spanish and Portuguese coasts before arriving in waters off the south coast of England on October 25
Lloyd’s List understands that French authorities refused Nave Andromeda’s master permission to berth and disembark the seven stowaways.
It has also emerged that Spanish authorities denied the tanker entry to Las Palmas port.
“The vessel didn’t dock at Las Palmas port. Andromeda anchored in front of the port and informed La Palmas Police about the stowaways,” a Civil Guard spokesman told the British newspaper The Times.
“Due to this circumstance local authorities refused permission to dock and disembark them.
Well well well farouk.
Fancy that, nations such as France and Spain standing up and saying no, as is their right.
Good on them.
Yes. This is wrong. Im assuming that the captain asked for Spanish and French assistance.
I’m not taking offence. But an hour before you (and others) posted about this l pointed out that they are still in custody… bail or not. They are Nigerian, for all you or anybody knows they are Christian.
Its quite possible that they ought to be able to be sent back to Nigeria. Generally i think we should build a camp in Ascension Island for illegal migrants, although I dont see these Nigerians being the same problem as the ones escaping France.
I’m glad Trevor, because this is a touchy subject for some, so a frank discussion of opinions is refreshing. It is needed, nationwide, on this issue.
Actually, I broadly agree on your points. One issue with those from across the channel is the criminal gangs exploiting many of them, and the money many pay. Whether governments are getting to grips with or just paying lip service I dont know.
I think a place for illegal migrants offshore is a great idea. I’ve seen it suggested elsewhere, and ironically thought of Ascension myself, but didn’t include it in my first post. They are in a legal void. We cannot send them back due to alleged torture or other HR abuse, so they are often released into the community where many abscond. If they know they won’t be held on home soil but offshore would it act as a deterrent? I believe Australia have similar?
Yes… I’m not sure where Australia puts them. And I’m guessing too these migrants ate beibg pushed here by gangs.
Then we have effectively got modern slavery. Amazingly I am told that nail bars are a centre for slavery, but thats just one!
what is interesting is the noted sea blindness of this and other governments. We are so use to the seas being open there is no real though about what a struggle this was and what it means.
the truth is we could very easily live without the commercial air. The internet and digital age have removed many of the key things that flight gave us. That ability to head to Newyork for a meeting in 8 hours has now been made less important with instant robust communications and meeting platforms, air mail is now about parcels of niceness not important messages between businesses and family’s.
all that unrestricted air travel gives is now holidays and luxuries but in true that is badly balanced against environmental and security risks ( bio and other).We really need to stand up and take notice of the down sides of air travel ( Swift uncontrollable pandemics and pollution.
The sea on the other had is the one bridge we cannot lose, it is vital to our civilisation as is and for the U.K and many other countries to keep our populations alive.
The freedom of the sea really should be our one of our nations Highest level security concerns.
it is after all one of the great balances of good vs bad in regards to our history. Whatever may be levelled against the British empire it gave the world the freedom of the sea and that has built the modern world and saved/created more lives than can ever be counted.
It is the great enabler of modern civilisation loosing it would be a tragedy at would hasten the end of our civilisation, with all that would come with it
Brilliant post IMO.
Thumbs up to that post ;P
Totally agree – well said Jonathan