Latest news with #maritimepatrol
BBC News
14-05-2025
- BBC News
The Border Force battle against drugs at sea
With an increase in maritime drugs seizures, the BBC has been given rare access to one of the Border Force's patrol cutter units patrol UK waters looking for anything out of the ordinary.I join the Valiant as it sails in the North Sea off the East Yorkshire Vidamour, head of operations for Border Force Maritime Command, says smugglers are using increasingly sophisticated methods, including dropping packages from large ships to be picked up and brought to shore by smaller vessels. "Last year we intercepted six separate operations of that nature, where a vessel had gone to sea to collect drugs directly from a vessel up from South America," Mr Vidamour says."It's absolutely something we are seeing more and more and we are being more active in detecting and seizing." One of the UK's biggest ever drugs shipments was intercepted in May 2024 when a dinghy carrying half a tonne of cocaine with a street value of £42m was seized after it landed at year, 29 tonnes of cocaine was seized by officers across the UK, with 75% of that coming in by journey begins on a calm, sunny day at Grimsby is surprising how spacious the craft feels with a kitchen, rest room, bunks and showering deck looking out, I can see a number of boats all navigating their way around the busy motorway of the Humber is one of six vessels in the Border Force work two weeks on, two weeks off and could be out for up to three days patrolling anywhere in UK patrol boats are equipped with smaller inflatable craft, known as ribs, which can be launched off the back and are used to intercept criminals in smaller boats and retrieve packages dropped in the water. The real challenge for officers is to have the information to put their boats in the right places at the right time, Border Force say."We absolutely rely on information predominantly from the public," Mr Vidamour tells me."We ask for anything that stands out. For us that would be something like vessels coming and going from port at strange times at night, people unequipped for the journey that they're conducting, poor seamanship in a marina, which might indicate that someone is a first time mariner."Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Free Malaysia Today
13-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
M'sia to receive first Leonardo maritime patrol aircraft by end-2026
Defence minister Khaled Nordin inspecting a maritime patrol aircraft during a visit to Leonardo's facility in Turin, Italy, yesterday. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Malaysia is expected to receive its first maritime patrol aircraft from Italian defence and arms company Leonardo by the end of 2026, with the second aircraft scheduled for delivery three months later. Malaysia ordered two ATR-72 maritime aircraft from Leonardo in a RM900 million deal announced in 2023. The air force has plans to buy six maritime patrol aircraft in all, as part of its 2055 development plan. In a Bernama report, defence minister Khaled Nordin said the aircraft would be outfitted with advanced systems including anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare capabilities before its delivery to Malaysia. 'As a maritime nation, Malaysia must have aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art systems like these to carry out patrols. The aircraft will be fitted with anti-submarine systems, enabling them to respond to related activities,' he said. 'As of now, project progress has exceeded 60% and remains on schedule. We are satisfied with the ongoing work carried out by Leonardo,' he said during a working visit to Leonardo's facility in Turin, Italy, yesterday. He described the procurement as a strategic investment to enhance the armed forces' readiness to address regional security challenges, particularly in the increasingly complex South China Sea. The aircrafts' primary roles include anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare missions. Its secondary roles include search and rescue operations, surveillance of Malaysia's maritime zones, joint operations with armed forces units, and inter-agency enforcement with other government and security bodies.
Free Malaysia Today
11-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Khaled in Turin to inspect work on maritime aircraft
The air force has ordered two ATR-72 maritime patrol aircraft, which are being built in Turin, Italy. (Leonardo pic) PETALING JAYA : Defence minister Khaled Nordin arrived in Turin, Italy, today for a two-day official working visit during which he will inspect progress on two maritime patrol aircraft ordered by the air force. Khaled's delegation includes air force chief Asghar Khan Goriman Khan and a senior defence ministry official, Yani Daud, Bernama reported. Malaysia has ordered two ATR-72 maritime aircraft from the Leonardo defence and arms company in a RM900 million deal announced in 2023. The air force has plans to buy six maritime patrol aircraft in all, as part of its 2055 development plan. The ATR-72MP is a twin-turboprop aircraft for maritime patrol missions. It is equipped with sensors that provide capabilities for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and electronic intelligence gathering. According to the manufacturer, the aircraft has capabilities for monitoring of sea lane traffic, fisheries protection, counter smuggling and counter drug trafficking operations, patrol of exclusive economic zones, as well as search and rescue operations. Khaled is scheduled to leave for Berlin, Germany, on Monday to attend a United Nations ministerial forum on peacekeeping.
