The council has updated Operation ATALANTA’s mandate to enhance maritime security in Somalia, the Gulf of Aden, the West Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea. The goal is to combat piracy and illicit trafficking at sea by strengthening regional maritime security. Collaboration with Operation ASPIDES and rebranding the Maritime Security Center will further bolster these efforts.
The European Union has expanded sanctions against Iran for supporting Russia in the Ukraine conflict. Added to the list are IRISL and Mohammad Reza Khiabani. Sanctions target ports transporting Iranian UAVs and missiles. Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization denies accusations. EU also sanctions Russian shipping companies aiding Iran in supplying weapons.
The Red Sea attackers are making huge profits by extorting ship owners for “protection money,” with Houthi rebels reportedly pocketing $2 billion in the past year. The complex maritime operations and political pressures make it challenging for law enforcement to combat this trend effectively, as funds flow through convoluted routes.
A European consortium of eleven partners has launched the MARPOWER project to decarbonize maritime transport by replacing fossil fuels with sustainable alternatives like green methanol, hydrogen, and ammonia. With nearly €8 million in funding from the EU, the project aims to develop an efficient zero-emissions gas turbine power system for ships.
Labour MEP Daniel Attard has called on the European Commission to reconsider regulations that would impose the same standards on tugboat operators as on larger cargo ship operators. He emphasized the need to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the maritime industry by tailoring regulations to their specific circumstances.
