A Flag Under Siege: Security or Loyalty?

Ever since their inception back in the 1920s, Flags of Convenience (FoC) have been a subject of no small amount of controversy. The practice originally began during prohibition, when American cruise ships would fly under the Panamanian flag in order to be able to serve alcohol to passengers and thus escape the stringent US regulations at the time.

Safety in HRAs - Can you Outrun Piracy?

Is increasing the speed of a vessel at risk of piracy the best use of your resources? It is common practice for vessels transiting past the East and West Coasts of Africa to increase speed, all in an attempt to outrun pirates.

The Growing Threat of State-Piracy

On May the 12th four shipping vessels were attacked in Fujairah anchorage. The hard-earned, relative peace and stability that had temporarily settled into the region over the last few years was being threatened. This could have been a one-time incident, but the threat was far from over.

What Happens Ashore Matters At Sea - The Black Sea Example

The world is changing. Previously calm seas are waking up from their geopolitical slumber and threats to maritime trade are no longer confined to suspicious gunmen. Armed guards and water cannons will not deter the Iranian Revolutionary Guards or the Russian Navy. Razor wire will not prevent anti-ship missiles from cracking a ship’s hull open.

AIS: Blessing or a Curse?

In this Thought Leadership piece, ARX Maritime Correspondent, Lars Bergqvist explores the benefits and disadvantages of one of the industry's most controversial topics: the Automated Identification System.

The Hidden Cost of Seafarer Abandonment

Since 2004, over 4866 seafarers aboard a total of 336 vessels have been recorded as abandoned onboard their vessel according to the International Maritime Organization’s records. It’s one of the maritime industry’s biggest problems, and yet, little is done about it.

Don't Forget Somalia

Somali pirates are slowly turning back into fishermen. But if their livelihoods are once again potentially threatened, they could revert back to their old ways.

Mental Health: A Maritime Sector Perspective

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health issue that appears to be increasing in prevalence amongst seafarers, especially those operating in High Risk Areas.

Changing Threats Demand A Change in Methodology

We can’t ignore the fact that over the past decade there has been a paradigm shift when it comes to threats within the maritime domain, as the threat has shifted from East, to West.

How Much Do You Know About Modern Piracy?

Skull and cross bones? Peg legs? Captain Jack Sparrow? No, these aren’t the pirates that modern shipping has to deal with. Modern pirates have moved on since the time of Captain hook. Last year alone there were 179 pirate attacks. This is less than the 191 attacks in 2016, but the drop in piracy isn’t happening fast. Modern piracy is a huge threat to the shipping industry, so what do we actually know about it?

Is there a New Piracy HRA?

East Africa and West Africa, both commonly known and accepted as piracy high-risk areas. But in its focus on these targets, has the maritime industry missed an emerging HRA? ARX Maritime Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Josh Hutchinson has written an article about the importance of recognising Latin America as the new HRA.

WHITEPAPER: Piracy in the Gulf of Aden

Lawrie Clapton is an Intelligence Analyst with a specific interest in Middle Eastern conflict. In light of the recent upsurge in terror related incidents in the region, he has written a whitepaper to give his insight in to the connection between terrorists and pirates, and how war is impacting the level of piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

How to Stay Healthy at Sea

As a society we are becoming more health conscious. But, how can you maintain health and fitness in the middle of the sea? It's not as easy as you'd think- but it is possible. ARX Maritime CEO is a former marine, and private armed guard. He has some easy to follow tips on how he kept mentally and physically fit during his time at sea.

Could Artificial Intelligence Replace Actual Intelligence?

ARX Maritime, Chief Executive, Josh Hutchinson looks at how artificial intelligence is impacting the maritime industry and questions whether one day, artificial intelligence could take over from human intelligence completely.

Why Slow Government Planning Holds Back the UK Maritime Sector

In March this year the UK Government set up a team of experts to advise on the future of the maritime industry- specifically keeping the industry at the forefront of new technologies such as autonomous ships and digital ports. In response to this, ARX Maritime, Chief Executive, Josh Hutchinson looks at how this think tank could impact the maritime sector.

Why Small Companies Are Best Placed to Make Big Changes

Violent Pirate Attacks and Hostage Taking Reach Record High

The level of pirate attacks in the first quarter of this year is the highest it has been for over 5 years. The ICC International Maritime Bureau have issued their Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships report, detailing the pirate-related incidents that have occurred over the last 3 months, compared to same period in previous years.

#WomenInMaritime – Why You Need Females

#WomenInMaritime Commentary piece by Ashleigh Cowie, Head of Marketing and Communications, ARX Maritime

TERRORISTS TARGET COMMERCIAL SHIPPING- should you worry?

In 2000 seventeen sailors were murdered and a further thirty-nine seriously injured when terrorists rammed the hull of the USS Cole with a speedboat laden with explosives.

ARE YOU DOING ENOUGH TO PROTECT YOUR CARGO?

Cargo is vulnerable at all times at sea. Stacking containers and lashing them down isn’t enough to guarantee your cargo will arrive undamaged.