COSCO ASIA

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COSCO ASIA Attack video footage

Footage has emerged of the moment the Cosco Asia came under attack last Saturday. The video shows a brigade from a group calling itself Al Furqan firing two RPGs at the giant containership as it transited the Suez Canal. The Jihadi group aired the video, putting the al-Qaeda flag in a corner, with the name of Al Furqan written over it. Al Furqan is best known in Syria and Palestine. Due to the misreporting and possible intentional minimization of the attack, American security firm Nexus Consulting has just issued a serve warning for vessels transiting the Suez Canal. “Vessels transiting the canal must exercise the utmost vigilance,” Nexus warned. “Clearly not all the members of this attack were captured as reported by the Egyptian military as at least one was able to upload this video, and we suspect all members escaped and any ‘arrests’ were not the right persons,” Nexus reckoned. The Suez Canal is still not listed by insurance firms as a high risk area and shipping lines continue to hope that Saturday’s attack was a one off. The military presence along the waterway is at its highest level for decades, with reports of military lining the shoreside and the Suez Canal Authority saying that today the military has moved to control every single installation along the maritime throughfare. Nevertheless, Nexus warned: “There are now known individuals of Al Furqan seeking to disrupt the canal with extreme means, including deadly force.” Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buS4mfEX3w0

Cosco Asia master quoted that his ship was victim of an RPG attack by Nexus

Kevin Doherty, the head of the American security company Nexus Consulting said the "Cosco Asia" was hit by an RPG fired from the shoreline on Aug 31. The RPG hit a container on the top tier of the ship and damaged the hatch nearest the accommodation block. Machine gun fire was also reported. The attack took place on the eastern side of the canal at El-Sharqiya as the ship was transiting northbound. The "Cosco Asia" docked at Port Said after tje attacl- Nexus has advised all ships transiting the canal to minimise shoreside interactions and to ensure the canal pilot team and riding gang were confirmed and identified prior to boarding. The security firm strongly recommended that pilot ladders be utilized only on the western side of the vessel with northbound rig on port side, southbound rig on starboard side. Crews were advised to stay off deck unless necessary, use ballistic film for windows if available and wear protective clothing when on bridgewings. Vessels transiting between the Red Sea and Aqaba, Jordan should also consider additional security measures.

Explosion caused by gas container due to the high temperature

31 Aug. 2013, A gas container exploded on (cosco Asia) of Cosco Line, causing thick smoke of the container filled with gas on board the ship as a result suffered the container to excessive pressure from the intense heat and weather factors at kilometer 32 in the numbering of the Suez Canal near Cape station. And the ship within the convoy of northbound coming from Suez, No. 7 in the convoy within twenty ships crossed in the northbound convoy. And sped naval forces and border guards and military aircraft to the scene, and a military source denied the ship was attacked. The source said that such containers exposed to an explosion because of the gas may cause pressure on the reservoir. While the vessel is coming from the Suez. And near the 32-kilometer heard an explosion on the ship and limited fire. And the vessel has continued functioning of the canal without effect