The designers and builders of and suppliers to the maritime security sector can almost completely depend on some kind of geopolitical drama or other to ensure the continuity of their business.
Just as the Iraq, Afghanistan, Islamic State terrorism threats and their accompanying opportunities seemed to be winding down, we now have renewed tension between China and almost everyone else. So, the maritime security market remains buoyant and evermore interesting, innovative, imaginative and, usually, expensive craft will be required. This offers us at Baird Maritime another opportunity to study, review and present to our readers yet another batch of very impressive craft.
As always, maritime security vessels represent a truly global market. This week, we focus on communist or formerly communist nations in Russia and China and the very non-communist Estonia.
The Russian and Estonian patrol boats are comparatively small at 17 metres LOA or less but the Chinese Maritime Safety Administration patrol ship is as big as a destroyer at 10,000 tonnes and equipped rather like one.
There will, of course, be many others, but these three vessels are the "stars" of the week. Keep reading Baird Maritime and the maritime security world will unfold before your eyes.
– "Acquiring a small number of orphan boats sounds like a recipe for disaster."
– by Marcus Hellyer, senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute
– "It is high time for the Aussies, Kiwis, Yanks and the Poms to urge our Canuck cousins to 'step up to the plate', and to get fully with us in the Indo-Pacific."
– by Steve Raaymakers, veteran practitioner in international development with a focus on environmental security, small island states, oceans governance and integrated marine resource management in the Asia–Pacific
– "The move will also dramatically improve Australia's defence capabilities, aid the AUKUS alliance, and foster a domestic supply chain for the next generation of defence equipment."
– by James Kell, postgraduate research student at the National Security College at the Australian National University in Canberra and vice-president of the ANU Democracy Society
– "Some have argued that too much European naval commitment to the Indo-Pacific could also be undesirable, if it comes at the expense of focusing on the increasing security challenges posed by Russia."
– by Johannes Peters, head of the Center for Maritime Strategy and Security at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University
Remember to come back every day to see the latest news, opinion and vessel reviews!
Any news or views about the global maritime security sectors? Send it through to editor@bairdmaritime.com ASAP (between now and October 22), so we can add it to this current edition of Maritime Security Week!
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