Russian Navy – A Russian patrol boat fired on and then captured a Japanese fishing boat, north of Japan in disputed territorial waters. The Russians claim the fishing boat was in their territorial waters, the Japanese claim it was not.
- BBC News: Russian navy fires on Japanese boat
- BBC News: Further background information on this story – Russia and Japan are still technically at war, because of these islands???
U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy has stepped up its efforts to stop Iraqi smuggling of oil. In 1999 a total of 19 tankers were found to be smuggling; in the first 4 months of 2000 a total of 15 tankers were found to be smuggling. The Russian tanker seized on April 5th is still undergoing tests to determine the origin of its oil. The Iranians also continue to attempt to halt the smuggling, now that they have learned how much money Iraq was gaining from it.
- ABC News: Iraqi Oil Smuggling Remains High
- Reuters: Russian Tanker Held in Gulf Had Big Load of Oil
U.S. Navy – Admiral Jay Johnson, Chief of Naval Operations, signed an agreement in Singapore which will allow U.S. naval forces to use the new naval base at Changi when it becomes available.
Mauritian Coast Guard – The Mauritian Coast Guard’s sole ship has been put back in commission after being overhauled by the Indian Navy. The Coast Guard’s tasks are to patrol the 1.8 million square kilometers of its exclusive economic zone, provide search and rescue and perform coastal security.
- The Hindu: Navy resurrects crippled Mauritian warship
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 