Security remains a concern of foreign firms doing business in Yemen, particularly after the USS Cole was attacked in October 2000, and the French-flagged Oil tanker Limburg was attacked off the Yemeni coast on October 6, 2002. Since then, Yemen reportedly has instituted a variety of maritime security measures, particularly at Aden and Hodeidah ports. Still, problems remain. Meanwhile, kidnappings of foreigners, including oil workers, have also been a problem. In addition, there have been periodic attacks on an oil Pipeline in the Marib region of eastern Yemen, which is operated by U.S.-based Hunt Oil. The Canadian oil company Nexen, which operates the Ash Shihr/Al Mukalla oil export terminal, agreed in January 2003 to provide assistance to the Yemeni government in improving security.