Special Warning Message 11 Nov 2005

The National Geospatial-Intelleigence Agency has issued a "Special Warning" Numbered 123 for Somalia. (To find it, go here and click on "Broadcast Warning Messages" then "Special Warnings" then select "All In-Force Special Warnings" and click on "search"):

123 SOMALI.
1. DUE TO CONTINUING CONDITIONS OF ARMED CONFLICT AND LAWLESSNESS
IN SOMALIA AND WATERS OFF ITS COAST, MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO
AVOID THE PORT OF MUQDISHO (MOGADISHU) AND TO REMAIN AT LEAST
200 NAUTICAL MILES DISTANT FROM THE SOMALI COAST. THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE AN EMBASSY IN SOMALIA AND CANNOT
PROVIDE SERVICES TO US CITIZENS.
2. RECENT VESSEL HIJACKINGS OFF THE EAST COAST OF SOMALIA DEMONSTRATE
THAT PIRATES ARE ABLE TO CONDUCT AT SEA HIJACKINGS FROM AS FAR
SOUTH AS KISMAAYO (CHISIMAYU) (00-22S), THOUGH VESSELS ARE ADVISED
TO TRANSIT NO CLOSER THAN 02-00S, TO AS FAR NORTH AS EYL (08-00N),
AND OUT TO A DISTANCE OF 170 MILES. THE FIRST KNOWN ATTEMPT TO
HIJACK A CRUISE VESSEL OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER 2005. ALL MERCHANT
VESSELS TRANSITING THE COAST OF SOMALIA, NO MATTER HOW FAR
OFFSHORE, SHOULD INCREASE ANTI-PIRACY PRECAUTIONS AND MAINTAIN A
HEIGHTENED STATE OF VIGILANCE. PIRATES ARE REPORTED TO HAVE USED
PREVIOUSLY HIJACKED SHIPS AS BASES FOR FURTHER ATTACKS.
3. ANOTHER REPORTED PIRATE TACTIC HAS BEEN TO ISSUE A FALSE DISTRESS
CALL TO LURE A SHIP CLOSE INSHORE. THEREFORE, CAUTION SHOULD BE
TAKEN WHEN RESPONDING TO DISTRESS CALLS KEEPING IN MIND IT MAY BE
A TACTIC TO LURE A VESSEL INTO A TRAP.
4. VICTIMIZED VESSELS HAVE REPORTED TWO TO THREE (2-3) SPEEDBOATS
MEASURING SIX TO NINE METERS (6-9M) IN LENGTH. EACH VESSEL HAS A
CREW OF THREE TO SIX (3-6) ARMED MEN WITH AK-47S AND SHOULDER
LAUNCHED ROCKETS, WHICH ARE OPENING FIRE ON VESSELS IN BROAD
DAYLIGHT IN ORDER TO INTIMIDATE THEM INTO STOPPING.
5. TO DATE, VESSELS THAT INCREASE SPEED AND TAKE EVASIVE MANEUVERS
AVOID BOARDING WHILE THOSE THAT SLOW DOWN ARE BOARDED, TAKEN TO
THE SOMALI COASTLINE, AND RELEASED AFTER SUCCESSFUL RANSOM
PAYMENT, OFTEN AFTER PROTRACTED NEGOTIATIONS OF AS MUCH AS
11 WEEKS.
6. CANCEL SPECIAL WARNING NUMBER 111.
(111941Z NOV 2005)

Any questions?
STAY AWAY FROM SOMALIA!!!!!!