Somali Pirates: Warning to Ships from U.S. Maritime Administration

U. S. Maritime Administration ADVISORY 2010-05:

Advisory #: 2010-05

Date Issued: Mar 29 2010

To: MARINERS

Subject: RISK TO VESSELS TRANSITING HIGH RISK WATERS

1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE RISK TO VESSELS TRANSITING THE HIGH RISK WATERS OF THE GULF OF ADEN (GOA), RED SEA, THE INDIAN OCEAN AND WATERS OFF THE HORN OF AFRICA (SOMALIA).

2. THIS ADVISORY WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE MARAD WEB SITE AT WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV UNDER THE HORN OF AFRICA PIRACY PORTAL AND ON THE US COAST GUARD HOMEPORT SITE AT HOMEPORT.USCG.MIL/PIRACY. OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION IS ALSO POSTED ON THESE WEB SITES.

3. U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS WITH SHIPS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD THIS ADVISORY TO THEIR SHIPS BY THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS. NOTHING IN THIS ADVISORY MODIFIES REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. FLAG VESSELS OUTLINED IN U.S.C.G. MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6 (CURRENT VERSION).

4. PIRATES ARE ATTACKING VESSELS TRANSITING IN THE GULF OF ADEN, OFF THE SOMALI COAST, AND THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN, INCLUDING ATTACKS AS FAR AS 1000 NAUTICAL MILES OFF THE SOMALI COAST. ATTACKS HAVE TAKEN PLACE OFF THE KENYAN AND TANZANIAN COASTS. THESE PIRATES ARE FIRING AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADES (RPG) IN AN ATTEMPT TO BOARD AND HIJACK VESSELS. ONCE THE ATTACK IS SUCCESSFUL AND THE VESSEL HIJACKED, THE PIRATES DIRECT THE VESSEL TO THE SOMALI COAST AND THEREAFTER DEMAND A RANSOM FOR THE SAFE RELEASE OF THE VESSEL AND CREW.

5. DESPITE THE INCREASE IN PRESENCE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF NAVAL FORCES IN THE REGION, AS WELL AS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DEFENSIVE AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES, PIRATE ACTIVITY HAS CONTINUED AND A NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL AND CIVILIAN SHIPS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ATTACKED AND SEIZED.

6. VESSEL OPERATORS SHOULD ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE IN PIRACY ATTACKS FROM MARCH THROUGH MAY AS THE AREA TRANSITIONS FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO THE NORTHEAST MONSOON WHEN CALMER WEATHER FAVORABLE FOR SMALL BOAT ACTIVITY WILL PREVAIL.

7 .VESSELS SHOULD REGISTER FOR ACCESS TO MSCHOA WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.MSCHOA.ORG/ TO OBTAIN UP TO DATE INFORMATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONDITIONS IN THE REGION.
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About Marad:

The Maritime Administration is the agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation dealing with waterborne transportation. Its programs promote the use of waterborne transportation and its seamless integration with other segments of the transportation system, and the viability of the U.S. merchant marine. The Maritime Administration works in many areas involving ships and shipping, shipbuilding, port operations, vessel operations, national security, environment, and safety. The Maritime Administration is also charged with maintaining the health of the merchant marine, since commercial mariners, vessels, and intermodal facilities are vital for supporting national security, and so the agency provides support and information for current mariners, extensive support for educating future mariners, and programs to educate America's young people about the vital role the maritime industry plays in the lives of all Americans.