Piracy Update – Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Arabian Sea

[CruisingSpirit]

This is an update concerning Somali piracy activity in the southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and increasing incidents of piracy off the coasts of Yemen and southern Oman in the North Indian Ocean, based on information available as per March, 2013.

It concerns, in particular, all yachts waiting to reach the Mediterranean Sea from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia or Thailand through the Gulf of Suez.

In Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, 75 ships reported attacks in 2012 compared with 237 in 2011, accounting for 25% of incidents worldwide. The number of Somali hijackings was halved from 28 in 2011 to 14 last year, during which Somali pirates captured 250 hostages

Nonetheless, the Maritime Shipping Centre-Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), NATO Shipping Centre, UK Maritime and Trade Organisation (UKMTO) and MARLO are united in their advice that sailing yachts should avoid transiting the High Risk Area (HRA) in the Indian Ocean for the foreseeable future.

Link: Sail-World.com : Indian Ocean 'High Risk Area': Sailing yachts urged to stay away

In February 2013, MSCHOA - Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa issued a warning for all long-range cruising sailors:

“All sailing yachts under their own passage should remain out of the High Risk Area or face the risk of being attacked and pirated for ransom.”

Link: Sail-World.com : Message to yachties from MSCHOA - Maritime Security Centre Horn Africa

See chart:
http://www.sail-world.com/photos_201...20Edition1.jpg

At this time an economical, alternate method of transit (AMT) for all yachts, waiting to reach the Mediterranean Sea from the Indian Ocean, is being investigated. Negotiations are ongoing and further developments will become available on this site as they progress.

This posting is dedicated to MMNETSEA.