von Reporting period: 12 to 18 January 2012 (Updated: 18 January 2012)
Overview
During the reporting period of 12 to 18 January 2012, there have been three Pirate Attack Groups (PAGs) disrupted, two attacks on merchant vessels, four incidents of suspicious activity, one suspicious approach, and one previously pirated vessel released from captivity.
The number of disruptions conducted by naval Counter-Piracy (CP) forces this week has significantly reduced the pirates’ capability to engage in piracy during this reporting period. Since the beginning of January 2012, approximately 70 suspected pirates have been detained by CP forces.
Masters are advised to be vigilant as PAGs are active and waiting for the opportunity to attack merchant ships. Masters are asked to report any suspicious activity to UKMTO and NSC.
Masters are reminded that the threat of piracy is always present in the High Risk Area (HRA) and are advised to completely implement self-protection measures as recommended in Best Management Practices (BMP4). Prudent and timely application of BMP can make the important difference of being approached, attacked, or being pirated. Specific areas of concern are indicated on the PAG Map.
Southern Red Sea (SRS)/Bab Al Mandeb (BAM) / Gulf of Aden (GOA)/Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC)
The level of piracy activity was lower during this reporting period due to disruptions conducted by naval CP forces. However; on the 17th of January there were three reports of suspicious skiff activity in the western region of the IRTC.
Arabian Sea (AS)/Greater Somali Basin (SB)
There were two attacks (Alerts 006 and 007), three disruptions, one incident of suspicious activity (Alert 005) and one approach (Alert 008) in this region over this reporting period. The PAGs involved in the attacks on the 12th and 16th (Alerts 006 and 007) of January were both disrupted within 24 hours. On Tuesday 17th of January, a vessel was approached by one skiff off the coast of Oman (Alert 008). The skiff detailed in Alert 005 was disrupted approximately 50nm off the coast of Mogadishu on the 12th of January.
Details of all of the alerts can be found on our Alert Details webpage. A link to this page can be found here: http://www.shipping.nato.int/Pages/AllAlerts.aspx
Counter Piracy Guidance Update
Successful disruptions by counter piracy forces, complemented by masters’ adherence and implementation of BMP, have significantly reduced the pirates’ ability to capture vessels. Pirates continue their attempts to hijack any vessels of opportunity; a reminder that piracy can occur at any time. In the northern SB and AS it has been noticed that the preferred mother ships are local dhows, whereas in the southern SB the preference is to use 8 metre whalers as mother ships.
Extra vigilance, strict implementation of and adherence to all applicable BMP and Self-Protection Measures remain essential for all areas. Masters are encouraged to get as much detail as possible including photographs or video of any vessel acting in a suspicious manner.
If any incident occurs, Masters are requested to report immediately to UKMTO via telephone and provide the details of the incident. This will ensure the information is provided to other ships in the area for their awareness and vigilance.
Link to previous “Weekly assessments”.
Source:
Allied Command Operations
NATO
