Piracy in the Indian Ocean: 4th notice
15 Mar 2012 Dick Moore
The ISAF has published a further Warning Notice which strongly advises yacht skippers against sailing through the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden owing to the continued high risk from Pirate Action Groups. This is the fourth such Notice; the first was issued in March 2009; the third follows later on this Home page.
The Warnings are produced by a Working Party operating under the aegis of the ISAF and consisting of representatives of the RYA, the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Cruising Association, the OCC, the RCC and World Cruising Club, publishers of Noonsite. They are advised by members of EUNAVFOR from Royal Navy HQ in Northwood.
The text of the Warning is as follows:
INTERNATIONAL SAILING FEDERATION
DANGER OF PIRACY OFF SOMALIA
UPDATE as at March 2012
The Warning Notice, published by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) in July 2011 is still extant and will remain so until ISAF is advised otherwise by EUNAVFOR.
This update intended for Yacht Skippers who may be considering a passage during 2012 through the Gulf of Aden, its approaches and the Indian Ocean north of 12 degrees south and west of 78 degrees east.
It is the fourth notice to be published on this subject and reflects the situation as at March 2012 and should be read in conjunction with the full Warning Notice (see below).
Yacht skippers should take note that:
- Although the number of successful pirate attacks on merchant shipping in the area covered by the Warning Notice has declined somewhat in the past three months, there is no evidence that the threat to smaller vessels, yachts and fishing boats, has declined.
- Greater use of firearms in recent months indicates an increase in aggression and risk to all mariners in the area.
The assessment of EUNAVFOR, NATO Shipping Centre and UKMTO concludes unmistakably that:
- The threat remains unchanged in terms of the freedom of movement of Pirate Action Groups (PAG’s) in the wider Indian Ocean. The area of high risk has not changed.
- The reduction in the number of successful attacks is explained by greater deployment of Private Armed Security Contractors (PASCs) on Merchant Shipping and increased disruptions by Naval Forces.
- The greater deployment of PASCs increases the threat to sailing yachts. If ships become harder to capture then the PAG’s may well turn to more vulnerable targets such as Yachts.
The advice of the Military remains: DO NOT SAIL THROUGH THESE WATERS, EVEN IN THE COMPANY OF OTHER YACHTS
For further information please refer to the full text of the July 2011 Warning Notice at one of the following links:
ISAF ; Cruising Association; Ocean Cruising Club ; Royal Cruising Club; http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/INTERNATIONALSAILINGFEDERATIONDANGEROFPIRACY-%5B10914%5D.pdf
This update has been prepared by a Working Party of experienced small boat sailors representing the following organisations: the Royal Yachting Association, the Cruising Association; the Royal Yacht Squadron; the Ocean Cruising Club; the Royal Cruising Club and the World Cruising Club.
(Issued March 2012)
June 2011 Third Notice
Click on this link to see a Warning Notice, published by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), intended for Yacht Skippers considering a passage through the Gulf of Aden, its approaches and the Indian Ocean north of 12 degrees south and west of 78 degrees east. This notice reflects the latest situation as at June 2011.
The advice from the Military, fully endorsed by the working party, remains ”Do not sail through these waters” as the risk of attack is regarded as high and the consequences are dire. The decision on whether to enter the Gulf of Aden or any other waters where pirates operate remains entirely the responsibility of the master of each vessel. This warning notice been published by a Working Party under the aegis of the ISAF and comprising representatives from the OCC, RYA, CA, RCC, RYS, and The World Cruising Club.These notes are for information only.