2013

January

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2 An area of concern has been posted to our Pirate Attack Group (PAG) Map centred on 0218N 04602E. This follows a report from a merchant ship of an incident involving four skiffs at 0218N 04602E that occurred at 1130Z. The vessel is safe and the incident is being investigated further.

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Alert 001/13: A merchant vessel reported an attack by pirates/1 skiff at approximately 1130Z (UTC) today (05 Jan 13) at 0300N 05152E. The skiff has a white hull, 6 POB, SP Fired small arms and RPG. This vessel managed to evade hijack.

The Pirate Activity Group (PAG) responsible for the attack yesterday at 0300N 05152E was disrupted today NSTR in a coordination of NATO and EU assets in the area.

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February

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At 1646Z on 18 Feb, a report of suspicious activity at 0714.4N 05217.2E was received from a merchant ship. Subsequently, there was a disruption in this vicinity and nine suspected pirates were apprehended and taken on board a EUNAVFOR unit.

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March

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The ROYAL GRACE and it's 22 crew members on board have been released by Pirates after being held for over a year. The vessel is underway and receiving assistance from a counter piracy vessel in the area.

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The MT SMYRNI and it's crew on board were released by Pirates after being held for over a year. The vessel is underway and receiving assistance from a counter piracy vessel in the area.

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There have been several reports of piracy-related suspicious activity in the Eastern Gulf of Aden. Masters are reminded to practice heightened vigilance when transiting this area as these events maybe indicative of PAG activity.

The piracy-related suspicious activity reported on Thursday 14 March has now been determined to be likely routine maritime activity in the Gulf of Aden.

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NSTR NEW STANDING GUIDANCE & ADVICE With the onset of the transition period, following the North East Monsoon, sea states have become increasingly conducive to piracy operations. Merchant vessels are advised to remain vigilant throughout the High Risk Area (HRA) and ensure that Self Protection Measures are in place as recommended in BMP4. Prudent and timely implementation of all recommended actions and ship hardening measures in BMP4 can make the critical difference of being approached, attacked, or pirated. BMP4 highly recommends maintaining best possible vessel speed when transiting the HRA. Masters are requested to ensure that they distinguish between fishing vessels and potential pirates. Fishing vessels may approach a merchant ship to maximize fishing opportunities or to safeguard fishing nets and fishermen may carry small arms. It is not uncommon for fishing vessels to follow merchant and large vessels in order to capitalise on the often increased numbers of fish in the resultant wake. Pirate Attack Groups (PAGs) have been making soft-approaches on merchant ships transiting the HRA. A skiff will often approach a vessel to probe the reactivity of its embarked security team, if present. If they elicit no response, the NSTR pirates may then proceed with an attack, sometimes accompanied by a second skiff. This practice seems designed to allow pirates to avoid needless expenditures of ammunition and personal risk without a significant probability of success. One of the fundamental requirements of BMP4 is that UKMTO is the primary point of contact for merchant vessels during piracy incidents in the HRA. Ships should report to UKMTO as well as register with Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA). CSOs should ensure that their ships security plans reinforce the BMP4 recommendation that Masters should report immediately to UKMTO at +971 50 55 23215 in the event of any piracy activity. This should avoid unnecessary delay, prevent inaccurate or incomplete information from reaching military commanders and ensure information is quickly passed to naval forces and other shipping in the area. Masters should provide as much information as possible about the incident. If Masters are able to take pictures and/or video of the suspicious activity safely, please provide these via email to UKMTO at ukmto@eim.ae, NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) at info@shipping.nato.int or MSCHOA at postmaster@mschoa.org. This information will be used by Counter Piracy forces. Pictures supplied from an attack on a merchant vessel have previously led to the rapid release of a pirated dhow.

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ALERT 002/13: At 0746Z ALERT 002/13 and NSC 002/13 UPDATE At 28 Mar 13 a fishing vessel 0746Z 28 Mar 13 a was reported under fishing vessel was attack by pirates in reported under attack by position 1152N 05118E. pirates in position 1152N The vessel is now 05118E. The vessel is believed to be pirated. now SAFE.

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April

NSTR NSTR Piracy Threat: The threat of piracy against merchant shipping continues throughout the entire HRA. Successful disruptions Piracy Threat: The threat of piracy against merchant shipping continues throughout the entire HRA. Successful disruptions by by naval forces over the past few months, in conjunction with masters adherence and implementation of BMP4, have naval forces over the past few months, in conjunction with masters adherence and implementation of BMP4, have significantly significantly reduced the pirates ability to capture vessels. However, pirates are able to act far off the coast of Somalia reduced the pirates ability to capture vessels. We have now entered the Inter Monsson period in the Indian Ocean. Conditions and are likely in search of vessels of opportunity. Weather conditions are now conducive to piracy as the monsoon are conducive for medium and long range pirate operations. Since 2009 this period has been the most active for Somali Pirate transition is established. Action Groups in the High Risk Area. A Dhow based pirate attack on merchant vessels in December in the Gulf of Oman indicates that Somali Pirates continue to seek to operate at range. The skiff was white in colour with 8 ALERT 002/13 in NSC Standing Guidance: Merchant ships should be alert to the risk of piracy in the High Risk Area at all times and follow people on board. The skiff fired at position 1152N BMP4. Small craft conducting legitimate activities such as fishing are present in much of the High Risk Area and may be NSC Standing Guidance: It is imperative that merchant vessels remain vigilant at all times in transit and/or at anchorage and fully vessel and armed security fired warning 05118E: This incident difficult to distinguish from pirates. See the NSC Weekly Update implemented protection measures set down in BMP4 accross the whole High Risk Area (HRA). Small craft conducting legitimate shots back. The skiff then left on NSTR has since been (http://www.shipping.nato.int/operations/OS/Pages/NSC-Weekly-Update.aspx) and Fishing templates activities such as fishing are present in much of the High Risk Area and may be difficult to distinguish from pirates. See the NSC bearing 010. reclassified as a (http://www.shipping.nato.int/operations/OS/Pages/Fishing_in_the_HRA.aspx) for more detailed guidance. NSC will issue Weekly Update (http://www.shipping.nato.int/operations/OS/Pages/NSC-Weekly-Update.aspx) and Fishing templates disruption. Vessel is alerts in the event of piracy attacks and approaches. (http://www.shipping.nato.int/operations/OS/Pages/Fishing_in_the_HRA.aspx) for more detailed guidance. NSC will issue alerts ***This vessel managed to evade safe. in the event of piracy attacks and approaches. hijack*** Registration & Incident Reporting: Registration with MSCHOA before entering the HRA and initial and regular reporting to UKMTO are highly recommended to ensure military authorities are aware of a vessels passage and vulnerabilities. Registration & Incident Reporting: Registration with MSCHOA before entering the HRA and initial and regular reporting to See ALERT 003/13 on our Piracy Alerts UKMTO should be immediately telephoned at +971 50 55 23215 in the event of any piracy activity. If Masters are able to UKMTO are highly recommended to ensure military authorities are aware of a vessels passage and vulnerabilities. UKMTO page. take pictures and/or video of the suspicious activity safely, please provide these via email to UKMTO at ukmto@eim.ae, should be immediately telephoned at +971 50 55 23215 in the event of any piracy activity. If Masters are able to take pictures NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) at info@shipping.nato.int or MSCHOA at postmaster@mschoa.org. This information will be and/or video of the suspicious activity safely, please provide these via email to UKMTO at ukmto@eim.ae, NATO Shipping Centre used by Counter Piracy forces. (NSC) at info@shipping.nato.int or MSCHOA at postmaster@mschoa.org. This information will be used by Counter Piracy forces. At 0700 UTC / 02APR a merchant vessel was reported under attack by a skiff in position 00 52N 044 01E.

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May

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NOTE: 10 May 2013 officially marks one year since the last successfully pirated vessel, MV SMYRNI. This decine is due to a continued co-operation between Navies & the Maritime Industry and their adherence with BMP4. The NATO Shipping Centre would like to remind everyone to remain vigilant at all times when transiting through the HRA.

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