ATALANTA MARITIME SECURITY OFF YEMEN COAST THREAT UPDATE 03 JANUARY 2024

The ATALANTA Threat Update is issued to keep the maritime industry informed about recent events in the South Red
Sea (SRS) and West Gulf of Aden (GOA). It includes updates on the situation, assessments and recommendations.
For reporting mistakes or updates, please contact jocwatchkeeper@mschoa.org or call
Tel: +34 956 470 534, Mob: +34661442365.
1/Maritime Security Events

DATE NAME OF VESSEL MMSI FLAG POSITION TYPE OF ATTACK

19-nov-23 GALAXY LEADER 311408000 BAHAMAS 145000N 0415500E HIJACKED

22-nov-23 ALMERAJ1 422170620 IRAN PUNTLAND ARMED ROBERY / HIJACKED
26-nov-23 CENTRAL PARK 636016933 LIBERIA 1417N 04205E PIRATE ATTACK
27-nov-23 MSC AMBRA 352269000 PANAMA 144500N 0414800E DRONE INCIDENT
29-nov-23 AL ASHKAAN 422342018 IRAN PUNTLAND HIJACKED
03-déc-23 NUMBER 9 373044000 PANAMA 152100N 0414100E THREATENING ON CH 16
03-déc-23 AOM SOPHIE II 374462000 PANAMA 13,9667N 042,3E MISSILE FIRE EXPERIENCE
03-déc-23 UNITY EXPLORER 311000552 BAHAMAS 13 25,66N 042 40,57E MISSILE/DRONE
06-déc-23 DIANELLA 636020822 LIBERIA 14 25,32N 042 12,01E DRONE SIGHTING
09-déc-23 M/T PANTA REI 352003147 PANAMA 15 01,26N 041 55,91E THREATENING ON CH 16
M/V CENTAURUS 14 49,2N 041 46,9E DRONE ATTACK - MISSED
10-déc-23 565503000 SINGAPORE
LEADER 14 52,0N 041 45,9E DRONE ATTACK - MISSED
11-déc-23 STRINDA 259096000 NORWAY 13 17,5N 042 59,47E DRONE/MISSILE ATTACK
11-déc-23 ICARIUS 538007770 MARSHALL IS. 13 22,44N 042 44,9E DRONES SIGHTING
13-déc-23 ARDMORE ENCOUNTER 538005093 MARSHALL IS. 1447N 04158E ATTEMPTED BOARDING
POSSIBLE MISSILE ATTACK -
14-déc-23 MAERSK GIBRALTAR 477636200 HONG KONG
13 28.8N, 042 35.80E MISSED
14-déc-23 MV RUEN 249517000 MALTA 1203N 06126E HIJACKED - PIRATES
15-déc-23 MSC ALANYA 636021123 LIBERIA IVO BAB EL MANDEB THREATENING ON CH 16
15-déc-23 AL JASRAH 636093137 LIBERIA 1407N 04216E POSSIBLE MISSILE ATTACK
EXPLOSION ONBOARD
15-déc-23 MSC PALATIUM III 636018562 LIBERIA 1308N 04253E POSSIBLE HOUTHI RELATED
ATTACK
18-déc-23 MSC CLARA 374766000 PANAMA 12 48,67N 043 09,76E EXPLOSION NEAR VESSEL

18-déc-23 MAGIC VELA 538009445 MARSHALL IS. 13 09,6N 043 03,7E ATTEMPTED BOARDING

18-déc-23 GREEN TRADER 538006444 MARSHALL IS. 12 16,58N 043 56,41E SUSPICIOUS APPROACH
18-déc-23 SWAN ATLANTIC 319113500 CAYMAN IS. 1319N 04247E MISSILE/DRONE ATTACK
23-déc-23 MT BLAAMANEN 258012000 NORWAY 1440.1N - 04153E MISSILE/DRONE ATTACK
25-déc-23 MV MARIONA 677085700 TANZANIA 15°23.9 N 041°46.6 E THREATENING ON CH 16
50NM WEST OF
NAVIG8 MONTIEL 636022835 DRONE ATTACK - MISSED
25-déc-23 LIBERIA HODEYDAH
60NM SE OF
MSC UNITED VIII 636012807 LIBERIA DRONE ATTACK - MISSED
25-déc-23 HODEYDAH
60NM NW OF
MAERSK HANGZHOU 563042200 SINGAPORE SHOTS FROM SMALL BOATS
31-déc-23 HODEYDAH
02-jan-24 CMA/CGM TAGE 229988000 MALTA 33NM EAST OF ASSAB 3 EXPLOSIONS OBSERVED

03JAN2024 ATALANTA JOC

2/Attack chart

03JAN2024 ATALANTA JOC

3/Last cases

On 2nd January 2024, CMA/CGM TAGE spotted 3 lights within few miles of the ship, assessed to be missiles hitting the
sea surface. No direct impact on the ship. On December 31, at 6:30am (Sanaa time), MV MAERSK HANGZHOU endured
a series of attacks from the Houthis, involving multiple small boats, trying to hijack the ship; this attack was repelled
by their Armed Security Guard and US Navy Helicopters, which “sank three of the four small boats, killing the crew”.
One hour prior to that attack, while underway 55 nm South West of AL Hudayday, heading north, the ship was also hit
by a missile, while the “USS Gravely successfully shot down 2 ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled area in
Yemen”. No casualty has been reported on the MAERSK HANGZHOU which resumed its journey from Singapore to
Port Suez.

4/Assessment

Most probable scenario

The Houtis are expected to persist in targeting ships linked to Israel's interests along the Yemen coast, particularly
in the southern Red Sea and the western part of the Gulf of Aden. "Israel interest" encompasses the ship's flag,
owner, operator, and cargo. While errors cannot be ruled out, it appears that the Houtis may be exploiting
outdated information in some instances.

The assaults will likely consist primarily of drones and missiles. An attack sequence may start with a VHF
communication, instructing the vessel to change its course toward a Houthi-controlled harbor. Noncompliance
could lead to a kinetic assault. Direct boarding attempts, as seen in various instances, might not recur due to the
forceful U.S. kinetic retaliation to the Maersk Hangzhou boarding attempt. The loss of three boats and ten crew
members could deter further attacks of this nature.

Drone attacks are prevalent along the main navigation route off the west coast of Yemen, with a higher frequency
on Sundays and Mondays based on current known cases. There has been no attack on Tuesday so far.

Recommendations
The following recommendations are based on the current situation and may not guarantee success. These
suggestions will be updated as necessary.

For Israeli-related ships sailing off the Yemen coast in the Red Sea and West GOA :
o Taking into account the risk balance between Safety and Security, consider minimizing information in the
AIS data fields.
o Prefer night transit in the South Red Sea to avoid identification by skiffs or other supporting assets.

For all ships sailing off Yemen coasts:

o Choose routes far from the Yemeni coast (particularly avoiding the traffic separation scheme east of the
Hanish Islands) and make a wide detour around the southern islands of the Red Sea.
o Only essential crew should remain on the navigation deck.
o Crewmembers should stay as far away as possible from the outside walls of the ship.
o Conduct a fire drill before reaching the Yemen coasts to check safety equipment.
o Register with MSCHOA (Maritime Security Centre - Horn of Africa).

03JAN2024 ATALANTA JOC