The national maritime intelligence center (nmic) advises that two more at sea merchant vessel hijackings on…

Original warning text

1. THE NATIONAL MARITIME INTELLIGENCE CENTER (NMIC) ADVISES THAT
   TWO MORE AT SEA MERCHANT VESSEL HIJACKINGS ON 18 AND 20 OCT OFF
   THE EAST COAST OF SOMALIA, DEMONSTRATES PIRATES ABILITY TO CONDUCT
   AT SEA HIJACKINGS FROM AS FAR SOUTH AS KISMAYO (02S) TO AS FAR
   NORTH AS EYL (08N), AND OUT TO A DISTANCE OF 170 MILES.
2. ALL VESSELS ARE ADVISED TO REMAIN AT LEAST 200 MILES FROM THE EAST
   COAST OF SOMALIA.  ALL MERCHANT VESSELS TRANSITING THE COAST OF
   SOMALIA, NO MATTER HOW FAR OFFSHORE, SHOULD INCREASE ANTI-PIRACY
   PRECAUTIONS AND MAINTAIN A HEIGHTENED STATE OF VIGILANCE. PIRATES
   ARE REPORTED TO HAVE USED PREVIOUSLY HIJACKED SHIPS AS BASES FOR
   FURTHER ATTACKS.
3. ANOTHER REPORTED PIRATE TACTIC HAS BEEN TO ISSUE A FALSE DISTRESS
   CALL TO LURE A SHIP CLOSE INSHORE.  THEREFORE, CAUTION SHOULD BE
   TAKEN WHEN RESPONDING TO DISTRESS CALLS KEEPING IN MIND IT MAY BE
   A TACTIC TO LURE A VESSEL INTO A TRAP.
4. VICTIMIZED VESSELS REPORT TWO TO THREE SIX TO NINE METER SPEED BOATS
   WITH THREE TO SIX ARMED MEN PER VESSEL ARMED WITH AK-47S AND SHOULDER
   LAUNCHED ROCKETS, OPENING FIRE ON THEIR VESSELS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
   IN ORDER TO INTIMIDATE THEM INTO STOPPING.
5. TO DATE, VESSELS THAT INCREASE SPEED AND TAKE EVASIVE MANEUVERS
   AVOID BOARDING WHILE THOSE THAT SLOW DOWN ARE BOARDED, TAKEN TO THE
   SOMALI COASTLINE, AND RELEASED AFTER SUCCESSFUL RANSOM PAYMENT,
   OFTEN AFTER PROTRACTED NEGOTIATIONS OF AS MUCH AS 11 WEEKS.
6. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT THE MARITIME
   ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SHIP OPERATIONS, CODE MAR-613, ROOM 2122,
   400 7TH STREET, WASHINGTON, DC  20590; TELEPHONE 202-366-5735,
   OR BY E-MAIL TO [email protected].