Horn of africa

Original warning text

GULF OF ADEN.
RED SEA.
HORN OF AFRICA.
1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES INFORMATION ON
    THE RISK TO VESSELS TRANSITING THE HIGH RISK
    WATERS OF THE GULF OF ADEN (GOA), RED SEA,
    THE INDIAN OCEAN AND WATERS OFF THE HORN OF
    AFRICA (SOMALIA).
2. THIS ADVISORY WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE MARAD
    WEB SITE AT WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV UNDER THE HORN
    OF AFRICA PIRACY PORTAL AND ON THE US COAST
    GUARD HOMEPORT SITE AT HOMEPORT.USCG.MIL/PIRACY.
    OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION IS ALSO POSTED ON
    THESE WEB SITES.
3. U.S. FLAG OPERATORS WITH SHIPS IN THE AFFECTED
    AREAS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD THIS ADVISORY TO
    THEIR SHIPS BY THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS.
4. U.S. FLAG SHIPS OPERATING IN HIGH RISK WATERS
    ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH US COAST GUARD
    MARITIME SECURITY (MARSEC) DIRECTIVE 104-6
    (CURRENT VERSION). GUIDANCE, ADVISORIES AND
    LINKS TO ASSIST US-FLAG VESSELS IN COMPLYING
    WITH THE MARSEC DIRECTIVE AND IN COMBATING
    PIRACY MAY BE ACCESSED ON HOMEPORT AT
    HTTP:HOMEPORT.USCG.MIL/PIRACY. QUESTIONS MAY 
    BE DIRECTED TO LCDR JAMES FOGLE, US COAST GUARD,
    AT PHONE: 202 372 1038, E-MAIL: JAMES.T.FOGLE@USCG.MIL.
    NONE OF THE GUIDANCE IN THIS NOTICE IS MEANT
    TO SUPERCEDE MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6 (CURRENT
    VERSION) OR SUPPORTING PORT SECURITY ADVISORIES.
5.  PIRATES ARE ATTACKING VESSELS TRANSITING IN THE
    GULF OF ADEN, OFF THE SOMALI COAST, AND THE
    WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN, INCLUDING ATTACKS
    EXCEEDING 1000 NAUTICAL MILES OFF THE SOMALI
    COAST. ATTACKS HAVE TAKEN PLACE OFF THE KENYAN
    AND TANZANIAN COASTS, SOUTHERN RED SEA,
    SEYCHELLES, AND MALDIVES. THESE PIRATES ARE
    FIRING AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND ROCKET PROPELLED
    GRENADES (RPG) IN AN ATTEMPT TO BOARD AND
    HIJACK VESSELS. ONCE THE ATTACK IS SUCCESSFUL
    AND THE VESSEL HIJACKED, THE PIRATES DIRECT
    THE VESSEL TO THE SOMALI COAST AND THEREAFTER
    DEMAND A RANSOM FOR THE SAFE RELEASE OF THE
    VESSEL AND CREW.
6. DESPITE THE INCREASE IN PRESENCE AND EFFECTIVENESS
    OF NAVAL FORCES IN THE REGION, AS WELL AS THE
    EFFECTIVENESS OF DEFENSIVE AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES,
    PIRATE ACTIVITY HAS CONTINUED AND COMMERCIAL
    AND CIVILIAN SHIPS CONTINUE TO BE ATTACKED AND SEIZED.
7. VESSEL OPERATORS SHOULD ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE
    IN PIRACY ATTACKS FROM OCTOBER THROUGH EARLY
    DECEMBER WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS ALLOW FOR SMALL
    BOAT ACTIVITY IN THE REGION.
8. VESSELS SHOULD REGISTER FOR ACCESS TO MSCHOA WEBSITE
    AT HTTP://WWW.MSCHOA.ORG/ TO OBTAIN UP TO DATE
    INFORMATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONDITIONS
    IN THE REGION.
9. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY,
    CONTACT CAPTAIN ROBERT FORD, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION,
    OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE: MAR-420, ROOM W25-207,
    1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, DC 20590,
    PHONE: 202 366 0223, FAX: 202 366 3954,
    E-MAIL: MARADSECURITY@DOT.GOV.