This marad advisory provides suggested piracy countermeasures for commercial vessels transiting the gulf of…

Original warning text

1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES SUGGESTED PIRACY COUNTERMEASURES
    FOR COMMERCIAL VESSELS TRANSITING THE GULF OF ADEN. THESE 
    GUIDELINES USED INPUT FROM IMO/MSC/CIRCULAR 623/REV.3, WHICH
    SHOULD BE REVIEWED FOR APPROPRIATE IMPLEMENTATION
    (HTTP://WWW.IMO.ORG/INCLUDES/BLAST_BINDOC.ASP?DOC_ID=941&FORMAT
    =PDF). 
2. AN OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE REVIEW OF INCIDENT REPORTS IN
    THE GULF OF ADEN 15 JUL THRU 15 SEP 08 INDICATES THAT:
    A. ALL BUT ONE HIJACKING OCCURRED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. NO VESSELS
        HAVE BEEN ATTACKED IN THE GULF OF ADEN BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 
        1800 AND 0400 LOCAL TIME.
    B. VESSELS OPERATING UNDER 16 KNOTS AND WITH A LOW FREEBOARD
       (LESS THAN SIX METERS) SHOULD CONSIDER THEMSELVES AT EXTREMELY 
        HIGH RISK OF BEING ATTACKED BY PIRATES.
    C. OPERATORS OF VESSELS WITH THESE CHARACTERISTICS SHOULD 
        CONSIDER THE LACK OF PIRATE ACTIVITY AT NIGHT WHEN PLANNING A 
        TRANSIT.
3. PREPARATION OF TRANSIT:
    A. NOTIFY MARLO BAHRAIN OF SCHEDULE 48 HOURS PRIOR TO PASSAGE. 
        CONTACT MARLO AT PHONE: 9 733 940 1395, E-MAIL: MARLO.BAHRAIN@ME.
        NAVY.MIL.
    B. SECURE A PRE-DESIGNATED AREA FOR CREWMEMBERS TO MUSTER.
    C. SECURE ALTERNATIVE STEERING LOCATION, IF POSSIBLE.
    D. PREPARE A LIST OF CONTACT NUMBERS AND EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR 
        ASSISTANCE.
    E. EMPHASIZE EXTRA SECURITY MEASURES BY ADDING MORE SECURITY 
        PERSONNEL AND ROVING WATCHES AS NECESSARY.
    F. ESTABLISH DURESS WORD FOR CREW.
    G. ENSURE CREW RADIOS AND IN-VESSEL COMMUNICATIONS (PHONES) ARE IN 
        GOOD WORKING ORDER.
    H. STAGE ANTI-PIRACY EQUIPMENT (FIRE HOSES, SPOTLIGHTS, ETC.).
    I. REMOVE ANY EQUIPMENT HANGING OVER THE SIDE THAT COULD BE USED 
       TO GAIN ACCESS, E.G. RAISING THE ACCOMODATION LADDER.
    J. PRACTICE PIRACY DRILLS, PROVIDE REFRESHER TRAINING FOR THE CREW 
       CONCERNING ANTI-PIRACY MEASURES.
4. MAKING THE PASSAGE:
    A. USE GULF OF ADEN TRANSIT CORRIDOR (REF ADVISORY 2008/05, HYDROLANT
        1377/08).
    B. CHECK IN WITH MARLO BAHRAIN UPON ENTERING TRANSIT CORRIDOR.
    C. TRANSIT AT HIGHEST PRACTICABLE SPEED. 
    D. MOUNT FULLEST WATCH POSSIBLE-ASSURE THAT LOOKOUTS ARE
        POSITIONED TO ENSURE 360 DEGREE COVERAGE.
    E. USE EXTRA RADAR WATCH.
    F. SINGLE POINT OF ENTRY INTO THE HOUSE. 
    G. SECURE DECK LIGHTING (EXCEPT FOR MANDATORY NAVIGATION LIGHTS).
5. IF UNDER ATTACK:
   A. MAKE OBVIOUS MEASURES (E.G. MUSTER, MAN HIGH-PRESSURE HOSES, 
       ALTER COURSE, FIRE FLARES, TURN ON ALL LIGHTS IF AT NIGHT).
   B. SOUND ALARM SIGNALS.
   C. ACTIVATE SSAS.
   D. NOTIFY MARLO BAHRAIN.
6. IF PIRATES OPEN FIRE:
   A. CHANGE COURSE REPEATEDLY IF UNABLE TO OUTRUN PIRATE CRAFT 
      (CONSISTENT WITH SAFE NAVIGATION).
   B. HOSE TEAM TO REMAIN BEHIND COVER UNTIL IT CAN BE USED EFFECTIVELY.
   C. USE HOSES TO PREVENT BOARDING.
   D. REMAINDER OF CREW TO GO TO SECURE LOCATION.
   E. IF CANNOT USE HOSES, SEND CREW TO SECURE LOCATION AND/OR 
       ALTERNATIVE STEERING POSITIONS.
7. IF PIRATES BOARD, DO NOT RESIST.
8. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT MR. 
   RAWLINS, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE: MAR-420, 
   ROOM W23-440, 1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, DC 20590, PHONE: 
   202 366 5524, FAX: 202 366 3954, TLX II 710.822.9426 (MARAD DOT WSH), OR 
   E-MAIL: [email protected].