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 U.S. 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. NOTHING IN THIS ADVISORY
   MODIFIES REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. FLAG VESSELS OUTLINED IN
   U.S.C.G. MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6 (CURRENT VERSION).
4. PIRATES ARE ATTACKING VESSELS TRANSITING IN THE GULF OF
   ADEN, OFF THE SOMALI COAST AND THE WESTERN INDIAN
   OCEAN, INCLUDING ATTACKS AS FAR AS 1000 NAUTICAL MILES
   OFF THE SOMALI COAST. ATTACKS HAVE TAKEN PLACE OFF THE
   KENYAN AND TANZANIAN COASTS.  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.
5. 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 A NUMBER OF
   COMMERCIAL AND CIVILIAN SHIPS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY
   ATTACKED AND SEIZED.
6. VESSEL OPERATORS SHOULD ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE IN
   PIRACY ATTACKS FROM MARCH THROUGH MAY AS THE AREA
   TRANSITIONS FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO THE NORTHEAST MONSOON
   WHEN CALMER WEATHER FAVORABLE FOR SMALL BOAT ACTIVITY
   WILL PREVAIL.
7. 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.   
8. 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,
   TELEX: 7108229426 (MARAD DOT WSH) OR
   E-MAIL: [email protected].//