This marad advisory alerts mariners to be vigilant in the gulf of aden

Original warning text

                         VESSELS AND OTHER MARITIME INTERESTS.
1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY ALERTS MARINERS TO BE VIGILANT IN THE GULF OF ADEN.
   THERE IS EXTREMELY HIGH ACTIVITY IN THE GULF OF ADEN WITH FOUR VESSELS
   HIJACKED AND TWO ATTACKED BETWEEN 19 AND 21 AUG.
2. ONI FURTHER ADVISES MARINERS TO BE ON HIGH ALERT WHEN TRANSITING THIS AREA,
   PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE END OF NOVEMBER, WHEN MILD WEATHER OF THE FALL
   TRANSITION PERIOD IS CONDUCIVE TO SMALL BOAT OPERATION.
3. UKMTO RELEASES FLASH SECURITY ALERT FOR THE GULF OF ADEN, 21 AUG.
   TWO VESSELS HAVE BEEN TAKEN THIS MORNING ON 21 AUG. IT IS STRONGLY ADVISED
   THAT VESSELS TRANSIT THE REGION MAINTAINING 35 TO 40 MILES OFF THE
   YEMEN COAST AND KEEP CLEAR OF THE AREA BOUNDED BY 12-40N 046-40E SOUTH
   OF THE SOMALI COAST AND FROM 14-30N 053-00E SOUTH TO SOCOTRA
   (REMAINING AT THE VERY LEAST 50 MILES FROM THE ISLAND). IT MUST BE POINTED
   OUT THOUGH THE LAST INCIDENT WITH THE CHEMICAL TANKER (IRENE) HAS TAKEN
   PLACE NORTH OF THE NORTHERN ATTACK LINE AND UKMTO IS MONITORING THIS
   CLOSELY. CTF 150 CONTINUES TO PATROL ITS REGION (UKMTO).
4. IMB ISSUED A PIRACY WARNING TO ALL VESSELS SAILING THE GULF OF ADEN, 19 AUG.
   IN ADDITION TO THE MOST RECENT ACTIVITY, THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR FURTHER
   HIJACKINGS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JUNE. THREE ADDITIONAL VESSELS HAVE ALSO
   BEEN FIRED UPON SINCE THAT TIME. IMB DIRECTOR POTTENGAL MUKUNDAN STATED,
   THE SITUATION IN THIS REGION IS GRAVE. WE ARE SEEING AT LEAST ONE ATTACK
   EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS. THESE PIRATES ARE NOT AFRAID TO USE SIGNIFICANT
   FIREPOWER IN ATTEMPTS TO BRING VESSELS UNDER THEIR CONTROL. UNLESS FURTHER
   ACTION IS TAKEN, SEAFARERS REMAIN IN SERIOUS DANGER WHILST NAVIGATING THE
   GOA. IN ALL REPORTED INSTANCES, VESSELS HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY SPEEDBOATS
   CONTAINING MEN ARMED WITH MACHINE GUNS AND RPG LAUNCHERS. IN THEIR ATTEMPTS
   TO SLOW DOWN AND BOARD THE VESSELS, THE PIRATES HAVE OPENED FIRE AGAINST
   THE UNARMED MERCHANT SHIPS. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT COALITION WARSHIPS HAVE
   INTERVENED AND HELPED PREVENT TWO OF THE ATTACKS. THIS IS IN LINE WITH
   UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1816 (2008) THAT ALLOWS STATES
   COOPERATING WITH SOMALIA TO ENTER ITS TERRITORIAL WATERS IN ORDER TO REPRESS
   ACTS OF PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY, BY ALL NECESSARY MEANS. MR. MUKUNDAN
   CONTINUED, WHILST THE INTERVENTION OF COALITION NAVIES HAS HELPED IN
   ISOLATED CASES, IT IS BY NO MEANS A LONG TERM SOLUTION. IT IS CLEAR THAT
   THE THREAT OR PRESENCE OF COALITION NAVIES HAS DONE LITTLE TO STEM THE TIDE
   OF ATTACKS IN THIS REGION. THE IMB ADVISES THAT MASTER MAINTAIN STRICT
   24 HOUR PIRACY WATCHES AND BE ESPECIALLY WARY OF ANY APPROACHING SMALLER
   CRAFTS. THE IMB URGES THE REPORTING OF ALL ACTUAL OR ATTEMPTED ATTACKS, AS
   WELL AS ANY SUSPICIOUS VESSEL MOVEMENTS, TO THE IMB PIRACY REPORTING CENTRE.
   ONI COMMENT: SHORTLY AFTER THIS REPORTING WAS RELEASED, THE (BUNGA MELATI DUA)
   WAS HIJACKED IN THE GULF OF ADEN. THREE MORE VESSELS, INCLUDING THE (IRENE)
   WERE HIJACKED ON 21 AUG IN THE EASTERN GULF OF ADEN AS WELL (IMB, ONI).
5. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT MR. DOHERTY,
   MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE: MAR-420, ROOM W23-312,
   1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, DC 20590, PHONE: 202 366 1883,
   FAX: 202 366 3954, TELEX II: 710 822 9426 (MARAD DOT WSH) OR
   E-MAIL: OWEN.DOHERTY@DOT.GOV.
6. CANCEL MARAD 04/07.