This marad advisory provides guidance to vessels transiting territorial waters of the gulf of guinea

Original warning text

GULF OF GUINEA.
1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO
   VESSELS TRANSITING TERRITORIAL WATERS OF
   THE GULF OF GUINEA.
2. THIS ADVISORY WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE
   MARAD WEB SITE AT WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV.
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. ARMED GROUPS THAT OPERATE IN THE REGION
   HAVE CARRIED OUT ATTACKS ON VESSELS WITH
   AUTOMATIC WEAPONS. ATTACKERS HAVE TAKEN
   THE MASTER AND OTHER CREWMEMBERS OFF THE
   VESSEL AND DEMANDED A RANSOM IN EXCHANGE
   FOR THEIR SAFE RETURN. VESSELS OPERATING
   IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE OIL PLATFORMS
   IN NIGERIAN WATERS STAND GREATER RISK
   FROM ARMED ATTACKS.
5. ROBBERS ARMED WITH KNIVES HAVE BOARDED
   VESSELS IN SUBJECT WATERS AND HAVE ROBBED
   CREW AND SHIP EQUIPMENT. MOST EVENTS OCCUR
   CLOSE TO SHORE OR AT ANCHORAGES. ARMED
   ROBBERS COME ONBOARD LOOKING FOR VALUABLES
   AND EQUIPMENT THEY CAN STEAL.
6. U.S. FLAG OPERATORS WITH SHIPS IN THE
   SUBJECT HIGH RISK WATERS (HRW) SHOULD
   TRANSIT WITH EXTREME CAUTION AND VIGILANCE.
7. VESSELS TRANSITING SUBJECT WATERS MUST
   COMPLY WITH U.S. COAST GUARD MARSEC
   DIRECTIVE 104-6 (REV. 3) AND ACCORDINGLY,
   SHOULD CONDUCT A PRE-VOYAGE RISK ASSESSMENT
   AND INCORPORATE APPROPRIATE PROTECTIVE
   MEASURES INTO THEIR VESSEL SECURITY PLAN.
8. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, 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,
   TLX II: 710.822.9426 (MARAD DOT WSH),
   E-MAIL: [email protected].
9. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE U.S. COAST GUARD
   MARSEC DIRECTIVE CONTACT LCDR JAMES FOGLE,
   PHONE: 202 372 1038,
   E-MAIL: [email protected].