Hostile actions directed at merchant shipping are a present and growing problem

Original warning text

1. HOSTILE ACTIONS DIRECTED AT MERCHANT SHIPPING ARE A PRESENT AND
   GROWING PROBLEM.  THESE HOSTILE ACTIONS INCLUDE PIRACY, THEFT AND
   TERRORISM.
2. SEVERAL AGENCIES, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, HAVE BEEN
   INSTITUTED OR DIRECTED TO ASSIST IN COUNTERING THIS PROBLEM.
   THE FIRST STEP IN CONTROLLING THE PROBLEM IS TO ESTABLISH A
   RELIABLE DATABASE OF INCIDENTS TO DEFINE THE AREA AND DEGREE OF
   THE PROBLEM.  SUCH A DATABASE HAS BEEN INSTITUTED BY THE NATIONAL
   IMAGERY AND MAPPING AGENCY (NIMA) AS THE ANTI-SHIPPING ACTIVITY
   MESSAGE (ASAM) FILE.  THIS FILE CAN BE ACCESSED VIA THE INTERNET
   AT NIMA'S SAFETY OF NAVIGATION WEBSITE HTTP://POLLUX.NSS.NIMA.MIL.
3. NIMA HAS ALSO ESTABLISHED SHIP HOSTILE ACTION REPORT (SHAR)
   PROCEDURES TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION WITHIN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
   ON HOSTILE ACTIONS AGAINST U.S. MERCHANT SHIPS.  THE PROCEDURES
   FOR SENDING SHAR REPORTS ARE DETAILED IN NIMA PUB. 117, "RADIO
   NAVIGATIONAL AIDS", EDITION 2001, ON PAGE 4-11.
4. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NEITHER THE ASAM NOR SHAR REPORTS ARE A
   DISTRESS MESSAGE.  U.S. AND EFFECTIVE U.S. CONTROLLED (EUSC)
   VESSELS UNDER ATTACK OR THREAT OF ATTACK MAY REQUEST DIRECT
   ASSISTANCE FROM THE U.S. NAVY BY FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES IN
   PART II OF CHAPTER 4 OF PUB 117, EDITION 2001.
5. THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION URGES ALL VESSELS TO CARRY NIMA
   PUB. 117, RADIO NAVIGATIONAL AIDS, EDITION 2001.  AN INCENTIVE
   FOR ALL SHIP OPERATORS TO HAVE THE NEW EDITION OF PUB 117 ON
   BOARD THEIR VESSELS IS THE IMO CONCURRENCE THAT PUB. 117 SHOULD
   BE ACCEPTED FOR CARRIAGE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF SOLAS
   REGULATION V/20 IN LIEU OF THE "GMDSS MASTER PLAN".  (THE FULL
   TEXT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS PRINTED IN "NOTICE TO MARINERS"
   11/01, DATED 17 MARCH 2001.)
6. ALL NIMA NAVIGATIONAL PUBLICATIONS OFFERED FOR SALE MAY BE
   ORDERED ONLINE, BY PHONE OR FAX, OR BY MAIL.  ORDERS CAN BE
   PLACED ON THE ENCRYPTION-PROTECTED U.S. GOVERNMENT ONLINE
   BOOKSTORE (HTTP://BOOKSTORE.GPO.GOV), BY PHONE (202-512-1800,
   1-866-512-1800, TOLL FREE, FROM 7:30 AM UNTIL 4:30 PM EASTERN,
   MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY), FAX (202-512-2250, 24 HOURS PER DAY), OR
   BY REGULAR MAIL.  SEND MAIL ORDERS AND PAYMENT TO:
          SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS
          P.O. BOX 371954
          PITTSBURGH, PA  15250-1954
7. CANCEL MARAD ADVISORIES 98-6 AND 01-02.
8. VESSEL OPERATORS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD THIS ADVISORY TO THEIR
   VESSELS, TERMINALS AND SECURITY OFFICIALS AS APPROPRIATE.  NOTE
   THAT THIS ADVISORY WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BE PUBLISHED IN THE NIMA
   "WEEKLY NOTICE TO MARINERS" AND MARAD WORLDWIDE WEB SITE.
9. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT THE
   MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SHIP OPERATIONS, CODE MAR-613,
   ROOM 2123, 400 7TH STREET SW, WASHINGTON, DC 20590; TELEPHONE
   202-366-5735; FAX 202-366-3954; OR INTERNET E-MAIL:
   [email protected].
10. CANCEL THIS MSG 10 NOV.