The Piracy & Armed Robbery Prone Areas and Warnings section below follows the definition of Piracy as laid down in Article 101 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and Armed Robbery as laid down in Resolution A.1025 (26) adopted on 2 December 2009 at the 26th Assembly Session of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Mariners are warned to be cautious and to take necessary precautionary measures when transiting the following areas:

SOUTH EAST ASIA AND INDIAN SUB CONTINENT

Bangladesh: Attacks continue but with reduced numbers. Robbers are seen targeting ships preparing to anchor. Most attacks reported at Chittagong anchorages and approaches. Attacks in Bangladesh have fallen significantly over the past few years because of the efforts by the Bangladesh Authorities.

Indonesia: Anambas / Natuna / Mangkai / Subi / Merundung islands / Tanjung Priok – Jakarta / Dumai waters. Pirates / Robbers are normally armed with guns / knives and / or machetes. Generally be vigilant in other areas. Many attacks may have gone unreported. Pirates / Robbers normally attack vessel during the night. When spotted and alarm sounded, pirates / robbers usually abort the attack and move away.

Malacca Straits: Although the number of attacks has dropped substantially due to the increase and aggressive patrols by the littoral states authorities since July 2005, ships are advised to continue maintaining strict anti piracy / robbery watches when transiting the straits. Currently, there are no indications as to how long these patrols will continue or reduce.

Singapore Straits: Attacks are increasing. Vessels are advised to continue maintaining adequate anti piracy watch and measures. Pirates/Robbers attack ships while underway or while anchored at the Straits.

South China Sea: in the vicinity off Anambas / Natuna / Mangkai islands / Subi Besar / Merundung area.

Vietnam: Vung Tau

AFRICA AND RED SEA.

Africa :- Nigeria: Lagos, Bonny river and off the Nigerian / Benin coast up to about 150nm – pirates/robbers are well armed and violent. They attacked and robbed vessels / kidnapped crews along the coast, rivers, anchorages, ports and surrounding waters/off the coast. Crew members were injured/killed in some attacks. Vessels also advise to be vigilant in other areas as many attacks may have gone unreported.

Benin: Cotonou - Attacks are increasing. Pirates / Armed Robbers are violent and in some incidents, ships have been fired upon. A number of ships particularly tankers were attacked and hijacked. Pirates / Armed Robbers forced Masters to sail to unknown location where ship’s properties and sometimes part cargos were stolen. Crew members have been injured in the past.

Gulf of Aden / Red Sea : Somali pirates continue to attack vessels in the northern Somali coast in the Gulf of Aden and southern Red Sea in the Bab El Mandeb TSS despite presence of warships. The pirates fire automatic weapons and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) at merchant vessels in an attempt to board and hijack them. Once the attack is successful and the vessel hijacked, they would sail the vessel towards the Somali coast and thereafter demand a ransom for the release of the vessel and crew. All vessels transiting the area are advised to take additional precautionary measures and maintain strict 24 hours visual and radar anti piracy watch using all available means. Watch keeping crews should lookout for small suspicious boats converging to own vessel. Early sightings / detection and accurate assessment will allow Master to increase speed and take evasive manoeuvres to escape from the pirates and at the same time request for assistance from various Authorities / Agencies including the IMB PRC.  Monitor and keep clear of all small boats if possible. Adhere to the latest BMP recommendations.

Since 1 February 2009, MSCHOA (www.mschoa.org) has established the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). Military assets (Naval and Air) will be strategically deployed within the area to best provide protection and support to merchant ships.

Masters using the IRTC are not relieved of their obligation and should continue to maintain a strict 24 hour lookout using all available means to get an early warning of an approaching threat. Some vessels have been attacked/hijacked in the corridor.

Ships / Owners are advised to register their details on the MSCHOA website www.mschoa.org and obtain further information regarding the close support protection details for ships transiting the Gulf of Aden. Ships are encouraged to conduct their passage through the IRTC in groups based on their transit speed of 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 kts.

Masters are also advised to maintain a listening watch on CH 16, CH 8 and CH 72 in order to hear the Maritime Advisory Calls from the warships in the area who will make general security broadcasts and in turn also listen to merchant ships calling them. Masters are also advised to monitor the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) broadcast and Warnings via Inmarsat C EGC Safety Net. All attempted and actual attacks and suspicious sightings reported to warships should also be reported to the IMB PRC.

Somalia : Somali pirates continue aggressively to attack vessels in the northern, eastern and southern coast of Somalia. The attacks have spread and taken place very far reaching up to off Kenya, off Tanzania, off Seychelles, off Madagascar off Mozambique/Mozambique Channel and in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea / off Oman and off west coast India and off western Maldives. Somali pirates are dangerous and are prepared to fire their automatic weapons and RPG at vessels in order to stop them. Pirates are believed to be using “mother vessels” to launch attacks at very far distance from coast. Somali pirates are also using hijacked ocean going fishing vessels and hijacked vessels to conduct piracy operations. The “mother vessel” is able to proceed very far out to sea to launch smaller boats or skiffs to attack and hijack unsuspecting passing vessels. Many attacks had taken place more than 1,000 nm from the Somali coast (towards Indian west and south coast in the Indian Ocean). Recent attacks showed that pirates are also attacking vessels close to the coast of Tanzanian, Kenya, Somalia, Yemen and Oman. Masters are cautioned that attacks have taken place as far east as 76°E and as far south as 22°S and as far north as 22 °N. Mariners are advised to report any attacks and suspicious boats to the IMB PRC. A 24 hour visual and radar watch must be maintained at all times while transiting these waters as early sightings / detection and accurate assessment will allow Masters to take evasive actions, increase speed and at the same time request for assistance and escape. Monitor and keep clear of all small boats if possible. Adhere to the latest BMP recommendations.

UKMTO: Tel: +971 50 552 3215, Fax: +971 4 306 5710, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MSCHOA: Tel: +44 (0) 1923 958545, Fax: +44 (0) 1923 958520, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NATO: Tel: +44 (0) 1923 956574, Fax: +44 (0) 1923 956575. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

IMB PRC: Tel: +60 3 2031 0014, Fax: +60 3 2078 5769, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A 24 hour visual and radar watch must be maintained at all times while transiting these waters as early sightings / detection and accurate assessment will allow Masters to take evasive actions, increase speed and at the same time request for assistance and escape.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN WATERS

Ecuador : Guayaquil. Attacks seen increasing.

REST OF THE WORLD

Arabian Sea / Off Oman: Attacks reported off Oman and Arabian Sea where a number of vessels were attacked and hijacked. Pirates believed to be Somali pirates extending their attack areas.

Indian Ocean / Off Seychelles / Off Madagascar / Off west Maldives: Suspected Somali pirates continue to operate in these waters to conduct piracy attacks. At times the pirates use hijacked ocean going fishing vessels and hijacked merchant  vessels to conduct piracy operations as "mother vessels" to sail far from Somali coast  to  attack and  hijack  passing  vessels.  Smaller skiffs are launched from the pirate "mother vessel" to attack the merchant vessels. Pirates are heavily armed with automatic weapons and RPG. Attacks also extend to west coast of Maldives, India and Minicoy island.

Reporting of incidents on Piracy and Armed Robbery from anywhere in the world:

Ships are advised to maintain strict anti-piracy watches and report all piratical attacks (actual and attempted) and suspicious sightings to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel: +60 3 2078 5763 Fax: + 60 3 2078 5769, Telex: MA 34199 IMBPCI,

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Centre’s 24 Hours Anti Piracy HELPLINE is: + 60 3 2031 0014