Weekly Piracy Assessment

Reporting period: 17 - 23 November 2011 (Updated: 23 November)

Overview

During the reporting period from 17-23 November 2011, the activity level in the Arabian Sea and Somali Basin has been similar to the previous reporting period.  Several Pirate Attack Groups (PAGs) have been noticed in the Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the central and southern Somali Basin areas.  There have been 3 vessels attacked, 3 incidents of suspicious activity, and 2 PAGs disrupted by Naval Forces during this period.

Although the first signs of the NE monsoon normally begin in early December, it is expected that the anticipated weather will allow piracy activity to continue.

 Southern Red Sea (SRS)/Bab Al Mandeb (BAM)

Two suspicious reports were received during this period, reported as Alert 238 on 18 Nov and NSC 12/11 on 19 Nov.  Alert 238 states that multiple vessels were attacked by a single skiff in the SRS region, and NSC 12/11 gives details that a vessel was approached in the BAM.  All vessels involved in these reports were reported as safe.

Recent suspicious activities, in combination with the favourable weather conditions for small boats, and the heavy shipping traffic makes this a region of concern. Although some of the suspicious activity may be related to fishing vessels approaching merchant vessels from astern, pirates may blend with fishing vessels to gain the element of surprise.  

 Gulf of Aden (GOA)/Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC)

Within the GOA and IRTC, piracy can occur at any time. The prudent and timely application of BMP can make the important difference of being approached, attacked, or being pirated. Pirate skiffs will continue to blend into local fishing traffic; thus this area remains a high threat region.

 Arabian Sea (AS)/Greater Somali Basin (SB)

There was one attack in the Southern Somali Basin.  The skiff and whaler responsible for the attack were later disrupted by Counter Piracy (CP) Forces in this area.  Another whaler was disrupted by Naval Forces in the Central Somali Basin area on 21 Nov 11.  A Yemeni dhow that is known to be associated with pirate activity was detected while departing its base location.  It returned to shore immediately once it was threatened by a CP warship.

The disruptions of potential mothership activities along the Somali coast have likely hampered the pirates’ ability to use mothership in the near future, but pirates are still trying to procure more ships for further mothership practices. In the southern SB one PAG is assessed to be active in the area between 05 to 01 S and 41 to 45 E; one in the area northwest of the Seychelles; and one southeast of Salalah.

Source NATO Shipping Centre