Recent Suspicious Approaches in the Bab El Mandeb Strait – Maritime Security Advisory

• Maritime security reports from two vessels regarding suspicious approach in the Bab El Mandeb Strait on 18 and 19 August 2017.
• Ladders were sighted on the skiffs in both incidents.
• There has been an increase in suspicious approaches and piracy attacks in the High Risk Area since the beginning of 2017.

Maritime: On 18 August 2017, an MV reported a suspicious approach by a number of skiffs carrying five to six persons on board each of them. The incident occurred in position in 12°38’0N, 43°21’0E at 1132UTC, 3nm off Perim Island in the Bab El Mandeb Strait. Ladders were sighted on the skiffs. The embarked armed security team fired warning shots and the vessel was reported later as safe. On 19 August 2017, another MV reported being approached by three skiffs each carrying five persons with ladders sighted. The incident occurred in a similar position to the previous day at 12°50’0N, 43°12’0E, around 15nm northwest of Perim Island, Bab El Mandeb Strait at 0840UTC. The on board armed security team showed weapons and the skiffs altered course and moved away.

A number of attacks have been made on vessels during daylight hours in the last year. This includes the MT Muskie on the 31 May 2017, in which it was reported 3 RPGs were fired at the vessel, leading to vessel damages. Although there have been no successful hijacks on large commercial vessels this year, the spike in activity indicates the threat towards merchant shipping remains considerable. Recently, the UKMTO and CMF highlighted the varying threats posed towards vessels transiting the Bab El Mandeb during daylight and dark hours. Overall, vessel operators remain responsible for conducting risks assessments on each voyage and should implement BMP4 measures to the fullest extent possible, including the embarking of armed security personnel. This applies to vessels transiting from the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and vice versa, between 44E in the Gulf of Aden and 13N in the Southern Red Sea.

The OS 35, attacked and boarded on 8 April 2017, was the first large bulk carrier to be boarded by Somali pirates in recent years in the Indian Ocean High Risk Area. International naval patrols were swift to respond and the attempted hijack of the vessel was ultimately unsuccessful. The recent attempted attacks on the Alheera and Costina, also in April, indicates a continued desire from Somali pirates to target larger vessels. In addition, the conflict in Yemen has increased maritime security threats in the High Risk Area by Houthi fighters targeting coalition vessels with missiles, most of which occur at night. Houthi fighters are also reported to have deployed Waterborne Improvised Devices near ports, such as Al Mokha. There has been a standing UKMTO advisory notice regarding the threat of coastal naval mines since early February 2017.