UKMTO ADVISORY NOTICE 005/OCT/16 - Vessels Advised to Use Western TSS when Transiting Bab el Mandeb

UKMTO ADVISORY NOTICE 005/OCT/16

Category: Maritime Security Incident - Yemen

Description: On 12 Oct 16 a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer was targeted in a failed missile attack from the Red Sea coast of Yemen north of the Bab el Mandeb strait. As with previous Advisory Notices (003/Oct & 004/Oct), this latest attack targeted a specific military vessel patrolling off the Yemen coast. Open source outlets are reporting effective US retaliatory missile strikes on coastal radar positions to suppress the threat.

Guidance to international shipping remains as per UKMTO’s Advisory 004/Oct/16 and US NTM in that: masters can expect to see an increased coalition warship presence in the Bab el Mandeb straits and as a precaution, should consider the following: maintain the farthest possible distance from the Yemen coast, transit the Bab el Mandeb straits during daylight hours, use the western TSS, increase speed, maintain vigilance and report any unusual activity to UKMTO.

Any queries regarding this Advisory Notice ring 0044 2392 222060 only for further information

THIS ADVISORY is not Classified as a Maritime Security Event and has not been verified by UKMTO. This information is provided to inform maritime situational awareness for mariners operating in the region. UKMTO is not responsible for the accuracy of this reporting.

NGA Special Warning 134:

Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden Commercial vessels in the region of the Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden should operate under a heightened state of alert as increasing tensions in the region escalate the potential for direct or collateral damage to vessels transiting the region.

These threats may come from a variety of different sources such as missiles, projectiles or waterborne improvised explosive devices.

Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for an 01 October attack on a UAE vessel.

Vessels in the region should report hostile activities immediately and contact coalition naval forces via VHF bridge to bridge radio, e-mail: catleader@me.navy.mil, phone: 973 1785 3879.

Image: (Intertanko) Advice is to use TSS SW of Hanish al Kabra to give max distance from the Yemen coast.