UKMTO Weekly Piracy Report #piracy #marsec #ukmto

1. UKMTO released one Warning and one Advisory this week with two subsequent updates (see page 3).

2. Reports received by UKMTO indicate that a dhow with two skiffs has been taken in the vicinity of Eyl Somalia. The Director of the Puntland Maritime Security Coordination Office has confirmed that 13 crew members were released while 7 remain on the vessel. Local sources suggest the dhow is to be used as a mother ship to attempt the hijack of larger vessels. Although the intentions of the hijackers are unconfirmed, UKMTO strongly advises all vessels transiting the HRA to increase vigilance, adhere fully to the advice given in BMP4 and register their transit with UKMTO and MSCHOA (a) and (b).

3. In open source this week one media article reflects on how the recent resurgence of hijack incidents may be attributable in part to complacency within the maritime shipping industry.

4. In an attempt to deter further incidents off the Somali coast, vessels from EUNAVFOR’s ‘Operation Atalanta’ this week engaged with local fishermen during patrols in the region (d)

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