Piracy threat increases as monsoon season comes to close

From NATO shipping Center (link)

The U. S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration and NATO Shipping Centre have issued a warning of an anticipated increase of piracy in the Gulf of Aden region as the monsoon season comes to an end. NATO tells us:

As the monsoon continues to abate in northeast and southwest Somali Basin and the Arabian Sea, the risk of pirate attacks on merchant vessels also increases. Temporarily poor weather, particularly along the central Somali Coast will continue to constrain pirates’ activities in the short term.

In the northeast Somali Basin it is likely that at least one pirated dhow is active in the shipping lanes as evidenced by the reported approach of a suspect skiff on the MV ZIM ATLANTIC approximately 200nm north east of Socotra Island on 05 Oct. To the east, reporting indicates that a pirate mother ship is operating within an area of 200nm radius from 06 degrees 50 minutes north and 65 degrees 00 minutes east. We assess that this vessel is probably the FV TAI YAUN 227, which is under the control of pirates.

 To the south, it appears likely that another Taiwanese fishing vessel, the FENG GUO NO. 168 was pirated when located 15°49 south, 055°23 east, approx 60nm east of Tromelin Island in the Indian Ocean. This incident is the most southerly incident of probable Somali piracy noted so far. FV FENG GUO NO. 168 has a white hull with the number BJ 4645 at the mid-ship position. All vessels are advised to keep clear of this vessel and to report sightings of this vessel immediately. Masters should note that the FV TAI YUAN 227 is also a white hulled fishing vessel, approximately 50 metres long, with the registration numbers BH3Z87 painted in large black letters on the hull.

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