Current Maritime 

Administration Advisories

• 2010-09, Issued 5 October 2010

- Risk to Vessels Transiting High Risk 

Waters

• 2010-06, Issued 29 March 2010

- Guidance to Vessels Transiting High 

Risk Waters

• 2010-03, Issued 9 March 2010

- Vessels Transiting the Bab-Al-Mandab, 

Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden Along the

Coast of Yemen

Check for changes or updates at 

http://www.marad.dot.gov/

Recommended

Counter-Piracy Measures

• Implement Best Management Practices 

before entering High Risk Waters - Copy of latest BMP available at:

http://www.mschoa.org/Pages/default.aspx • All US-flag ships operating in high risk 

waters shall comply w/ USCG Maritime 

Security (MARSEC) Directive 104-6 

(current version) - Entire text is found at: 

http://homeport.uscg.mil/piracy

Important Points of Contact • Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) - Tele: + 44 (0) 1923 958545 - Email: postmaster@mschoa.org • US Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) - Tele: + 973-973-3927 - Email: marlo.bahrain@me.navy.mil • UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) - Tele: +971-50-552-3215 - Email: ukmto@eim.ae • Int’l Maritime Bureau 24-hour Piracy 

Reporting Center (IMB)

- Tel: + 60 3 2078 5763 - Email: imbkl@icc-ccs.org or 

piracy@icc-ccs.org

When Under Attack

• IMMEDIATELY contact UKMTO • PHONE: +971 50 552 3215 • EMAIL: ukmto@eim.ae • ACTIVATE the ship security alert system

(SSAS) 

• BROADCAST attacks on all available

radio circuits

(Source: MARAD ADVISORY 2010-6)

UNCLASSIFIED 

November 2010

UNCLASSIFIED 

Implementing Best Management 

Practices is the most effective method 

of deterring pirates.
Selecting a 

Target for 

Hijacking

Pirates are using motherships loaded with

attack skiffs, to intercept shipping. Attack

skiffs are off-loaded to conduct the attack.

Some hijacked vessels are converted to

motherships. Basic criteria for ideal target:

• Low Freeboard • Slow Speed (under 14 Kts) • No Protection

The Attack Attack skiffs flank the targeted merchant

vessel, shooting automatic weapons and

rocket propelled grenades. The intimidated

crew slows for boarding.

Boarding a 

Hijacked 

Vessel

Pirates use grappling hooks and modified

ladders to climb aboard and secure the

crew. Attack skiffs are towed by the

hijacked merchant vessel. The hijacked

vessel is then directed toa pirate

anchorage area off the Somali coast.

Negotiating 

a Ransom 

for a 

Hijacked 

Vessel

Negotiations begin almost immediately

with the ship owner or shipping company

using Somali negotiators. Seamen aboard

hijacked ships are frequently threatened

with bodily harm but are rarely actually

mistreated. Ships are released when the

ransom is delivered and counted.

Current Information

• Suspected Somali pirates are attacking / 

hijacking vessels in Indian Ocean, off 

Seychelles, Madagascar & West 

Maldives. Pirates use hijacked ocean 

going vessels, “motherships”, to operate 

far from Somali coast. Smaller skiffs are 

launched from the “motherships” to 

attack merchant vessels. Pirates are 

heavily armed with automatic weapons 

and RPGs. • IMB advises to maintain listening watch 

on CH 16, CH 8 and CH 72 to hear the 

Maritime Advisory Calls from warships in 

the area who will make general security 

broadcasts and in turn also listen to 

merchant ships calling them. Masters are 

also advised to monitor the IMB Piracy 

Reporting Centre (PRC) broadcast and 

Warnings via Inmarsat C EGC Safety Net.

Source: International Maritime Bureau

IMB Live Piracy Map 

Mid-November 2010

Mothership

Attack Skiffs