US Navy Issues Pirate Warning Off Yemen To Shipping

GULF OF ADEN – The US Navy’s Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) has issued a warning to mariners concerning suspicions that a vessel acting as a ‘mother-ship’ to pirates has started operating off of the Yemeni island of Socotra.

ONI state that suspicious activity from a vessel, which could be acting as a base for small pirate attack skiffs, has been observed at 13°08N – 056°56E, a location approximately 153 nautical miles east of Socotra.

In a statement ONI said that: “. Mariners are warned to avoid this area if possible, as it will remain high risk for at least the next 24-48 hours. If necessary to transit near this position, all counter-piracy measures should be employed.”

Regular updates on piracy are available from ONI here.

http://www.nmic.navy.mil/Intelligence_Community/piracy/piracy.html