Weekly Maritime Security Report: 21-27 July 2012
Number of incidents: 1.HORN OF AFRICA:Weather conditions in the High Risk Area continue to be generally unsupportive of small boat operations. The effects of the monsoon are likely to begin declining around September, which will bring a calmer sea state and a likely increase in pirate activity. Having said that, the threat of piracy still remains in sheltered areas, such as the Southern Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb, Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Oman. On 25 July, a vessel was reportedly approached by a suspicious skiff 200NM northeast of Madagascar at 0725 local time.
It is unclear what the skiff’s intention was; however, it was observed 1.5 NM away, and trailed for approximately 45 minutes. After a combination of warnings from the ship, the suspicious skiff altered course. There have been two previous reports over the past 12 months of Pirate Attack Groups operating in this area. It cannot be discounted that this sighting was related to pirate activity; however, weather conditions continue to be unsupportive of pirate operations across the Indian Ocean, with the significant wave heights northwest of Madagascar being above 2.5m.
GULF OF GUINEA : No incidents were reported this week.
ASIA : No incidents were reported this week.
LATIN AMERICA : No incidents were reported this week.
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