UKMTO reports numerous skiff sightings in Gulf of Aden

Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, Maritime Security 1 Minute

Following an incident involving a suspected Houthi SVBIED (boat bomb) in the Gulf of Aden, UKMTO reports that it has received “numerous” reports of skiff sightings in the Gulf itself, in position 1222.03N-04357.09E, in the vicinity of Point A on the IRTC.

While pattern of life sightings are not unusual, there is growing concern that a number of the vessels sighted are unmanned, leading to the suspicion that they are SVBIEDs waiting to be deployed.

So far, the threat posed by Houthi rebels to shipping off Yemen in both the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has been limited to vessels belonging to Saudi coalition forces, currently engaged in fighting in Yemen. However, the risk posed by rebels wrongly identifying a Saudi vessel should not be downlplayed.

All vessels are advised to adopt BMP 5 measures and ensure that UKMTO and other agencies are aware of their presence in the region.

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Published by Maritime Security News

I entered the maritime security world in 2009, becoming Intelligence Officer for Neptune Maritime Security (now the NeptuneP2P Group). In 2012, became piracy editor for SomaliaReport.com and in 2013 became editor of MarsecReview.com and intelligence consultant for CSO Alliance, which I left in 2019. I currently work with another UK maritime security firm as a consultant and have an interest in a cyber security concern in the UK. Need a maritime security report, article or advice on maritime cyber security? contact me at: marsecnews@gmail.com

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