MARAD warns of possible extremist attacks

The United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) released Maritime Advisory 2013-03 warning the shipping community of an increased risk for potential maritime attacks conducted by extremists in the Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab El Mandeb regions.

Amver ships, or those not under MARAD authority, should also take note of this advisory.

Advisory 2013-03 replaces 2012-02.

Here is the text of the message:

Advisory #:	2013-03
Date Issued:	Mar 13 2013
To:	MARINERS
Subject:	VESSELS OPERATING IN THE GULF OF OMAN, NORTH ARABIAN SEA, GULF OF ADEN, AND BAB EL MANDEB REGIONS.

1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO VESSELS OPERATING IN SUBJECT WATERS.  U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS WITH SHIPS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD THIS ADVISORY TO THEIR SHIPS BY THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS.

 2. ELEVATED REGIONAL TENSIONS HAVE INCREASED THE RISK OF POTENTIAL MARITIME ATTACKS CONDUCTED BY EXTREMISTS.

3. RECOMMEND VESSELS AT ANCHOR, OPERATING IN RESTRICTED MANUEVERING ENVIRONMENTS, OR AT SLOW SPEEDS BE ESPECIALLY VIGILANT, AND REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.

4. VESSELS TRANSITING HIGH RISK WATERS DESIGNATED BY U.S. COAST GUARD MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6 (CURRENT VERSION) MUST COMPLY WITH ITS SECURITY REQUIREMENTS. ACCORDINGLY, VESSELS SHOULD CONDUCT A PRE-VOYAGE RISK ASSESSMENT AND INCORPORATE APPROPRIATE PROTECTIVE MEASURES INTO THEIR VESSEL SECURITY PLANS. ADDITIONALLY, U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS SHOULD HAVE THEIR PROTECTIVE MEASURES IMPLEMENTED PRIOR TO ENTERING HIGH RISK WATERS.

5. U.S. FLAG VESSELS THAT OBSERVE SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN THE AREA ARE ADVISED TO REPORT SUCH SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY OR ANY HOSTILE OR POTENTIALLY HOSTILE ACTION TO COMUSNAVCENT BATTLEWATCH CAPTAIN AT PHONE NUMBER 011-973-1785-3879, CUSNC.BWC@ME.NAVY.MIL. ALL SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS ARE ALSO TO BE REPORTED TO THE U.S. COAST GUARD NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH 33 CFR PART 101.305.

6.  A SHIP HOSTILE ACTION REPORT (SHAR) SHOULD BE SENT TO THE NATIONAL GEOSPATIALINTELLIGENCE AGENCY (NGA) AT HTTP://MSI.NGA.MIL/NGAPORTAL/MSI.PORTAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT/SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, INCLUDING APPARENT SURVEILLANCE BEING CONDUCTED BY SMALL VESSELS/BOATS.  REFERENCE NGA PUB 117 FOR FURTHER GUIDANCE.

7. MARAD ADVISORIES ARE PUBLISHED ON THE MARAD WEB SITE AT WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV AND THE MARITIME SAFETY INFORMATION WEB SITE: HTTP://MSI.NGA.MIL/NGAPORTAL/MSI.PORTAL UNDER "BROADCAST WARNINGS", SELECT MARAD ADVISORIES TO DETERMINE MARITIME ADVISORIES THAT REMAIN IN FORCE, CONSULT THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV OR THE MOST RECENT U.S. NOTICE TO MARINERS .

8. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT CAPTAIN ROBERT FORD, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE: MAR-420, ROOM W25-308, 1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, DC 20590, TELEPHONE 202-366-0223, FACSIMILE 202-366-3954, TLX II 710.822.9426 (MARAD DOT WSH), OR EMAIL: MARADSECURITY@DOT.GOV.

9. CANCEL ADVISORY 2012-02.