UKMTO: Piracy Threat Still Looming in Bab al Mandeb

Over the previous week pirates were lurking on ships sailing in the immediate vicinity of the Bab al Mandeb a strait between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, Djibouti and Eritrea, north of Somalia and along the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor, the United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in the latest report.

 
The majority of reports received last week state the sighting of 1 or 2 skiffs appearing to be acting aggressively and closing at speed but with no ladders or weapons seen.

According to UKMTO, this activity is not uncommon, especially amongst fishermen.

Several approaches were made by small skiffs and dhows, however the suspicious vessels have been prevented from boarding and scared away with fire hoses, or firing of warning flares.

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Press Release, July 7, 2014, Image: UKMTO