Priority Broadcast Alert – Americas

The United States reportedly conducted a series of air strikes in Caracas, Venezuela. Multiple explosions were reported at approximately 05:50 UTC. At the time of writing, no damage to merchant shipping was reported. Ambrey is investigating an attack on a naval base in La Guaira, Venezuela. The explosions likely targeted military installations in Venezuela. Venezuelan President Maduro reacted by denouncing the reported attacks and declaring a national emergency. There were reports of additional explosions in Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, Venezuela; however, similarly no impact to merchant shipping was reported. At the time of writing, no official statement had been made by the United States regarding the series of explosions. Ambrey has observed U.S. aerial activity 75NM south of Puerto Rico.
ADVICE: Merchant shipping planning to call Venezuela are advised to reassess port operational status and to regularly establish the status. Ambrey is contacting partners in ports to review any impacts. It is advised to assess the risks of collateral damage when calling ports with a co-located military base. Shipping underway through the Caribbean Sea is advised to maintain a Sea Room policy from any naval assets and to report their presence to Ambrey for others to be dynamically re-routed. Shipping with contingency planned routes are advised to consider activating those plans with Ambrey prior to continuing their voyages, but no merchant shipping has been attacked since the 3 January actions and it remains unlikely that merchant shipping will be intentionally damaged by either side at this stage.