Priority Broadcast Alert – Indian Ocean Region

UPDATE01: The vessel had an estimated 5.6m freeboard at the time of the incident. Unusual dhow behaviour had been reported the previous day. Ambrey assessed the incident to likely be related to Somali Pirate Action Groups, one of which was detected offshore Garacad, Somalia, where the group hijacked an Iranian dhow on 28 October. The grey- and white-hulled boat, having returned to a dhow, remained active in the area. Ambrey has reclassified this event as Crime-Suspicious approach.
ADVICE: Ambrey assessed there to be a realistic possibility for further suspicious approaches. Merchant shipping is advised to adhere to BMP-MS measures.

A merchant vessel reported being approached by an unidentified small boat while transiting approximately 331NM east of Mogadishu, Somalia. The boat, with four individuals onboard, approached the vessel, coming to within 0.05NM. The crew mustered in the citadel and the Private Armed Security Team (PAST) discharged warning shots. The small boat returned fire upon which the PAST fully engaged. Following this engagement the boat altered course away from the vessel. Crew members observed the small boat having approached from a mothership approximately 5NM east of the vessel’s location. Following the incident, the vessel then observed the small boat again returning to the mothership. No injuries or damage to the vessel have been reported. The vessel subsequently continued its voyage.
ADVICE: Merchant vessels in the vicinity are advised to remain alert and to report any suspicious or unusual activity.