Piracy in the Indian Ocean

SeaSafe

Travelling to the Indian Ocean region can be a trip of a lifetime. Most visits are trouble free, but it’s worth making sure you plan as much as you can so you ‘know before you go' and are aware of any risks in the area. This all helps to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable visit.

First of all, make sure you visit the FCO’s Travel Advice pages for the particular country you are going to (see the list on the right) and take a note of useful contact details, such as the nearest British Embassy or Consulate and the local emergency services.

The Indian Ocean offers some great opportunities, such as angling, diving, and the use of pleasure craft. Make sure you are insured for all these activities and bear in mind that boats used for these activities may or may not be properly maintained, licensed or regulated depending on the laws of the country you’re in. So the vessel’s construction, operation and maintenance, crew training, evacuation procedures, and safety equipment may not be of the same standards as you would find in the UK.

Likewise, where you stay near the coast can also present particular risks. Be aware of your surroundings and the level of security at your chosen accommodation.

Read the Sea Safety section of the relevant country’s Travel Advice for more information and check out our SeaSafe leaflet which highlights some simple steps to follow.

Piracy in the Indian Ocean

• We advise against all but essential travel by yacht and leisure craft on the high seas (more than 12 nautical miles from shore) in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and part of the Indian Ocean bounded by the following latitude and longitude:  15°N in the Red Sea, 23°N in the Arabian Sea, 78°E and 15°S in the Indian Ocean.
• We urge all merchant shipping, including Cruise Ships, to comply with agreed shipping industry best practice on self-defence measures, including on speed, routing and maintaining adequate lookout.
• We urge all mariners to register with the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) for up to date advice and guidance on passage round the Horn of Africa. They should also report regularly to the UKMTO (email: ukmto@eim.ae; Tel: +971 50 552 3215), giving location, course and speed, and plan their routing carefully so as to avoid placing themselves in unnecessary danger.

Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and the north-west Indian Ocean and has occurred in excess of 1000 nautical miles from the coast of Somalia. The EU Naval Force Somalia gives up-to-date information about attacks and pirated vessels.

Attacks of piracy and armed robbery against vessels in and around the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin continue to affect only a very small proportion of overall shipping.  However, these are frequent and continuing, proving successful almost exclusively against shipping which has not complied with agreed shipping industry best practice on self-defence measures.  All mariners should follow the Best Management Practise for the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia.

Sailing vessels are particularly vulnerable to attack due to their low speed and low freeboard. We advise against all but essential travel by yacht and leisure craft on the high seas in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and part of the Indian Ocean, as bounded by the latitude and longitude coordinates above. All mariners intending to sail through high risk areas should consider the necessity of their travel and alternatives, such as transporting the vessel by yacht carrier.

Yacht races and rallies do not have to take place in these high risk areas and place their competitors at unnecessary risk of attack. These events are often publicised and could draw attention from pirates. We advise mariners not to take part in these races.

We urge mariners to register with the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) for up to date advice and guidance on passage round the Horn of Africa. They should also report regularly to the UKMTO giving their location, course and speed, and plan their routing carefully so as to avoid placing themselves in unnecessary danger.

Useful contacts

The UK Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) in Dubai is the primary point of contact for liaison with military forces in the region.  Email at ukmto@eim.ae to join their voluntary reporting scheme, Tel: +971 50 552 3215, Telex: (51) 210473.

Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) is manned 24/7 by military and merchant navy personnel from various countries and coordinates with military maritime forces in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It is the commercial/civilian link with the EU Naval Force Somalia. Tel: +44 1923 958545, Fax: +44 1923 958 520, email: postmaster@mschoa.org.

The NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) is the commercial/civilian link with the NATO maritime force. Tel: +44 1923 956 574, Fax: +44 1923 956 575, email: info@shipping.nato.int

The Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO), US Navy Bahrain, is a secondary point of contact after UKMTO and MSCHOA, but is manned 24/7. Tel: +973 3940 1395, email: marlo.bahrain@me.navy.mil

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF)  You can read ISAF full set of updated guidelines here.

The threat from piracy in the Indian Ocean changes throughout the year depending largely on prevailing weather conditions.  For advice relating to specific regional countries, see our Travel Advice by Country.