Radio email from a USA yacht in the Gulf of Aden

[svBeBe]

Just received this radio email from a USA yacht in the Gulf of Aden.

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Unfortunately, we have had 4 incidents along the Corridor in less than 24 hours.

Last night we saw a ship being attacked not 5 miles from our position. Flares going off and then a fast moving boat with a red light headed in our direction - then light went dark. Enough for us to call MARLO who got US Warship to speed in our direction. We had Helo's and an escort the rest of the night. Incredibly scary. Then today we spotted a dhow with 2 skiffs in the middle of the corridor again 6 miles from our position...and even though they get reported, the resources are too thin to respond in time! And at 12:30 sailing yacht XXXXX (USA) & yacht sailing yacht XXXXX (USA) reported a merchant vessel was being attacked again in the corridor only 38 miles ahead of us. It is NOT good here. It is very very bad. We are ditching plans for [deleted] and going north to [deleted]...Yes, I have the report on gun fire and rioting in the Port of [deleted]..that IS how bad it is here in the Coalition Corridor.

More at: radio email from a USA flagged yacht currently in the Coalition Corridor | Facebook

Bill
s/v BeBe

[pablothesailor]

Jesus Christ?? I cant believe any small cruisers are going anywhere near all of that!! Is there an up to date map on here of the ¨no go¨ area??

[SvenG]

Hmmmm ...

[Brazil]

I would prefer take my chances with weather in cape of good hope

[Rangiroo]

Can you pvt me please...I have some VERY close friends in that area at around this time....

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by pablothesailor

Jesus Christ?? I cant believe any small cruisers are going anywhere near all of that!! Is there an up to date map on here of the ¨no go¨ area??

For now - delete the part of Indian Ocean north from the latitude of northern tip of Madagascar from Your chartplotter.
For near future - delete all the Indian Ocean chart. And remember - do not go to the area You have not chart for

[GordMay]

Regarding all of the following warnings: Vessels are advised to use EXTREME CAUTION when navigating within 100NM of the positions in these warnings and maintain maximum CPA to all vessels acting suspiciously:

➥ NATO Shipping Centre (numnwsvwb2): SOMALIA PIRACY UPDATE 3 MARCH 2011

[Hud3]

Here's a link to a PDF map of the pirate incidents listed in Gord's link. The file's too big to upload here.

http://www.shipping.nato.int/Counter...Map/index_html

These guys are definitely expanding their operating area.

[GordMay]

See also ➥ http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...t_Map_2010.png

[Ocean Girl]

Hope everyone gets outta there safely! I dont think many yachts are heading towards that area, just people trying to get out now.
Erika

[NorthPacific]

I see the straits of Malacca have several incidents as well. Is this still a hotspot and troublesome for cruising yachts?

[Kettlewell]

Circumnavigation of the Pacific anyone? Either that, or heading around South Africa seems to be the prudent thing to do.