Somalia : Profile

Facts

• Sailing to Somalia is considered far too hazardous in the present circumstances and anyone intending to sail anywhere near Somalia should obtain the latest information on the internal situation before venturing anywhere near a Somali port.

• Only major ports should be approached and only in serious emergencies.

• Violent crime, including looting and banditry, is common, especially in Mogadishu, while many other areas of the country are suffering from armed conflict. There is no functioning national government.

PIRACY

• reports of piracy near the Horn of Africa, in the area around Ras Alula (11°59'N 50°47'E), located approximately 30 miles west of Ras Asir, on the northern Somali coast in the Gulf of Aden. Ras Alula, also marked as Ras Caluula on some charts, is the first cape west of Cape Guardafui (Ras Asir).

• The waters in the vicinity of the Somali coast, both south and west of the Horn of Africa, are now considered to be dangerous for both commercial shipping and small boats. The US authorities have issued a warning advising vessels to stay at least 30 miles off the African coast. This was confirmed by the Djibouti authorities following several attacks on cruising yachts, as well as other shipping, off the Somali north coast. Some of these attacks occurred as far as 60 miles offshore. The east coast is just as dangerous.

• Boats are strongly advised to avoid passing between the island of Socotra and the African mainland, while those approaching from the east through the Gulf of Aden should stay well clear of both the Somali and Yemeni coasts, as both are considered to be dangerous.

• The best approach is to sail in convoy with other yachts and try to be in permanent contact with someone ashore who knows one's position at all times and could alert the authorities in an emergency.

Weather

Hot all year round, humid in the rainy seasons. Summer temperatures can reach up to 108°F (42°C) from June to September in the northern coastal towns. At the height of the SW monsoon, May to October, winds often reach gale force. The current along the Somali coast can be very strong, particularly during the SW monsoon.

Main Ports

Berbera * , Mogadishu *

*Indicates a port of entry.

Related Reports

Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Coast of Somalia (27 Nov 2009)

Gulf of Aden - Our Experience, August 2008 (21 Jan 2009)

Gulf of Aden, Somalia - French Luxury Cruise Ship Hijacked (21 Jan 2009)

French Mercenaries Sign E100m Deal with Somalia  (19 Jun 2008)

Pirates Desert Malacca Straits for African Waters  (05 Jun 2008)

Sailing From Asia To The Med Can Be Trouble-Free (23 Mar 2007)

Yacht Saltaire Robbed in Gulf Of Aden March 2004 (23 Mar 2007)

Yacht Abandoned Off Eritrean Coast As Skipper Goes Missing (06 Mar 2007)

Concern Over Recent Piracy Attacks off Somalia (14 May 2006)

Piracy in the Gulf of Aden: thoughts on human traffickers / pirates (24 Feb 2006)

USS Gonzalez wards off attack on civilian mariners in Indian Ocean (28 Jun 2005)

Related News

ISAF Guidelines for the Prevention of Piracy (12 Mar 2010)

British couple held by Somali pirates "could be free within days" (06 Mar 2010)

Kidnapped British Yachting Couple - In Captivity for over 100 Days (31 Jan 2010)

Somali pirates holding Britons issue terrifying ultimatum: Pay £1.9m or yacht couple die (11 Jan 2010)

Another Sailing Yacht Missing and Feared Abducted off the Seychelles (08 Dec 2009)

Passage from Indian Ocean via Red Sea to Europe - Extremely Unsafe (20 Nov 2009)

Seychelles - Lynn Rival Siezed by Pirates (28 Oct 2009)

Formerly hi-jacked Yacht-Sailors arrive safely in Yemen (21 Jul 2009)

Danger of Piracy - ISAF Guidelines for Yachts  (04 May 2009)

Skipper of Sea-Jacked Yacht Killed in Rescue Attack by French Navy (11 Apr 2009)

French Yacht Sea-Jacked, NE Somalia  (11 Apr 2009)

Yachts included in Piracy Deterrence Operations  (04 Apr 2009)

Gulf of Aden - Revised Maritime Security Patrol Area  (19 Feb 2009)

Horn of Africa Declared a War Zone - Impact on Yacht Insurance Policies (22 Jan 2009)

Further Information on recent "yacht hijack" off Somalia  (28 Dec 2008)

EU to begin Somali pirate patrols (08 Dec 2008)

More Pirates Captured in the Gulf of Aden (24 Oct 2008)

Reported Incidents of Somali Pirate Attacks & Hijackings in the Gulf of Aden 2008 (07 Oct 2008)

Piracy report from UKMTO for Gulf of Aden (02 Oct 2008)

Notice to Yachts Transiting the Gulf of Aden (18 Sep 2008)

Three Pirate Centres Planned for the Coast of Yemen (18 Sep 2008)

Pirate Killed as French Hostages Freed (16 Sep 2008)

Update: French Yacht Hijacked off the Coast of Somalia (08 Sep 2008)

Warning: Captured Yacht in use by Somalian Pirates (08 Sep 2008)

14 Somali Pirates Captured by Warship (08 Sep 2008)

German Cruising Couple Still Being Held Hostage in Somalia  (11 Jul 2008)

Somali Pirates Double Ransom  (03 Jul 2008)

Four Days Later and Pirates Demand $1M (27 Jun 2008)

Update to Sailing Family Siezed by Pirates (26 Jun 2008)

UN Finally Acts on Piracy in Gulf of Aden  (05 Jun 2008)

French Special Forces Swoop on Somali pirates (16 Apr 2008)

Crew of French Yacht Freed Somali Hijackers Detained (12 Apr 2008)

Dangers Increase Off Somali Coast (28 Mar 2008)

Convoys Through Gulf Of Aden & Red Sea (28 Feb 2008)

Somali Piracy On Increase Again For Shipping (20 Jun 2007)

Somali Islamic Courts Crack Down On Piracy (23 Nov 2006)

Preparations Are Underway Among Yachts Planning to Sail to Red Sea (26 Dec 2005)

Free weather service for yachts transiting the Red Sea (12 Apr 2003)

Updated advice for boats sailing through piracy areas (08 Apr 2002)