Sailors Suspect Pirates Informed Of Yacht Movements

Created by doina. Last modified on 2007-03-23 15:28:02
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Topic: Piracy Archive 2003

There had been strong suggestions from several sources that at places like Salalah, Oman and Al Mukalla, Yemen, information on yacht movements might be passed to people engaged in piracy on the coast. The statement mirrors a concern held by a number of yachts and is based on documented reports of previous incidents. The pattern is that several of these attacks followed a visit to the one of the above ports. Whether there is substance to this or not, several skippers decided that it would be beneficial to remain unseen and take the necessary precautions.

All the pirate attacks of the past season (early 2003) occurred well offshore. With respect to at least two incidents they appear to have been perpetrated by persons engaged in illegal immigrant transfers perhaps from Somalia to a quiet spot on the Yemeni coast. Piracy of opportunity was perchance an extra dimension. The incidents occurred in roughly the same location and in each case involved two or three lifeboat type vessels carrying passengers.

Measures taken by some national authorities to discourage piracy have been effective in some areas, particularly the Malaysian Malacca coast and among the islands between Langkawi and Phuket, Thailand. Yemen has implemented a counter piracy program but it remains to be seen how effective it is. There has been some criticism directed by cruising sailors at the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as well as the 24 Hours Anti Piracy Helpline, whose main activity appears to be limited to the compilation of daily and weekly reports on piracy incidents.

Meanwhile, those who plan to sail from SE Asia to the Red Sea in 2004 should contact us at noonsite if they wish to form a convoy for added security, or contact other yachts planning to sail the same route. Email us at info@noonsite.com