Common sense practice for safe passage from Salalah to Aden

Created by sue. Last modified on 2010-07-13 08:25:32
Contributors:
Countries: Oman, Yemen

From a cruiser who has done the same trip

From Salalah you will find many yachts on their way to the Red Sea all in the same position. Form a convoy with similar vessels (maintaining the same speed) and discuss the following rules of passage:

• Assign a group leader, acting as the sole one to take the group
  - Not more than 5 or 6 boats together being able to maintain the same speed
  - Keep 5 or 6 miles off Yemen coast, no further!! (don't use the corridor!)
  - You will come across fishing nets so you must have a plan to cut nets off the propeller of any one boat if necessary
  - Boats to be half a mile apart maximum
  - Do not use nav lights at night but low power flashing lights just like the fishing boats
  - Switch off AIS, switch on in case of attack
  - Switch off Radar enhancers, again, switch on in case of attack
  - Have radar on
  - Listen out on both CHF 08 and 16
  - Only speak on VHF if necessary and just 2W power channels
  - Only very very short conversations on VHF
  - Pre-arrange code names for places and waypoints
  - Make a plan what to do when an attack occurs, who does what
  - Very important, EVERYBODY must promise to keep together
  - Decide beforehand whether to call in at Mukalla for diesel or a stop
  - Decide beforehand towing plan if someone's engine fails
  - In case of emergency, call Mayday on both channel 16 and 08, try to keep the pirates away for as long as possible - even a short while will make assistance possible
  - In case of boarding, stop engine, remain calm, don't resist.