South Pacific Security

Operation Southern Spear - Eastern Pacific

The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), bolstered by the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, heavily patrols the Caribbean region and Latin American waters since late 2025 as part of aggressive counter-narcotics and interdiction operations. The primary risk to recreational yachts is misidentification as a suspect vessel, which can lead to forced boardings, delays, or severe danger.

Captains of yachts making passage in international waters (i.e. more than 12 miles offshore) in the Eastern Pacific south or east of Huatulco, Mexico and north of Ecuador and in the Caribbean south of the Caymans, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, USVI AND BVI and north of South America, are recommended to do the following:

1. File a Float Plan: Reach out directly to U.S. Southern Command 72-48 hours before departure to log your route. Complete a standard U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Float Plan and send to:

Email Address: southcom.miami.scj79.mbx.humanitarian-notification@mail.mil
Subject Line: Float Plan Complete – [Insert Your Vessel Name]

If you change plans (departure time, destination, waypoints, etc.) underway, file a new float plan.

2. Update Profiling: Update your vessel profile on MarineTraffic.

3. Active AIS & Communications: Keep your Automatic Identification System (AIS) on and broadcast at all times. Maintain a continuous watch and monitor VHF channel 16.

After arrival/completion of your voyage, email U.S. Southern Command to advise them ‘Float Plan Complete’ and your vessel name in the subject line.

See more details provided by the Cruising Club of America.

Operation Southern Spear - Wikipedia

Help to Fight Pacific Crime

With the issue of drug trafficking in the South Pacific now a hot topic following the seizure of 1400 tonnes of drugs on a “narco sub” bound for Oceania (December 2024), the cruising community need to be aware of the on-going international operations in the Pacific, how this will affect their cruising and how they too can assist the authorities in this fight against crime. Find out more here.

Papua New Guinea

Cruising this country requires careful research before deciding which areas to cruise and there are definitely more populated areas and some island groups that should be avoided. However, it's still possible to enjoy safe cruising here if you pick your route carefully.

See the PNG Security section for more details.

• PNG Security Reports