Piracy activity was low
During the reporting period (21-28 Apr 2011) overall piracy activity was low. There were two attacks in the Somali Basin, one approach each in the southern Red Sea, and the Somali Basin.
As a result of the successful disruption of one pirate mother ship dhow in the Arabian Sea, it is now assessed that there are probably no PAGs currently deployed in that region.
However, based on the activities in the south, it is assessed that at least one dhow and another unknown PAG is operational in the southern Somali Basin east of the Seychelles.
Gulf of Aden/Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC)
Pirate activities werelimited to one approach in the southern Red Sea during the last week, although we continue to assess that the IRTC is not pirate free. The judgment that pirate skiffs may blend into the local traffic and commence an attack at any time without any warning remains valid.
Arabian Sea/Greater Somali Basin
Although reduced to two attacks and one approach, the overall threat assessment for this area remains high. The current assessment is that there may no longer be any dhow PAGs active in the Arabian Sea. This situation could change rapidly, however, and a valid threat remains.
A significant number of pirated regional dhows, particularly Iranian-flagged Jelbut-type and Yemeni-flagged Yemeni-type vessels, remain in pirate possession and continue to pose a potential threat when taken out unnoticed on mother ship operations, predominantly in the Arabian Sea.
Source: NATO Shipping Center
