On 24th of February, the UKMTO issued an advisory to inform that it has received reports of approximately 10-12 small boats with up to 6 persons on each in the vicinity of IRTC Point B.
As explained, the advisory has been compiled from information provided by 3rd parties and has not been verified by UKMTO. In particular, the information is provided to inform the maritime situational awareness of mariners operating in the region.
Although UKMTO is not responsible for the accuracy of this reporting, it warns vessels transiting the area to exercise caution.
The Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) Point B is the eastern entrance to the Gulf of Aden (IRTC). In response to widespread Somali-based piracy at the time, this corridor was established in 2009. The corridor stretches for 492 miles. It has five-mile-wide eastbound and westbound lanes. It is patrolled by the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151), which is currently led by Brazil, in collaboration with the European Union Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) and other partners.
