Increased risk of attacks by extremist groups in the Arabian Sea
The US Maritime Administration (Marad) issued a guidance on March 13 saying “elevated regional tensions have increased the risk of potential maritime attacks conducted by extremists”.
The warning came with advice for vessels in the Gulf of Oman, the north Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el Mandeb, the strait between Arabia and Africa.
It recommends that “vessels at anchor, operating in restricted manoeuvring environments or at slow speeds be especially vigilant and report suspicious activity”.
Pottengal Mukundan, director of the International Maritime Bureau, said shippers should pay heed.
“There is usually background intelligence behind such advisories and it should be taken seriously by the vessels affected,” Mr Mukundan said.
Maritime vigilance has always been crucial off the UAE because of its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil exports passes.
And there are recurring threats by Iran to block the strait, and concerns about mines and terrorist strikes on offshore oil installations.
Security companies said ships were most vulnerable when at anchor and while travelling through narrows such as the strait.
“If it’s a vigilante group they could sail between fishing boats and skiffs before breaking out, so it’s a question of being alert,” said Rhynhardt Berrange, head of Global Maritime Security Solutions in Dubai that supplied the guards on MV Arrilah-I.
The UAE bulk oil carrier was attacked by Somali pirates in 2011 and freed after a raid by UAE Special Forces and the US Fifth Fleet.
“My advice is don’t step down the vigilance,” Mr Berrange said. “The risk areas where ships must be alert is at anchor off Yemen, Salalah, Fujairah, Doha, Muscat, Aden and Djibouti.
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Source: The National
