The threat to commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea is intensifying, with shipowners, operators and masters facing a growing arsenal of potential attacks, from armed skiffs and drones to anti-ship missiles.
Anew marine security advisory from the Liberia Maritime Authority warns that multiple vessels making innocent passage through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have come under threat or attack in recent months. In several incidents, vessels have been targeted by missiles launched from drones, while others have been ordered to alter course and head towards Yemen.
The range of threats is widening. Anti-ship and ballistic missiles, water-borne improvised explosive devices and drones are among the weapons identified in the advisory. Mines have also been deployed off Yemen’s coast, with some reportedly breaking free from their moorings and drifting into established shipping lanes.
There have also been reports of unmanned underwater vehicles operating in the region, although no vessel has so far been attacked by such devices.
Yemen coastline remains high-risk area
The highest risk remains along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, although attacks have been reported as far as 100 nautical miles from the coast. Shipowners, operators and crews have been urged to remain alert to the risks and carefully assess the security situation before transiting the area.
The advisory also highlighted Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), a maritime presence and deterrence mission launched in the Southern Red Sea to support freedom of navigation. Currently commanded by Destroyer Squadron 50, the task force is continuing efforts to safeguard freedom of navigation and the flow of commercial traffic through the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and the western Gulf of Aden.
Liberia raises security level
Liberian-flagged vessels transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have been instructed to raise their security level to Level 3 and implement all protective measures outlined in their Ship Security Plans amid continued threats to commercial shipping in the region.
Vessels in ports within the affected area must comply with the security level set by the relevant Designated Authority, although they may adopt measures corresponding to a higher security level based on their own assessment of the situation.
NAVCENT warns of continued risk
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) has warned that a high level of threat continues to face commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, particularly between 12 and 16 degrees north and west of 46 degrees east in the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The decision to transit the affected waters or call at regional ports remains with individual companies, which are advised to consider recent targeted attacks against commercial vessels linked to Israel through ownership, cargo or previous port calls, as well as vessels trading to and from Saudi Arabian ports.
Ships planning to transit the area should contact Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) for information concerning potential links to Israel.
AIS guidance for vessels
The advisory also highlights the role of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) in managing security risks. Under International Maritime Organization Resolution A.1106(29), masters may switch off AIS if they believe its continued operation could compromise the safety or security of the vessel or if a security incident is imminent.
However, the advisory notes that vessels have been targeted both with AIS switched on and off. While disabling AIS can make vessels more difficult to track, it can also limit their ability to receive assistance. Masters may therefore consider restricting AIS information to mandatory fields and omitting the vessel’s next port of call while transiting the high-risk area.
Vessels that operate with AIS switched off are also advised to provide position reports to COMUSNAVCENT every two to three hours.
Reporting and risk assessments
All vessels are encouraged to report their movements to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and register with the Maritime Security Centre for the Indian Ocean (MSCIO), in line with industry Best Management Practices (BMP). Operators are also urged to consult Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) advisories and conduct voyage-specific threat and risk assessments.
Ships transiting the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz and Arabian Gulf are additionally encouraged to report to the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR). The voluntary reporting system is intended to strengthen information sharing and cooperation between maritime stakeholders in the region.
Additional security measures
For Liberian-flagged vessels operating outside territorial waters or ports within the previously defined high-risk area, the standard security level is Level 2, with the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden subject to Level 3.
Within territorial waters or ports covered by the high-risk area, masters must follow the security level established by the port State authority, while retaining the option to implement additional measures based on their assessment.
Any changes to the vessel’s security level must be reported by the master to the Liberian Administration.
The Liberian Administration is also urging owners, charterers, operators and masters to conduct pre-voyage threat and risk assessments using the latest maritime security information. Vessels may also consider deploying private maritime security companies to provide additional armed or unarmed security personnel when transiting high-risk areas.