Loss Prevention Bulletin – 27 July 2017

A merchant vessel reported it was approached by nine white-hulled skiffs with 10 persons on board each in the northbound shipping lane of the Bab el Mandeb, 29 nm west-northwest of Hodeidah, coming within two cables of the vessel at 1530 hrs local time on 25 July 2017. Ladders were also sighted on board the skiffs. The vessel’s armed security team showed its presence, deterring the skiffs from approaching further, although five skiffs followed the vessel until 1746 hrs local time. The incident marks the latest in a series of suspicious approaches in the region in recent months, and the ladders on board the skiffs indicate the assailants were looking to hijack a vulnerable vessel.