Piracy

Use the above buttons to review the past years of worldwide security incident reports from cruisers. This is not intended to be an all encompassing list of all crimes against yachts in the World, however, may be an indication of your relative safety in a particular country and need for extra precautions.

It is ALWAYS prudent to lock the yacht when you leave for a trip to shore, for a visit to another yacht, or at night when sleeping. Your dinghy and outboard should be treated like you do your car. Lock both at all times with a robust chain and padlock and always raise both out of the water at night.

In addition to reporting an incident to noonsite, it is also important to report to the local authorities. Only if they know what is happening in their jurisdictions can they take steps to stop the activity and to apprehend the criminals.

No other danger has marred the beauty of cruising more than the threat of piracy, whether on the high seas or in coastal waters. Indeed it is a risk that mariners have had to confront for many thousands of years, and continue to do so in certain areas of the world today. Piracy incidents on pleasure boats in recent years have been mercifully few in numbers and restricted predominantly to the Gulf of Aden region and Venezuela. Whilst the situation has improved somewhat for big ships in the Gulf of Aden due to the employment of private security firms on board, there is still an ever-present threat for small boats transiting the High Risk Area.

Gulf of Aden / Indian Ocean Transit

Whilst the maritime authorities are more concerned with attacks on commercial shipping (attacks on pleasure craft not being high priority, or even their responsibility) they do publish warnings for pleasure craft considering a GOA/Indian Ocean transit.

LATEST WARNING - AS OF AUGUST 2014

The joint risk assessment for threats to sailing yachts in the High Risk Area off Somalia has been undertaken in conjunction with the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), UK Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO), NATO Shipping Centre and US Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) and the Yachting Community (including ISAF, RYA, OCC, CA, RCC).  Its conclusions are clear and incontrovertible:

All sailing yachts under their own passage should remain out of the High Risk Area (HRA) or face the risk of being hijacked and held hostage for ransom.

If, despite the risks, you decide to ignore the advice not to transit, MSCHOA (see below) strongly encourages yachts to register in advance (with the Yacht Passage Advice Form) and to report daily during the passage.

If under attack or suspected attack immediately telephone (do not email) UKMTO +971 50 552 3215 with your position.

It is important to note that naval forces are limited and prime protection is given to commercial ships. The volume of commercial shipping in the region means that even a large convoy of yachts is not assured of protection.

For an accurate table of figures on Maritime Security Incidents for the first half of 2014 see this report by Andrew Robinson. It should be noted that there continue to be reports of Somali piracy activities in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as indicated by this report.

Last updated August 2014.

The following contacts are for piracy-related organisations and websites worldwide.

Noonsite launched a new forum for convoys and cruising in company in July 2010 - go here to access the forum. Remember when posting a message to include location and direction in the title (if a convoy, ie: north or south bound). It is also useful to include in your forum posting yacht details, average speed under sail and motor, details of crew, proposed route and dates, present location and a contact email address.

There are a number of convoy related articles linked to this forum, as well as being listed below under "reports".

Gulf of Aden Convoys

Tom Sampson, who organised a 27 boat convoy in January 2010 through GOA, comments; "Since 2010 the situation has changed dramatically and has been duly recognised by the latest warning notice published by MSCHOA for yachts considering sailing in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Whilst the large convoy concept may have been considered a valid option in 2010, I no longer believe that it is so now.
Read more from Tom here.