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application/pdf NSC Monthly Newsletter October 2009
application/pdf Half yearly Report from the NATO Shipping Centre Feb/Jun 09
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application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document Addition to August Newsletter
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application/pdf Piracy Reporting Hotline
Url To look at the most RECENT PIRACY INCIDENTS in the Somalia area CLICK HERE
Url Last incidents reported on the Hotline
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Url Link to JFC Naples Active Endeavour page
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Mediterranean Sea





HOW CAN YOU HELP?

 

-     Report any suspicious activity in Mediterranean Sea to the NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) free call centre: 0044 1923 956574, or Email: info@shipping.nato.int

 

-     Collaborate and support OAE units during hailing and boarding operations.

 

-           Provide NSC with your merchant ship voluntary movement report to avoid OAE hailing and boarding.  

 

WHAT IS OPERATION ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR?

 

As a result of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S., NATO launched Operation Active Endeavour as part of the Global War on Terrorism.  The operation commenced in October 2001. 

 

NATO Maritime Component Commander Naples commands the operation to deter terrorism in the Mediterranean and contribute to the peace, stability, and security of all nations in the area.  Operation Active Endeavour is based on international law and directly supports United Nations resolutions against threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.  Any suspicious behaviour at sea might be considered as a potential indication of illegal or terrorist activity.

 

More than 1200 well-trained military personnel onboard warships, submarines, and aircraft are fully dedicated to ensure the success of Operation Active Endeavour.  Non-NATO nations such as Russia and Ukraine are trained to participate in Operation Active Endeavour.  Other nations such as Morocco, Algeria, Croatia and Albania see the benefits of cooperation or participating in Operation Active Endeavour, and are willing to do so. 

 

Cooperation with Operation Active Endeavour forces provides for the safe and secure movement of vessels at sea and reduces the time spent on inspections at sea and ashore.  This is an important contribution to the peace, stability and security of all nations and peoples in the area.  

 

 

 

 
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application/pdf BEST PRACTICES TO DETER PIRACY VERSION 2 UPDATED 21 AUG 2009
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LAST UPDATE---LAST UPDATE---LAST UPDATE---LAST UPDATE---LAST UPDATE---LAST UPDATE---

A piracy alert has been raised by the Maritime Security Centre.

 

Date of alert   : 20/11/2009 18:11:34

Alert type      : Attempted Attack

Location        : Somali Basin

Latitude        : 01 05S

Longitude       : 062 28E

 

---WARNING WARNING WARNING---

 

At 1530 UTC a merchant vessel was under attack by 3 skiffs in position 0105S - 06228E. 

 

The vessel now is safe.

 

It is recommended that all vessels not making scheduled calls to ports in Somalia, Kenya or Tanzania keep as far from the Somali coast as possible. MSCHOA now advise that vessels should consider maintaining a distance of more than 600 nautical miles from the coastline and when routing north/south consider keeping East of 60E Longitude until East of the Seychelles.

 

It is also recommended that all vessels proceeding to and from ports in South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya and Somalia should consider routing South of 10S and East of 60E, avoiding the area between the Somali Coast and North and West of the Seychelles.

 

All vessels transiting the area and not able to keep 600 nm off the Somali coast are advised not to approach closer than 100 nm from the position given in this report and maintain maximum CPA with any ship acting suspiciously.

 

While navigating in the region vessels are urged to operate at a heightened state of readiness, maintaining strict 24 hour anti-piracy visual and radar watches, actively implement recommended anti-piracy measures and regularly report their position/course/speed to UKMTO.

 

Merchant vessels are requested to report any suspicious activity to UKMTO Dubai (+97 1505523215 – ukmto@eim.ae) or IMB PRC (+60 320310014 – imbkl@icc-ccs.org / piracy@icc-ccs.org). Reports can also be relayed to MSCHOA (opscentre@mschoa.org).

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UPDATE - - - NEW COUNTER PIRACY OPERATION IN FORCE - - - UPDATE - - - NEW COUNTER PIRACY OPERATION IN FORCE - - -

 

NATO COUNTER PIRACY OPERATION OCEAN SHIELD

Operation Ocean Shield, NATO’s contribution to international efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa, commenced after the North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved the mission. Operation Ocean Shield builds on the experience gained during Operation Allied Protector, NATOs’ previous counter-piracy mission, and develops a distinctive NATO role based on the broad strength of the Alliance by adopting a more comprehensive approach to counter-piracy efforts.

While at-sea counter-piracy operations will continue to be the focus, a new element of regional-state counter-piracy capacity building has been developed for Operation Ocean Shield. NATO’s capacity building effort will aim to assist regional states, upon their request, in developing their own ability to combat piracy activities. This element of the operation is designed to complement existing international efforts and will contribute to a lasting maritime security solution off the Horn of Africa.

 

The NATO Shipping Centre has been contributing to the counter piracy operations by NATO and EU by exchanging the merchant shipping picture in the region with all coalition and friendly forces. The NSC does this, as part of its role as link between (coalition and NATO) military forces and the merchant community, in close cooperation with UK MTO Dubai and the EU MSCHOA.

Last but not least, the NSC will maintain the close relations with the UN WFP office for Somalia (based in Kenya) that we have had for almost two years, and thereby gather and pass information regarding merchant vessel schedules and movements chartered by the United Nations World Food Program.

 

Click here to visit the page on the NATO counter piracy operation Ocean Shield

and the Somalia Piracy update/ Somalia background.
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Given the significant increase in piracy (and piracy related) incidents in the Gulf of Aden, the NATO Shipping Centre invites all Merchant Vessels to report any details of (perceived) suspicious activity (e.g. ships on radar shadowing their movements, changing course to intercept, changing speed to match or intercept) including :

  • course and speed of vessel if available
  • positions and date/time
  • identity or description of suspicious vessel(s)
  • photograph if available
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Ships whose voyage takes them through the Mediterranean Sea are invited to send a Format Alfa report (below or click here) to the NSC by e-mail, telephone or fax; please use numbers of "Contact details".
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Contact Number
NSC Watchkeeper
Freephone		 +44-(0)1923-956574
NSC Fax +44-(0)1923-956575
E-mail info@shipping.nato.int
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The home of the NSC

 

The NATO Shipping Centre is part of the Allied Maritime Component Command Headquarters Northwood.
141412Z OCT 2009 NATO Shipping Centre (numnwsvwb2) E-Mail