Notice - Gulf of Aden, Socotra Gap, Somali East Coast

Dear Client,
Please find below our most recent Flash Report. If you have any queries about our reports please contact us at africaops@castorvali.com.

Incident Details

Incident Date & Time:

21 - 26 April 2025

Location:

Gulf of Aden, Socotra Gap, and off Somali East Coast

Latitude/Longitude: 

13° 45' 5.00" N, 51° 10' 24.00" E

Vessel Name, Type, Flag & Status

N/A

Incident Type:

Notice - Counter-piracy

Crew status

N/A

Incident Details

Description

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has issued Notice 005/Apr/2025 regarding a Counter-piracy Focused Operation named SEA SPIRIT. The operation will be conducted by Combined Maritime Forces' Counter-piracy Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) in coordination with European Union Naval Forces' Operation ATALANTA from 21 Apr to 26 Apr 2025 in the Gulf of Aden, Socotra Gap, and off the Somali East Coast. The Pakistan-led CTF-151 will deploy multinational naval units, aircraft, and personnel during the operation. The aims are to deter and suppress piracy and armed robbery in piracy-prone areas, analyze the Pattern of Life (PoL) in the region, and reassure the maritime community through enhanced multinational naval presence. Merchant vessels are encouraged to interact with naval units and contribute to understanding the PoL in the Combined Maritime Forces' Area of Operations. Mariners are advised to navigate with caution while transiting the area due to extensive flying and small craft operations by naval ships.

Response Actions

- Naval

- Military Response And Monitoring

- Eunavfor

- Ukmto

- Coalition Forces

Stolen items

- N/A

Key findings

This proactive counter-piracy operation demonstrates a coordinated multinational approach to maritime security in a historically high-risk area. The involvement of both CTF-151 and EU NAVFOR shows a continued commitment to suppressing piracy threats that have diminished but not disappeared in recent years. The focus on understanding the Pattern of Life suggests a shift towards more intelligence-driven operations, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of counter-piracy efforts. The invitation for merchant vessels to interact with naval units is an innovative approach to gather real-time intelligence and improve situational awareness in the region.

Recommendations

- Maintain heightened vigilance and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO and naval forces in the area

- Consider participating in information sharing with naval units to support the operation's objectives

- Review and update ship security plans to account for potential increased small boat activity during the operation

Disclaimer
You have received this report as part of your organisation’s subscription. Castor Vali assessment and advice is given based on the information received and processed by us and the surrounding circumstances known to us to exist at the time. Subsequent changes to relevant information or the surrounding circumstances may affect the reliability of our assessment and advice, but we do not accept responsibility for that effect. We do not accept responsibility for the outcome of any action taken or not taken as a result of our assessment and advice unless the possibility of that action being taken or not taken is set out in specific terms in our instructions.

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