DG Shipping warns Indian ships to stay away from Gulf of Aden
The advisory mentions that it is due to the recent piracy attack on an Indian vessel on the coast of Somalia region
In the aftermath of the recent piracy attacks at the Gulf of Aden, the Directorate General of Shipping has issued an advisory to Indian vessel owners to refrain from sailing in the troubled zone.
The advisory, a copy with DNA Money, mentions that it is due to the recent piracy attack on an Indian vessel on the coast of Somalia region.
The Korean Naval Ship, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and International Maritime Bureau (IMB) have shared information with the Indian authorities regarding hijacking of an Indian mechanised sailing vessel transiting Gulf of Aden, off Socotra Island.
This was the third hijack in a span of less than a month around the same coast.
"Having serious concern of stated facts of hijacking of mechanised sailing vessel by pirate and understanding the fact of mechanised sailing vessel not being able to track and monitor through Long Range Information Tracking system, all sailing vessel association are strongly advised not to transit Gulf of Aden," reads the advisory.
In case of larger Indian ships, the owners, operators and masters have now been cautioned not to enter the troubled region by keeping their vessels "well clear of this region" and maintaining a safe distance-- at least over 200 nautical miles--from the coasts of Socotra Island and Somalia.
"Those who violate the instructions and decide to operate their vessels in these waters would be doing so at their own risk only," the note issued by Captain Santoshkumar S Darokar, deputy director general of Shipping (technical) and Nautical Surveyor mentioned.
The recent spate of incidents combined with this advisory may have a direct impact to insurance premium being paid by shipping companies.
On April 3, a cargo dhow – Al Kausar --with 10 Indian crew members was hijacked by Somali pirates and taken off Somalia's coast at Hobyo. The vessel was carrying wheat and sugar from Dubai via Yemen to Somalia's Bossaso Port. After a few days, on April 12, Somali security forces rescued 9 of the 10 Indian crew members.