R 041247Z MAR 11


SUBJ: SPECIAL NOTICE TO MARINER (NTM) FOR US YACHTS AND SAILING

VESSELS REGARDING PIRACY OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA

1. ON 18 FEB 11, A U.S. REGISTERED SAILING VESSEL WITH 4 US CITIZENS

ON BOARD WAS HIJACKED BY SOMALI PIRATES IN THE ARABIAN SEA, 282NM SE

OF SUR, OMAN.  DURING NEGOTIATIONS FOR RELEASE OF THE VESSEL, THE 4

US CITIZENS ONBOARD WERE KILLED.

2. THE EXTREME HAZARDS OF OPERATING OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA IN THE

GULF OF ADEN AND THE ARABIAN SEA SOUTH TO THE MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL AND

EAST TO THE COAST OF INDIA, REQUIRES IMMEDIATE EDUCATION OF THE RISK

TO ANY US REGISTERED PLEASURE VESSEL OPERATING IN THESE WATERS OR US

CITIZENS PLANNING TO TRANSIT THESE AREAS ON  FOREIGN FLAG REGISTERED

PLEASURE VESSELS.

3.  A SPECIAL NOTICE TO MARINERS WARNING VESSEL OPERATORS OF THIS

RISK HAS BEEN RELEASED THROUGH THE NAVCEN WEBSITE

(HTTP://WWW.NAVCEN.USCG.GOV/) AND THROUGH DISTRICT LOCAL NOTICES TO

MARINERS.  THE SPECIAL NOTICE HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO NATIONAL BOATING

FEDERATION, NASBLA, US SAIL, BOAT US, US POWER SQUADRON, AND OTHER

BOATING/YACHTING ENTHUSIAST GROUPS TO POST OR LINK THROUGH THEIR  WEB

SITES OR PUBLISH IN THEIR NEWSLETTERS, TWITTER-FACEBOOK OR BLOG

POSTS, OR MONTHLY MAGAZINES.

4.  OCEANGOING SAILING VESSEL RALLIES AND US PLEASURE VESSELS

INVOLVED IN CIRCUMNAVIGATION VOYAGES MAY BE UNAWARE OF THE EXTREME

RISK TO LIFE AND VESSELS OPERATING OFF THE EAST COAST OF AFRICA.  THE

SUBJECT NTM WAS SPECIFICALLY RELEASED TO REINFORCE THESE IMPORTANT

CONCERNS AND TO PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE

SAILOR IN THAT THEY MAY HAVE OR PLAN VOYAGES THROUGH THESE HIGH RISK

WATERS. THE WIDEST DESEMINATION OF THIS NTM TO THE PUBLIC AND US

REGISTERED OCEAN YACHT OPERATORS IS IMPERATIVE.

5.   DISTRICT AND UNIT RECREATIONAL BOATING SPECIALISTS, AND UNIT

AUXILIARISTS SHOULD ENSURE WIDEST DISSEMINATION/EDUCATION OF THIS NTM

AND TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MEET  WITH  YACHTING CENTER MANAGERS

AND  POST/DISTRIBUTE THE SUBJECT DOCUMENT DIRECTLY TO YACHT

OPERATORS/OWNERS WHO COULD BE PLANNING FUTURE CIRCUMNAVIGATION

VOYAGES.

6.   COMDT ( CG-54222 ) POC: MR. JOSEPH CARO, 202-372-1068.

7.   INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.

8.   RADM KEVIN COOK, DIRECTOR OF PREVENTION POLICY, SENDS.