Marine Security Advisory: 02/2009 - New UKMTO Transit Corridor Through The Gulf Of Aden

Fax: Email: Securit +1 703 790 5655 y@liscr.co m

January 21, 2009

MARITIME SECURITYADVISORY – 02/2009

This Advisory Supersedes “Maritime Security Advisory – 09/2008”

SUBJECT: New UKMTO Transit Corridor through the Gulf of Aden

To Ship Owners/Operators and Masters:

In response to feedback from the international maritime community and in cooperation with European

Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ATALANTA and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations

(UKMTO), Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is revising the internationally recommended UKMTO

Transit Corridor through the Gulf of Aden (GOA). This revision is intended to reduce the risk of collision between vessels utilizing the corridor, provide a measure of traffic separation, and allow maritime forces to conduct deterrent operations in the GOA with a greater degree of flexibility and effectiveness.

Effective from 01 Feb 2009, at 0001Z, the revised UKMTO Transit Corridor (UTC) will come into effect at the following coordinates:

12 00N 45E, 14 30N 53E, 11 55N 45E, 14 25N 53E, 11 53N 45E, 14 23N 53E, 11 48N 45E, 14 18N 53E.

• All vessels commencing a transit through the existing corridor prior to 0001Z 01 Feb 2009 should complete their transit using the existing coordinates, as per Marine Security Advisory 09/2008. o Do not shift to the new corridor in mid transit.
• All vessels planning to transit the GOA after 0001Z 01 Feb 2009 should plan to use the revised corridor.

Revisions to the corridor include the creation of separate eastbound and westbound transit lanes.

Each lane will be 5 nm wide and will be separated by a 2 nm buffer zone.

• The east bound lane will begin at 045 East between 11 48 North and 11 53 North. The lane will be orientated along a straight line course of 072 degrees and terminate at 053 degrees East between 14 18 North and 14 23 North.
• The west bound lane will begin at 053 degrees East between 14 25 North and 14 30 North. The lane will be orientated along a course of 252 and terminate at 045 degrees East between 11 55 North and 12 00 North. These new coordinates are not effective until 0001Z 01 Feb 2009.
• Prior to 01 Feb 2009, warships patrolling the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) will be positioned to best support vessels transiting in the existing UKMTO Transit Corridor only.
• After 2359z on 02 Feb 2009, warships will be positioned to best support vessels in the revised UKMTO transit corridor only.
• During a transition period from 01 to 02 Feb, warships patrolling the MSPA will monitor traffic transiting both the existing and the revised UKMTO Transit Corridors.

The UKMTO Transit Corridor is not marked or defined by visual navigational means, nor is it intended to be a dedicated traffic separation scheme, however vessels transiting the GOA are strongly recommended to adhere to the above guidelines regarding use of the UKMTO Transit Corridor so warship patrols can be more effective,.

Revised UTC in relation to old corridor

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Security Advisory 02/2009

Masters of Liberian flagged vessels are advised to refer to www.mschoa.org for details regarding group transit through the UKMTO Transit Corridor and the current group transit schedules.

For more information please contact the Security Department at telephone + 1 703 251 2435 email security@liscr.com; LISCR Duty Officer + 1 703 963 6216 email: dutyofficer@liscr.com; * * *

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