The Interim Industry Transit Advice for the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has been updated to reflect the changes to the Houthi threat and the contact information of the naval forces currently operating to protect shipping in the area, according to BIMCO.
Protecting Merchant Ships
The updated advice elaborates further on the threat posed by the Houthis. This threat includes vessels linked to Israel, the US, and the UK, including those that may have docked at Israeli ports in the past. The methods of attack include masquerading as Yemeni officials, using anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles, water-borne improvised explosive devices, drones, and mines.
The advice also highlights that the use of armed guards should be thoroughly assessed and that two naval formations, EU Naval Forces’ Operation Aspides and Combined Maritime Forces’ Operation Prosperity Guardian, are conducting operations to protect merchant shipping in the area.
Threat To Ships
- Houthi forces masquerading as Yemeni Coast Guard or Navy officials and attempting to coerce merchant ships to sail to Yemeni ports.
- Anti-ship cruise missiles. These missiles have sophisticated terminal guidance typically using radar and/or electro-optics.
- Anti-ship ballistic missiles. These missiles are typically aimed at a geographical coordinate or have only basic, unreliable terminal guidance.
- Water-borne improvised explosive devices (WBIED) also known as Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV). Typically, skiffs are occasionally mounted with dummies, fitted with an impact fuse and laden with explosives.
- Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, or drones) are occasionally used.
- Crewed skiffs using RPGs and small arms.
- Uncrewed undersea vehicles have been reported, but no vessel has been attacked using these.
- Mines are near entrances to Houthi-controlled ports, and on rare occasions, mines have become detached from their tether and have drifted into the traffic lanes.
- Houthi hijack/kidnap teams in skiffs.
- Houthi hijack/kidnap teams in helicopters. Although the possibility of an airborne attack from helicopters during darkness exists, it is more significant during daylight hours.
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Source: BIMCO
