The Combined Maritime Forces’ (CMF) Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) has issued an advisory to commercial shipping and related maritime stakeholders, warning them about a recent declaration from the Houthi-controlled Harakat al-Houthis Operations Command Council (HOCC), reports Baird Maritime.
Advisory Issued
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) has issued a critical advisory regarding an expanded targeting posture by the Houthi-controlled Harakat al-Houthis Operations Command Council (HOCC). This new stance, which mirrors the Houthi “phase four” announcement from May 2024, now explicitly includes sister ships—vessels under the same ownership, management, or operator network—as potential targets.
This implies a significant escalation: a vessel may now be deemed hostile by HOCC not based on its own operational history, but solely because another vessel within its corporate structure has engaged in activity related to Israeli ports, particularly Haifa. JMIC emphasizes that this risk applies regardless of the vessel’s flag, cargo, or current voyage route.
In light of this heightened threat, JMIC strongly urges all shipping companies and operators with vessels transiting the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden to undertake the following crucial measures:
- Comprehensive Audit of Haifa Port Calls: Conduct a thorough review of any historical calls to Haifa, Israel, by any vessel within their fleet. This audit should extend to sister vessels, time-chartered vessels, and those under common beneficial ownership or technical management.
- Digital Footprint Evaluation: Assess their digital presence, including AIS (Automatic Identification System) transmission logs, vessel-tracking platforms, and public maritime databases, for any historical linkages that could be interpreted by HOCC-affiliated actors as justification for targeting.
- Reinforce Cybersecurity and Information Control: Strengthen cybersecurity measures and information control protocols, especially concerning voyage routing, port call data, and affiliations that could be exploited through open-source intelligence methods.
This development signifies a broadening of the Houthi targeting criteria, requiring a more extensive and proactive risk assessment from maritime stakeholders operating in the affected regions.
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Source: Baird Maritime
