Somali Pirates: New Attacks in the Gulf of Aden

Forward by friend of the blog Bryan:

NATO:
22.06.2009: 0550 UTC: 13:36.82N-050:22.65E: GULF OF ADEN.

PIRATES ARMED WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND RPG CHASED AND FIRED UPON A CRUDE OIL TANKER AND GENERAL CARGO SHIP UNDERWAY. VESSELS INCREASED SPEED, MADE EVASIVE MANOEUVRES, ZIG-ZAG COURSE, CONTACTED ON VHF CH. 16 COALITION WARSHIPS FOR ASSISTANCE. ASSISTANCE FROM WARSHIPS PREVENTED THE BOARDING.

IT APPEARS THAT A GROUP/GROUPS OF PIRATES IN SKIFFS ARE TARGETING SHIPS IN THIS AREA WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF PIRATE MOTHER VESSELS THAT CAN SAIL FAR AWAY FROM COAST.

WHILE NAVIGATING IN THE REGION VESSELS ARE URGED TO OPERATE AT A HEIGHTENED STATE OF READINESS, MAINTAINING STRICT 24 HOUR ANTI-PIRACY VISUAL AND RADAR WATCHES, ACTIVELY IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDED ANTI-PIRACY MEASURES AND REGULARLY REPORT THEIR POSITION/COURSE/SPEED TO UKMTO.

EARLY ASSESSMENT / DETECTION WILL ALLOW SHIPS TO TAKE EVASIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT BOARDING AND REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE.

ALL ATTACKS AND SUSPICIOUS SIGHTINGS INCLUDING POSSIBLE PIRATE MOTHER VESSEL TOWING SKIFFS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE IMB PIRACY REPORTING CENTRE . . .

Full NATO Shipping Center report here.

UPDATE: Map is my rough guess.