Members will be aware of the ongoing threat to merchant shipping in the Southern Red Sea by Houthi forces in Yemen, which remains the highest security concern facing the industry at this time. Members will also be aware of Operation Prosperity Guardian and the presence of independent deployers committed to protecting freedom of navigation and the lives of seafarers, as well as ongoing strikes by US and UK forces against Houthi military capability ashore.

In light of the ongoing security crisis in the region, industry security experts from the Round Table, ICS, OCIMF, CLIA and IMCA have revised the transit advice for the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (previously circulated as MC(23)111 and updated by MC(24)06). The document provides detailed advice on the threat in the region, and considerations on routing, vessel hardening and the use of armed guards, which should be factored into threat and risk assessments for all voyages through the affected waters. Please refer to Annex A.

MC(24)15 -Annex A – 2024-02-05 INTERIM INDUSTRY TRANSIT ADVICE SRS GoA