NATO is conducting anti terrorism operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean. The operation is aimed at protecting Merchant vessels against attacks by terrorists.

In order to help us help you:

Ships transiting the Mediterranean Sea are invited to send a Format Alfa report (below or click here) to the NSC by e-mail, telephone or fax; please use numbers of "Contact details".

NATO COUNTER PIRACY OPERATION OCEAN SHIELD

Operation Ocean Shield, NATO’s contribution to international efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa, commenced after the North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved the mission. Operation Ocean Shield builds on the experience gained during Operation Allied Protector, NATOs’ previous counter-piracy mission, and develops a distinctive NATO role based on the broad strength of the Alliance by adopting a more comprehensive approach to counter-piracy efforts.

While at-sea counter-piracy operations will continue to be the focus, a new element of regional-state counter-piracy capacity building has been developed for Operation Ocean Shield. NATO’s capacity building effort will aim to assist regional states, upon their request, in developing their own ability to combat piracy activities. This element of the operation is designed to complement existing international efforts and will contribute to a lasting maritime security solution off the Horn of Africa.

The NATO Shipping Centre has been contributing to the counter piracy operations by NATO and EU by exchanging the merchant shipping picture in the region with all coalition and friendly forces. The NSC does this, as part of its role as link between (coalition and NATO) military forces and the merchant community, in close cooperation with UK MTO Dubai and the EU MSCHOA.

Last but not least, the NSC will maintain the close relations with the UN WFP office for Somalia (based in Kenya) that we have had for almost two years, and thereby gather and pass information regarding merchant vessel schedules and movements chartered by the United Nations World Food Program.

Click here to visit the page on the NATO counter piracy operation Ocean Shield and the Somalia Piracy update/ Somalia background.

Given the significant increase in piracy (and piracy related) incidents in the Gulf of Aden, the NATO Shipping Centre invites all Merchant Vessels to report any details of (perceived) suspicious activity (e.g. ships on radar shadowing their movements, changing course to intercept, changing speed to match or intercept) including :

• course and speed of vessel if available
• positions and date/time
• identity or description of suspicious vessel(s)
• photograph if available

NAVAREA IV 31/10

HYDROLANT 132/10(25,26).

CARIBBEAN SEA.

HAITI.

1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR TRANSITING TO OR FROM HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

2. IN PERIODS OF CRISIS, CONFLICT, NATIONAL EMERGENCY OR WAR,   NAVAL

AUTHORITIES MAY DIRECT THE MOVEMENT OF MERCHANT SHIPS (INCLUDING ROUTING AND DIVERSION) SO THAT THEY MAY BE BETTER PROTECTED FROM HOSTILITIES AND NOT INTERFERE WITH POSSIBLE ACTIVE NAVAL, JOINT, OR COMBINED MILITARY OPERATIONS. NCAGS IS THE PRINCIPAL US RESOURCE TO CARRY OUT THIS FUNCTION.

NCAGS PROVIDES NEAR REAL TIME INFORMATION OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING PICTURE TO OPERATIONAL COMMANDERS. THIS HELPS ENSURE THE SAFE PASSAGE OF MERCHANT SHIPPING AND THE SAFETY OF NAVAL VESSELS.

3. SHIPPING COMPANIES ENGAGED IN DISASTER RELIEF TO OR FROM HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC OR ENGAGE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADING WITH THESE COUNTRIES ARE REQUESTED TO HAVE VESSEL MASTERS PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE SHIPPING COORDINATION CENTER, NAVAL OCEAN PROCESSING FACILITY DAM NECK, VA PRIOR TO ENTERING THE REPORTING AREA. SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT. NAVAL COORDINATION WITH MERCHANT SHIPPING IS ADVISORY ONLY. MERCHANT SHIP PARTICIPATION IS VOLUNTARY. THE REPORTING CENTER CAN BE CONTACTED 24-7 BY PHONE: (US) 757 492 4494 OR BY EMAIL:

D05-SMB-SCCLANT@USCG.MIL.

4. AREA OF OPERATIONS: VESSELS ARE REQUESTED TO MAKE REPORTS UPON ENTERING AREA BETWEEN 18-00N 20-00N AND 072-00W 075-00W. REPORTING VESSELS ARE REQUESTED TO TRANSMIT DATA IN THE FOLLOWING FORMAT.

A. SECTION A - SHIP DATA:

(1) SHIP'S NAME.

(2) INTERNATIONAL CALL SIGN.

(3) TYPE OF VESSEL.

(4) FLAG OF REGISTRY.

(5) IMO NUMBER.

(6) PORT OF REGISTRY.

(7) LENGTH OVERALL.

(8) VESSEL'S WIDTH.

(9) MAXIMUM DRAFT FOR PRESENT VOYAGE.

(10) VESSEL'S GROSS TONNAGE.

(11) SPEED:

     A. SERVICE SPEED.

     B. MAXIMUM SPEED.

     C. MINIMUM SPEED.

(12) SIGNIFICANT APPEARANCE OF VESSEL FOR OPTICAL RECOGNITION.

(13) MMSI (MARITIME MOBILE SERVICES IDENTITY) NUMBER.

(14) NAME OF COMMUNICATION STATION BEING COPIED.

(15) INMARSAT TELEPHONE NUMBERS.

(16) INMARSAT FAX NUMBERS.

(17) INMARSAT TELEX NUMBERS.

(18) INMARSAT DATA NUMBERS.

(19) OTHER COMMUNICATION MEANS INCLUDING E-MAIL ADDRESSES.

B. SECTION B - VOYAGE DATA:

(20) INTENDED MOVEMENT - DESCRIPTION OF PASSAGE.

(21) LAST PORT OR COUNTRY OF CALL INCLUDING ACTUAL DATE AND TIME OF DEPARTURE FROM LAST PORT.

(22) NEXT PORT OF CALL INCLUDING ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL (ETA) AT NEXT PORT OF CALL.

(23) CURRENT POSITION.

(24) DATE, TIME AND POSITION ENTERING THE REGION.

(A-X) WAYPOINTS OF INTENDED TRACK THROUGH AREA OF OPERATIONS (DATE, TIME, LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES).

(25) POSITION AND DATE, TIME OF DEPARTING REGION.

C. SECTION C - OPERATOR DATA:

(26) NAME OF SHIP OWNER OR OPERATOR INCLUDING ADDRESS OF SHIP OWNER, NAME OF CHARTERER (IF ANY) AND ADDRESS OF OPERATOR OR CHARTERER.

(27) EMAIL ADDRESS OF THE ABOVE.

(28) TELEPHONE NUMBER OF ABOVE.

(29) FAX NUMBER OF ABOVE.

D. SECTION D - CARGO DATA:

(30) QUANTITY AND NATURE OF MAIN OR RELEVANT CARGO.

(31) SHIPPERS OF MAIN OR RELEVANT CARGO (NAME AND ADDRESS).

(32) ORIGIN OF MAIN OR RELEVANT CARGO.

(33) CONSIGNEE OF MAIN OR RELEVANT CARGO.

(34) FINAL DESTINATION OF MAIN OR RELEVANT CARGO.

(35) RESERVED.

4. NATO HAS RELEASED A NON-CLASSIFIED PUBLICATION ATP - 2(B) VOL II - NAVAL CO-OPERATION AND GUIDANCE FOR SHIPPING MANUAL (NCAGS) - GUIDE TO OWNERS, OPERATORS, MASTERS AND OFFICERS. THE VOLUME IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL MARINERS TO DOWNLOAD AT HTTP://WWW.SHIPPING.NATO.INT/

5. FOR FURTHER GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT MR. FORD, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE: MAR-420, ROOM W25-207, 1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, DC 20590, TELEPHONE: 202 366 0223, OR 202 641 5071, FAX: 202 366 3954, TELEX II 710 822 9426 (MARAD DOT WSH), OR EMAIL: