Maritime security firm Gulf of Aden Group Transits (GoAGT) issued the warning following a statement by the UK Government issuing the highest possible security alert – level 3, or “exceptional” to British ships. GoAGT indicates that all ships, and not just British, are very much at risk.
In order to reach level 3, a threat must be judged to be “probable or imminent”. The threat level is said to be unprecedented since the 2004 introduction of the ISPS code.
It is not the first time shipping in and around the Gulf of Aden is believed to have come under terrorist threat. In 2002 the VLCC Limburg was hit by a small craft off Yemen which caused a fire and explosion and was believed to been the work of the Al Qaeda network. In 2010 the Mitsui OSK Lines tanker M. Star was hit bit by an unexplained explosion in the Gulf of Aden that dented its hull and was believed to be the work of terrorists.
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