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こちら Japan flag を選択して頂くと、言語設定が日本語に切り替わります。設定変更後は以下の機能が利用可能です。

  • 日本語版ウェブサイトへのクイックアクセスが可能となり、日本語の刊行物をご覧頂けます。

  • 日本語版が閲覧可能な刊行物や記事については、日本語が優先表示されます。表示言語については Japan flag をご参照下さい。

閉じる 言語設定を切り替えたい場合には、国旗のマークをクリックして下さい。

By selecting Japan flag, you have now set your language to Japanese. This has several benefits, including:

  • Providing quick access to our Japan page, which collates all our Japanese content in one place.

  • Ensures that content is presented to you in Japanese first, if we have an article, publication or webpage available in Japanese. Look out for the Japan flag indicators across the site.

Close If you’d like to change your language preferences again, simply click on one of the other flags.

点击选择 China flag,可将网站语言设置为中文。这能帮助您:

  • 快速访问我们的中国区页面,该页面将有网站内容的中文汇总。

  • 在我们的文章、出版物或者网页有中文版本提供的情况下,确保首先向您展示的是中文版本的内容。您可关注站点上的 China flag 按键。

关闭 点击任意其他国旗,可切换您的语言偏好。

By selecting China flag, you have now set your language to Chinese. This has several benefits, including:

  • Providing quick access to our China page, which collates all our Chinese content in one place.

  • Ensures that content is presented to you in Chinese first, if we have an article, publication or webpage available in Chinese. Look out for the China flag indicators across the site.

Close If you’d like to change your language preferences again, simply click on one of the other flags.

USA Issues Maritime Security Advisory for Southern Gulf of Mexico

The US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued a new warning of vessel attacks in the Southern Gulf of Mexico.

MSCI Advisory 2020-008 states that the U.S. government is aware of at least 20 fishing vessels and 35 oil platforms and offshore supply vessels that have been targeted by pirates and armed robbers since January 2018 in the Bay of Campeche area of the southern Gulf of Mexico. Significant underreporting of attacks in this area is suspected.

These attacks have involved the discharge of firearms, crew injuries, hostage taking, and theft. At least five of these attacks occurred in April 2020, details of which are provided in the Office of Naval Intelligence’s 30 April 2020 Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) report, available at https://go.usa.gov/xv7tF.

The advisory goes on to warn that the pirates/robbers targeting offshore infrastructure and vessels in this area typically operate in small groups of between 5 and 15 individuals aboard several boats. They usually employ small fiberglass hulled craft, similar in appearance to local artisanal fishing boats, equipped with multiple high-powered outboard motors that enable fast travel to the oil fields located between five and ninety-five nautical miles offshore. They typically carry out their raids under the cover of darkness so that their approach is masked and so that they can use platform lights to navigate towards their target. The attackers are reportedly armed with an assortment of weapons including assault rifles, shotguns, pistols, machetes, knives and tools. They are known to use violence to ensure compliance and prevent resistance.

United States Guidance

MARAD advises to remain vigilant and to ensure familiarity with and adherence to their approved Vessel Security Plan when operating in this area. The Department of State’s Mexico Travel Advisory (available at https://go.usa.gov/xvVcB) should also be thoroughly reviewed prior to operating in this area. In addition, all suspicious activities and events involving U.S. flagged vessels must be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center at 800-424-8802 in accordance with 33 CFR 101.305.

Reporting

Suspicious activity and attacks in this region should be reported to the Mexican Navy’s Third Naval Region Campeche at +52 981 812 0881 or rn3@semar.gob.mx. Incident reports should be submitted in writing to the Regional Mexican Navy command within 24 hours in the Spanish language.

Further Information

Read North’s guidance on maritime security here.

Members can access maritime security information and alerts on MyGlobeView here.

This website, www.nepia.com, is now in archive and will not be updated with new content. The website will remain accessible for a short time as we complete the transfer of relevant content to the new NorthStandard website (north-standard.com).

If you would like to access the ECDIS training assessment app (ETA), you can still register for app access via MyNorth.

Please head to north-standard.com for the latest industry news, expert analysis and publications, club rules and contacts, and access to our newly launched digital tools specifically designed to support your operations.

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