Yachtsmen in the Gulf of Aden are being warned that a yacht hijacked by pirates last week is now being used as a lure to hunt further prey.

This Alert has been issued by the Seafarers Assistance Programme.

“This yacht, the Carre D’as IV was hi-jacked by Somali pirates on 03. Sept. 2008 in the Gulf of Aden and is now used to hunt for further prey.

The Venezuela-registered, French-owned, 24m luxury sailing yacht, an Amel Super Maramu, which was on her way from Australia to France, when she was hi-jacked in the Gulf of Aden, is not at Eyl as reported falsely. She is now being used as a decoy to lure other potential targets.

Reports directly from Somalia indicate that the hostages, Jean-Yves Delanne and his wife Bernardette, of French Nationality, were dropped at the Somali coast near Caluula at the tip of the Horn of Africa, from where part of the gang have dragged them into a remote hideout in the Xaabo mountains. After the couple was taken ashore, the yacht was taken to sea again by the heavily armed gunmen.

The sailing yacht might be accompanied (visibility maybe concealed from the view-side of a targeted ship) by another, small but fast boat with one or two strong outboard engines, which usually carries 5-7 heavily armed attackers (equipped with bazookas, assault guns like AK47, G3, FAL, M16 plus RPG – rocket propelled grenade launchers, as well as hand-grenades and/or mines). Such attack-boats do deliver a swift and heavy assault:

The Somali hi-jackers are demanding for a sum in excess of 1.4 million US dollar and the return of the 6 Somali prisoners taken by the French Navy after the negotiated and paid-for release of the French Luxury Yacht Le Ponant, earlier this year. The 6 Somalis were put on trial in Paris.

While an attempt to sell the yacht at ports in the Gulf states can also not be ruled out, it is presumed that it is at present used to hunt for other ships. It might very well be used as a decoy to approach other unsuspecting yachts or simulate and signal an engine failure or other emergency at sea, whereby it then would attack any ship coming closer in order to provide assistance.

Maintain strict 24h visual and radar watch !

If you see this yacht (or the Russian fishing trawlers BURUM OCEAN or ARENA/ATHENA):

1) Get quick, clear and positive identification.
2) Go immediately on a escape route and prepare for a possible attack.
3) Alert the following stations (24/7):

a) IMB/ICC-CCS 24 Hours Anti Piracy HELPLINE Tel: 60 3 2031 0014
IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia .
Tel 60 3 2078 5763
Fax 60 3 2078 5769
Telex MA34199 IMBPCI
E-mail: piracy@icc-ccs.org / imbkl@icc-ccs.org

b) Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA)
Maritime Security and Safety Officer, LCDR Brett Morash USN,
brett.j.morash@hoa.centcom.mil or brett.j.morash@hoa.usafricom.mil
or phone 253-358-978.

c) Maritime Liaison Office – Cell: 973-3944-2117
Work: 973-1785-3927, Capt Tom Hastings

d) SAP – Cell: 254-721-393458
e) ECOP-marine – Cell: 254-714-747090

For forming yacht convoys:
Richard Donaldson-Alves, Net Controller. Maritime Mobile Net, SE Asia,
14,323Mhz @ 0025hrs.Zulu daily and WX @ 0055hrs.Zulu daily.

N.B.: In case you don’t stand any chance to escape or to surely repulse the attack:
1) Make your distress calls with clear ID, position and number of souls on board.
2) Use standard procedures to secure the lives of people on board and the safety of your ship and cargo.
3) Don’t resist orders given to you by the hi-jackers! If humble, you stand a near 100% chance to survive!

4) Most important Somali words for such a situation:

Nabad = Peace (also used as ‘welcome!’)
Haye ? = How are you?
Fian = Good, Fine
Ma Fian = Not Good, Not OK
Ha = Yes
Maya = No
A Posto = OK
Wayahay = Yes, Sir = WILCO, alright, strong ok
Dhib malle or Bas malle = No Problem
Tartip-Tartip = slowly-slowly, careful
Waa Kuma? = Who ?
Sabab / Mahaa ? = Why ?
Hagee = Where ?
Hagee Ku Sohotaa (written Socotaa) ? = Where to ?
Gorma = When?
Sidee ? = How ?
Gargaar = Help
Fadlan = Please
Fariiso = Sit
Suk = Wait
Ken = Bring
Biyo = Water
Unto (written Cunto) = Food
Chai = Tea
Sokor = Sugar
Ano (written Caano) = Milk (an important sign of peace)
Dawo = Medicine
Jirro = Sick
Rabsho = Problem
Ben = Lie
Run = Truth
Magaa (written Magacaa) ? = What’s your name ? (be careful not to ask too many personal details!)
Lag = Money
Telfon = phone
Radio = HF/VHF radio
Motor = Engine
Shiidaal = Fuel
Patrol / Nafto = Petrol / Diesel
Hubka = Arms
Buntuq = Gun
Pastolod = Pistol
Toreey = Knife

u= in English oo – a=in English A as in all
(alert and list courtesy of SAP / ECOP-marine)

We advise all ships to stay well out of the 200nm Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Somalia, pool under escort for the passage of the narrow shipping lane between Yemen and Somalia Most dangerous area: 12 / 14 degrees north and 046 / 053 degrees east.

Coordinates of suggested corridor through the Gulf of Aden:
Waypoint: 12 15N 045E
Waypoint: 12 35N 045E
Waypoint: 13 35N 049E
Waypoint: 13 40N 049E
Waypoint: 14 10N 050E
Waypoint: 14 15N 050E
Waypoint: 14 35N 053E
Waypoint: 14 45N 053E”

The statement continues: read the entire release here.