In its latest Maritime Security Threat Advisory (MSTA), which was published this week, Dryad Global flagged an “electronic warfare/interference” alert in the Red Sea.
“On 04 April 2024, UKMTO issued an Electronic Warfare/Interference alert, requesting Masters report any disruptions to electronic navigation systems (GPS/AIS/other PNT) anywhere within the Voluntary Reporting Area,” Dryad stated in a section of the MSTA focusing on the Red Sea.
“The advisory was issued after the UKMTO received reports of a vessel experiencing electronic navigation system (GPS/AIS) disruption between April 2, 2024, 2300UTC and April 3, 2024, 0100UTC, 95 NM east of Ras Al Zour, Saudi Arabia,” it added.
In the MSTA, Dryad noted that electronic warfare can result in “targeting a ship's navigation systems by misdirecting GPS signals or spoofing Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems, disrupting systems used for positioning and navigation, and infiltrating critical systems on ships”.
“While electronic warfare capabilities are typically a military force capability, the Iranians may have provided Houthi forces with such equipment to aid operations,” it added.
“In any case, commercial vessels' vulnerability to cyber security threats is a major concern. While the industry has overlooked this threat in recent years, there is an urgent need to take mitigation measures to protect vessels and crew,” it continued.
Dryad’s latest MSTA designates Yemen with a “critical” risk and impact rating and highlights several incidents in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
In its electronic interference notice, the UKMTO said “masters who experience disruption to electronic navigation systems (GPS/AIS/other PNT) anywhere within the UKMTO Voluntary Reporting Area are requested to notify UKMTO”.
“Reports can be emailed to watchkeepers@ukmto.org using the irregular activity report in BMP5 Annex D, including as much detail as possible,” it added.
The UKMTO describes itself as a Royal Navy capability with the principal purpose of providing an information conduit between military and the wider international maritime trade.
In a Red Sea section on its site, Dryad describes the Red Sea as one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and says it’s an essential channel, “crucial to maintaining many countries’ political and economic stability”.
“The geopolitical position of the Red Sea is important because it’s a natural border between the eastern coast of Africa and the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula and a vital route for the unarmed transportation of oil through the Bab el-Mandeb in the south to the Suez Canal in the North,” it adds.
“As long as oil remains a primary source of energy for the world, this shipping lane will remain a vital channel for its transport from the Gulf,” it continues.
Recent Red Sea Events
In a statement posted on its X page earlier today, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) revealed that, at approximately 3am Sanaa time on April 9, USS Mason (DDG 87) and Centcom forces “successfully engaged and destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemen over the Gulf of Aden”.
“The ASBM was likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged, U.S.-owned vessel being escorted by a U.S. warship USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Mason (DDG 87),” it added.
“There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships. It was determined the ABSM presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the region,” it continued.
“These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S, coalition, and merchant vessels,” it went on to state.
In a statement posted on its X page on April 9, Centcom noted that, between approximately 12.15pm and 2.40pm Sanaa time on April 8, its forces “successfully engaged and destroyed an air defense system with two missiles ready to launch, a ground control station in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, and one unmanned aerial system launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemen over the Red Sea”.
“There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships,” it added.
That statement also revealed that, at approximately 8.00am Sanaa time on April 7, “an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden where a coalition ship was escorting M/V Hope Island, a Marshall Islands Flagged, U.K. owned, Italian operated cargo ship”.
“There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships. This was the fifth observed missile launch against this coalition ship and M/V Hope Island,” it added.
“USCENTCOM is dedicated to protecting the freedom of navigation and making international waters safer and more secure for coalition and merchant vessels,” it continued.
To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com
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