Alert

Suspicious Activity

May 2, 2026, 12:20 p.m.

ALERT 42/26 MSCIO has received a report involving a merchant vessel at 06:40 UTC on 02 May 2026 in position 13°35’N 050°12’E. A mother ship and one skiff were observed in the vicinity. The skiff approached the vessel from the starboard side, demonstrating suspicious behaviour and closing distance to approximately 500 meters over a period of around 10 minutes. The vessel adopted defensive measures and fired a warning shot, after which the skiff altered course and moved away. Operation ATALANTA is investigating. All crew are safe and accounted for. Vessels operating in the area are strongly advised to maintain heightened vigilance, adhere to BMP-MS, and report any suspicious activity to MSCIO and UKMTO.