2008 - 1

NIGERIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS

TO: OPERATORS OF U.S. FLAG AND EFFECTIVE U.S. CONTROLLED VESSELS AND
OTHER MARITIME INTERESTS

1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY ON MARITIME CRIME IN NIGER DELTA AREA OF
NIGERIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS ORIGINATED FROM THE NATIONAL MARITIME
INTELLIGENCE CENTER, OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

2. NINETEEN ACTS OF AGGRESSION AGAINST VESSELS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN
THE NIGER DELTA REGION SINCE SEPTEMBER 2007. SIXTEEN INCIDENTS
OCCURRED IN RIVERS STATE IN THE VICINITY OF BONNY RIVER BETWEEN
PORT HARCOURT AND BONNY. THREE OCCURRED IN THE VICINITY OF
ESCRAVOS IN DELTA STATE.

3. A LEADING NIGER DELTA MILITANT GROUP SAID ON 10 JAN 08 THAT IT
SPONSORED "FREELANCE FREEDOM FIGHTERS" WHO REPORTEDLY SHOT AT
SIX OIL INDUSTRY SHIPS ON 09 JAN 08, AND THREATENED A BIGGER ATTACK.
IN AN EMAIL TO THE MEDIA LOOSELY IDENTIFIED GROUP REFERRED TO AS
THE MOVEMENT FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF THE NIGER DELTA (MEND) SAID
IT SPONSORED GUNMEN WHO SHOT AT SIX OIL INDUSTRY VESSELS IN THE
BONNY RIVER CHANNEL, IN WHICH TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED. "MEND WILL
BE SUPPORTING THESE SMALL INDEPENDENT GROUPS TO HARASS AND
SABOTAGE THE OIL INDUSTRY AT WILL," THE GROUP SAID. MEND IS AN
UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR SEVERAL HEAVILY-ARMED MILITIAS IN THE
NIGER DELTA, AN IMPOVERISHED REGION OF MANGROVE-LINED CREEKS AND
SWAMP WHICH IS HOME TO MOST OF NIGERIA S OIL RESERVE.

4. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2007, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF EXCESSIVE FINES
LEVIED BY NIGERIAN DRUG ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON CREWMEMBERS FOR
VESSELS CALLING ON NIGERIAN PORTS. THE PORT OF LAGOS HAD 24
INCIDENTS OF CONCERN REPORTED BY MARINERS IN 2007.

5. EXTREME CAUTION AND VIGILANCE SHOULD BE EXERCISE IN NIGER DELTA
AREA OF NIGERIAN WATERS.

6. US-FLAG VESSEL OPERATORS AND OWNERS SHOULD REFER TO THE SECURITY
REQUIREMENTS DETAILED IN THE MOST RECENT MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6,
GUIDELINES FOR U.S. VESSELS OPERATING IN HIGH RISK WATERS, DATED
DECEMBER 29, 2005 WHEN OPERATING IN NIGERIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS.
A COPY OF THE CURRENT MARSEC DIRECTIVES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM
YOUR LOCAL USCG CAPTAIN OF THE PORT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
REGARDING MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6, CONTACT LCDR MALCOLM MCLELLAN,
VESSEL ACTIVITIES (CG-5432), VESSEL SECURITY PROGRAM MANAGER, PHONE:
202-372-1223 EMAIL: MALCOLM.R.MCLELLAN@USCG.MIL.

7. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT THE
MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE MAR-420, 2W23-312,
1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, SE, WASHINGTON, DC 20590; TELEPHONE 202-366-1883,
OR BY E-MAIL TO OWEN.DOHERTY@DOT.GOV.

8. SUSPECTED ACTIVITY OR ACTUAL PIRACY/ TERRORIST INCIDENT REPORTING
GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED IN MARAD ADVISORY 05-01.