Warning on pirates as NW monsoon begins |07 October 2010
The Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration (SMSA) said yesterday that the calm seas are favourable for pirates, enabling them to sail further from their camps in Somalia and carry out attacks in the Indian Ocean, sometimes close to our shores.The SMSA and the Seychelles Coast Guard are warning that while areas on the Mahe Plateau to the south and east of the inner islands are considered relatively safe, operating beyond 30 nautical miles north of the inner granitic islands, in other areas of the Mahe Plateau, is unsafe.
Also considered as high-risk areas are the Amirantes and the outer islands in the south-west of Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone.
As precautionary measures, sailors and fishermen are strongly advised to keep a 24-hour visual and radar watch, and immediately report any suspicious activity to the coast guard’s operation centre by any of the following means: telephone: 224616/610293, fax: 323288, email: mrcc.seycoast@email.sc, HF (SSB): 7696, VHF: Channel 16.