The US Maritime Administration advises US-flagged ships to turn off AIS transponders in Middle East waters due to Houthi terrorist attacks.
The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued a new advisory for American-flagged ships, recommending they turn off Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) transponders when transiting bodies of water in the Middle East amid ongoing threats from the Houthi terrorist group. The move follows "at least 47 separate Houthi attacks on commercial vessels" in areas such as the Southern Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, Somali Basin, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz, and Persian Gulf. The advisory suggests turning off AIS transponders to reduce the risk of being targeted, especially in areas where the threat from Houthi forces is significant.
March 18, 2024
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